The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-10
Honor Memory
Of Father of The
American Navy
TO UNVEiL STATUE TO COMMO-
DORE BARRY, AT WASHING
TON, IN MAY.

WASHINGTON, d. c., March o.
The imposing bronze statue of Com
modore John Barry, the Father Of
the American Navy" is now being set
up In Franklin park, in this city, and
arrangements for its unveiling in May
are going forward, Commodore Bar
ry was a native of Ireland, and the un-
yelling of the statue is to be made
the occasion for great demonstra-
ton of Irish-American.
Delegations. representing 1irih so
eieties in al sections of the country,
are expected here for the ceremony.
Among the societies which have al
ready accepted Invitations are the
Irish Fellowship club, of Chicago. the
American-Irish Historical society, the
Hibernian siciety, of Baltimore; the
Irish American society, of Scranton:
and branches of the Friendly Cons of
e.. Patrick and the Ancient order of
lIibernians in New York, Philadelphia
and numerous other Cities.
On the day before the unwilling the
visiting delegations will make a pill
grimage to Mount Vernon to visit the
tomb OF George Washington. The
evening following the. ceremonies a
great banquet is to be given in this
city. President Wilson. members of
the cabinet, and members Of congress
are to be invited.
The Barry statue cost about $50, 200.
and is the work of John j. Boyle, a
New York sculptor. The statue is
of heroic size. and shows the distin-
guished naval officer sta ading erect.
his eyes fixed on the distance, and one
hand resting on the sword which
stands in front of him. He is clad
In full naval uniform. with cooked
hat and a heavy military coat. In
designing the statue the sculptor was
hampered somewhat, because only one
photograph of Commodore Barry
could be found. and that hangs in
Philadelphia. The only inscription on
the statue will be John Barry, com
Born county, Wexford, Ireland, HAS.
Died in Philadelphia. 1s03.'
Commodore Barry was one of the
most notable of the early heroes of
the United States navy. He was the
senior officer Of the navy, and at one
time Paul Jones served under him.
Barry came TO the United States from
ireland, when he was fifteen yealr old.
and as he had decided TO make the
sea his profession, he went to Phila-
delphia, at that time the leading
American seaport.
Barry soon took rank as a seaman
of rare ability, and he was intrusted
with the care of many big merchant
ships sailing from Philadeipls o.. At
the beginning Of the revolution he
was recommended as one of the most
competent men in the country to take
a place OF power in the infant navy.
lie consequently received a commits
sion TO command the brig Lexington.
of sixteen guns.
The ship left Philadelphia In 1875,
and was the first vessel to fly the
Continental flag, from which fact
Barry has been called the Father OF
the American Navy" To this dis
tinction, the commander quickly add
vessel ever taken by an American
warship In a nengagement. His prize
was the Edward, an armed British
vessel. The action lasted about an
hour, and four of Barry's crew of sew
enty men. were killed. This is said
to have been the first bloodshed in
the naval service Of the Unites States.
While in command of the Alliance,
near the close Of the revolution
Barry fought the great battle of his
career with the British ships Atlanta
and Trepassy. At the beginning of
the battle the Alliance lay in a dead
calm and could not bring her broad
side to bear The two British ships
poured a calling fire into her and
carry III iitt ti&dStitlHI 1dpldln IlGF-
ry was carried below. wounded in the
shoulder by grapeshot. The flag of
the Alliance was shot away and the
crew of the enemy began cheering at
the prospeH of certain victory.
Barry, lying wounded in the cockpit,
declined To listen to any proposition
to surrender.
If the ship can't be fought with
out it," he said, 't1'll be carried on
deck"
His bravery stirred his crew. They
cheered wildly az their wounded COM
mander was carried on deck. A new
flag was hoisted and the American
shot was sent into the enemy with
deadly effect. A breeze sprang up and
gave the Alliance a chance to shift
and use her guns, The Americans
then fought with such vigor that the
two British ships were forced to sur
render and the captains were brought
prisoners TO Barry's stateroom. For
the signal victory he had achieved
and the personal bravery he had dis
played in the action. Captain Barry
vas given vote OF thanks by con-
Gress.