The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-05-16
REGULT OF $4,000 GIFT
OF CONGRESs1fOR MEMORIAL
Will Celebrate for Two Days Before
Visitors Leave Capital city-Gov.
o'NeiII and Secretary Daniels Speak
At Big Banquet Tonight.
(By Associated PresS.)

Washington, May 16.-Thousands of
patriotic Irish-Americans from all sec
tons of the country gathered in Frank
ling Park here today to witness the
dedication and unwilling of a bronze
statute Of Commodore John Barry,
the Nations tribute to the heroic Irish
patriot of the American Revolution,
by many called 1.-THE Father of the
American Navy"
To Miss Elise H. Hepburn of Phila-
delphia, great-great-grandnie of
Commodore Barry fell the honor of
pulling the cord which uncovered the
features of the statue. and President
Wilson. James ]. Regan, the national
president of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians, and other prominent men
were on the program to deliver dedi-
catory addresses. William C. Clarke,
son of j. I. c. Clarke, president gen.
eral Of the American-Irish Historical
Society, read dedicatory poem writ
ten for the occasion by his father.
The monument is the gift of Con
gress through the appropriation in
1916 of $4,000, and the ceremonies
today were under the joint auspices
of the government and an executive
committee representing Irish5Ameri.
can societies throughout the country
They followed a parade Of soldiers
sailors. marines and members OF
many Irish organizations.
The statue is the work of an Irish
American sculptor, John ]. Boyle, oil
New York, and shows the Commodore
in the naval uniform of the day, when
as commander of the Black Prince
and director of American naval opera
tons he wreaked havoc on British
commerce. The right hand rests or
the hilt of sheathed sword and the
left hands amid the folds OF a great
cloak draped from the shoulders. The
head is truned little to the right ant
slightly upward and the poise ant
whole attitude is one of dashing gal
lantry. The statue stands ten fee
high on a marble pedestal of 16 ant
IL feet on the front of which, in high
relief, is sculptured a figure of victory
on the prov Of ship. On the base
is this inscription:
John Barry
Commodore of the United States Navy
Born County Wexford, Ireland. 1745.
:. Died, Philadelphia, 1903.
The likeness is based on the onl,
portrait of Commodore Barry in exist
ence, the work of Gilbert Stuart, nov
in the State House in Philadelphia
/ painted just before Barry's death a
the age of So. From this portrait tn,
sculptor sought to produce a younge
likeness representing the naval here
at the age of forty, when he was il
| the zenith of his career.
Big Irish Celebration.
Although the chief reason for tn,
gathering of Irish-Americans in tn
National Capital, the ceremonies tc
day were but part of two days Gel
ebration intended to emphasize tn
achievements of men of Irish lineag
in this country. Yesterday there wa
a pilgrimage to the tomb of Washine
ton at Mount Vernon where, in payin,
respect to the Father of his country
prominent orators also lauded tn
deeds Of Irish patriots in America
history Last night there was a
Irish song concert rendered by tn
Glee Club of the Friendly Sons of 81
Patrick of New York City and a nun
Der Of eminent individual singers O
Irish descent. Tonight the celebra
tion closes with banquet to be ad
dressed by Governor O'Neill Of Ala
bama, and Josephus Daniels. secretar
of the Navy.
| One Of the interesting features O
the celebration was the assemblyin,
In Washington of members of tn
Barry family from all over the coun
try and the formation of a Nationa
Barry Association. Each membe
4 wore special Identification badge
Another feature was the gatherin,
under one roof Of the descendants O
lrishmen born In County Wexford, tn,