The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-25
XMAS DAY FICHTFREE CITY WATER
1O2nd Anniversary British May Take Another Big
American Naval Engagement Progressive Step.
the ~Unted States Hodges Will Legislature
and ~MacedOnian." to Pass Enabling Act.
NEAR THE CANARY ISLANDS WATER IS 4 NECESSITY
Christmas Services Stopped by To Build Plants Sewer Con-
Thunder of Guns structiOn Plan.
Captured ritOn Was Neptunes Elimination of Diseases
New Years Gift Would Be One Benefit
1O2nd Anniversary of British.
American Naval Engagement
Between the "United States"
and @MacedOnian."
NEAR THE CANARY ISLANDS
Christmas Services Stopped by
Thunder of Guns.
Captured BritOn Was Neptune's
New Years Gift.

With the United States and Great
Britain celebrating their first centen-
NAL of peace. one hundred and two
years ago today one of the most i'm
portant naval engagements of the war
of 1912. the battle between the Ameri-
can frigate United States" and the
British frgate Macedonian took
place.
The Macedonian" a crack ship of
England's navy carried 40 guns and
was commanded by Captain Garden.
The United States, sister ship to
the famous CONSTITUTION" Gold Iron
sides,) was commanded by Commo-
dore stephen Decatur, who won mis-
straps in the Tripolitan war, and
carried fiftyfOur guns Although the
American carried slightly heavier
metal, the two ships were about even
ly matched.
At dawn Christmas day. Sunday.
Dec. 25. 1912, while the crews of both
frigates were celebrating the holiday,
the United States sighted the
Briton near the Canary islands. The
lance duel. In this mode of fighting
the English ship was worsted. Shots
from the American ship crashed
the rigging and against the hull of the
Macedonian" in a manner that show
ed that the Yankee gunners had the
range and were utilizing it.
Cut to Pieces.
The English frigate then attempted
to close in and board the American.
The gunners on the United States"
lowered their range and "hu1led" the
Macedonian" with a result that the
Briton was literally cut to pieces. The
slaughter on board the Macedonian"
was terrific. Following is a story told
by one historian: THE deck of <he
ship was covered with dead and dying.
A British gunner saw an old mess
mate who had sailed with him on
many cruises fall to the deck. Taking
the corpse in his arms the gunner
eyed it minute and cried: % God !!
Tom Hang your prayers, snapped
an officer of tn deck; and overheard
with that thing. Overheard with It.
and down to your gum The order
was obeyed and the heart-stricken
gunner returned to his post. And this
was Sunday, Christmas day.
When the British ship hauled down
her colors the dead on the "Macedon-
61. On the United States seven were
killed and five wounded.
Celebrated at Washington.
News of the victory was brought to
Washington on the night of Dec. %,
while a grand ball was being held in
honor of American victories on land
and sea. 1t was near midnight in the
midst of the strains of the old-fash-
toned minuet that a murmur ran
through the dancers that news Of a
great naval victory had been received.
few minutes afterwards Lieut.. Ham,
iIton, son of the secretary of navy, en-
tered with the official message.
He was followed by two giant sail
ors who bore the colors of the de-
feated Briton. The sailors marched
the full length of the hall and laid the
colors at the feet of Dolly Madison,
then the first lady of the land.
The captured Macedonian" was
brought to New York harbor January
I, 1913, where it was heralded as a
New Years gift with the compliments
of old Neptune"