The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-05-23


THE A. o. H.-DEScRlPTIoN or
THE STATUE-sKETCH OF CAP
TAIN BARRY-A NATIONAL
TRIBUTE TO AN IRISH NAVAL
HERO.
One hundred thousand patriotic
the country assembled in Franklin
Park, Washington, d. c., on May 16.
to witness the unwilling and dedica
ton of bronze statue of Commodore
John Barry, ''the Father of the Ameri
can Navy" The memorial is the ma
tons tribute to the memory of this
heroic Irish patriot of the American
Revolution.
For several weeks the statue has
been in place, but covered from the
burn of Philadelphia, great-great-
grandniece of Commodore Barry had
the honor of pulling the cord which
uncovered the statue and exposed to
view the features of this Irish naval
hero. The principal address was de-
livered by James J. Regain, National
President of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians. w. G. Clark, son CT ]. l.
c. Clark, President General of the
Irish-American Historical Society,"
read dedicatory poem written for
the occasion by his father, who is best
stirring poem entitled kelly, Burke
and Shea" The unwilling ceremony
was preceded by parade of soldiers,
sailors, marines, and representatives
OF many Irish-American organizations
The statue, for which $4,000 was
appropriated by Congress in 1906, is
the work of an Irish-American sculp-
tor, John J. Boyle, of New York. 1t
shows Commodore Barry in the naval
uniform, his right hand resting on the
hllt of a sheathed sword, and the left
hanging amid the folds of a great
cloak draped from the shoulders. The
statue, which is ten feet high, stands
on a marble pedestal sixteen and
half feet high, on the front of which
is sculptured in high relief figure of
victory on the prov of ship. On the
base is this inscription:
JOHN BARRY,
Commander of the United States
Navy.
Born, County Wexford Ireland, 1745.
Died, Philadelphia, 1903.
John Barry, captain IN the United
States Navy, was born at Tacumshane,
County Wexford, Ireland, in 1745; died
at Philadelphia September 10, 1903.
At an early age Barry was sent to sea.
He arrived at Philadelphia when he
was fifteen years old, and made that
city his home to the time of his death.
He was employed in the West Indian
trade and commanded several vessels
until December, 1874, when he sailed
from Philadelphia as captain of a fine,
large ship, ''The Black Prince" bound
for Bristol, England, returning to Phil
adelphia October 10, 1875, the day the
Continental Congress, then in session
there, authorized the purchase of two
armed vessels for the beginning of the
Continental navy. Barry Immediately
volunteered his services and he YVES
assigned to the command of the first
vessel purchased, the Lexington" His
commission was date December Z,
1775, the first issued by the Marine
Committee of the Continental Con-
gress.
On December %, 1775, Esek Hopkins
was appointed commander-in-chief Of
the navy, but was dropped from it's
roll in March, 1777. Barry was in
command of the Lexington" from his
appointment until October, 1916, when
he was assigned to the "Effingham"
2S guns, then building in Philadelphia.
During that time he performed eff
cient service in lower Delaware Bay.
On March 81, 177G, he put to sea,
eluding the British man-of-war "Rol-
burk," on guard in Delaware Bay, and
on April fell in with the Edward"
a tender of the British man-of-war
Liverpool and after sharp engage
ment captured her; Barry brought his
prize to Philadelphia, arriving April
II, 1776. This was the first war vessel
captured by commissioned Contin-
entail naval officer that was brought
to that city. He was officially con-
nected with the "Efingham" until her
destruction off Philadelphia. She had
been sunk by order of Washington and
the Naval Board, in the Delaware for
some time previously and then raised