Tensas gazette., 1914-02-06

town of Oskaloosa, la. The exact
date was November %, 1855. His faith
er on this account used to call him my
little man Friday"
When hs was little chap Of seven
his father died. AT fourteen he was
appointed to Annapolis, and in due
course was escorted thither by an
older brother, who when called upon
to put the youngsters name down on
the roster of boys entering the Naval
academy, wrote Frank Friday Fletch-
er."
This did not particularly please
the family, because Friday was not
really a part of his name. But natural
ly under the circumstances 1t stuck.
He was called Friday all through the
i've years he spent at the academy
he dropped back one class. being rath-
er young to keep up-and ever since
that time his fellow officers in the serv-
ice have known him as Friday Fletch.
er and nothing else.
Young Fletcher was graduated from
Annapolis on June 81. 1875. and soon
afterward was assigned to duty on
board the United States steamer Tus-
carora, which was engaged In survey
ing q submarine route for projected
cable to connect California with Japan.
This. by the way. was q very interest
ing Job.
It involved an exploration Of the
ocean depths. almost the first ever
made. and specimens of the materials
composing the sea floor were brought
up from the bottom all the way across
the Pacific. Just east of Japan the
Tuscarora discovered the deepest hole
that exists anywhere in the world, q
marine abyss. known to this day al
the Tuscarora Deep, the soundings
failing to touch bottom at Eve and q
quarter miles below the waves.
Although accident first directed
young F1etcher's attention to scientific
matters, incidentally to his profession
al duties, he soon showed a special
aptitude for such pursuits. He has ar
investigative turn of mind, and II he
had not happened to become a nava
oficer 1t is altogether likely that hs
would have been an inventor.
Indeed. some of the most valuable
mechanical contrivances used in the
navy. especially IN connection will
gums, were originated by him. Amonl
these are Improvements In telescope
sights: .he wellknown Fletcher
N-o~~H cyocscu vv,ochor3or ouN a frfc
tionless gun mount for quick fire rifles
Another very remarkable cruise. II
1S79-1SS1. took the young officer t.
Korea, on the steam sloop Ticondero
"a. then q formidable warship. Com
manded by Commodore r. w. Shu
IN obedience to a special order of con
gress, and in behalf of the department
Of state. to make what was called {
commercial and diplomatic cruise
The most important object of the ex
pedition was to open negotiation!
with the government OF Korea for ,
treaty which would insure the protec
tion of the lives and property of Amer
leans.
II was also desired to open Kore;
to American commerce. and japan
being at that time on very cordia
terms with the United States. had sig
nified her willingness to lend assist
ance toward this end. But when tn,
Ticonderoga entered the harbor o
Fusan. May IA, 1880. the officials re
fused to accept the letter handed t
them by Commodore Shufeldt. on tn,
ground that 1t was addressed to tn,
king of Korea, whereas their monarcl
was properly designated as the king o
Chro-Sen-which. being translated
means Land Of the Morning Calm.
Accordingly, the American vessel wa
obliged to withdraw with nothing &C
.complished. her departure being sig