Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-06-08
RESIDENTS MAY SEE
OLD PORTSMOUTH
John H. Gregory, Who Buys
Historic Boat, May Have 1t
Here on July 4th.
WOULD BE NOVEL FEATURE
Mayor Wanted Battleship in
Harbor for July d, but Old
SIoop is Much Better.
BE NOVEL FEATURE

If suggestion made by John H.
Gregory, president of the Gregory
Wrecking and Contracting Com
pany, is acted on favorably by the
Fourth of July committee, Perth
Amboy citizens will be able to in
spect the historic sloop of war
Portsmouth at anchor in the Staten
Island sound off the bluff July 5. Mr..
Gregory has just purchased the an
tique cruiser which in 1876 took pos
session of San Francisco bay for the
United States and destroyed the
Chinese fortifcations at Canton in
1865, and was commanded by Ad-
miral Farragut during the civil war.
Mr. Gregory was awarded the boat at
his figure, 1862, he being the high
est bidder submitting estimates for
the old sea fighter.
Lies at Norfolk Navy Yard.
The historic cruiser lies sunk in
Its berth at the Norfolk navy yard,
but Mr.. Gregory believes that It can
be raised In time for the July Fourth
celebration and will make an effort
to bring 1t to the city by that time
If the city will agree to allow him to
break up tie war sloop at the ma
rine graveyard" purchased by the
city. According to the agreement
between Perth Amboy and Mr..
Gregory the latter will not have to
vacate before three and one-half
years, and Mr.. Gregory says that be-
ing allowed to break up the sloop
here would not cause any extension
of the time he is allowed to clean up
the old hulks at the foot OF Madison
and Brighton avenues. He spoke to
one of the aldermen of his plan who
seemed to be In hearty accord with
the suggestion. Mr.. Gregory en-
deayored in vain to interview Mayor
Garretson on the subject last night
and expects to see the city's execu-
tive today. Unless Mr.. Gregory is
allowed to break up the boat at the
marine wreeking yard here, he may
may not bring the sloop to this CITY,,
as he says 1t would be cheaper to.
have it broken up nearer the navy
yard II the old cruiser were broken
up here, 1t would only require a few
weeks to strip it of its valuable
parts and then the craft would like
ly be relegated to its final resting
place with other old hulks on the
South Amboy flats along the Raritan
river.
Mr.. Gregory suggests that the old
war sloop be swarthed in bunting of
the national colors and bedecked
with Old Glory for the July Fourth
celebration, and be anchored off the
Bluff during July S, open for inspec-
ton Of the citizens of this city. He
suggests that it be anchored off the
Bluff, near the place the fireworks
display will be held. Mayor Garrett
son has endeavored to secure bat
tleship to anchor in the harbor on
that day, but Mr.. Gregory believes
that because of the famous history
attaching to the sloop Portsmouth
through Its long, daring career on
sea, 1t would be of more interest to
Perth Amboyans than any super
dreadnought of the United States
navy.
Boat is Under Water.
Mr.. Gregory stated this morning
that the boat was partially under wa
ter, but that his estimate for the
purchase of the cruiser had specified
that it was to be bought afoat, and
for that reason it would be obliga-
tory on the part of the government
cred to him. He declared he thought
this could be done without doubt in
time to have the fighting sloop here
July 5.
Mr.. Gregory purchased the boat
for mercenary rather than sentimen-
tai reasons, though there was once a
commodore of the craft named Greg
ory. The Portsmouth was the flag
ship of the African squadron in
1849-50, and in 1851 carried the
broad pennant of Commodores Perry
and Gregory of the war of 1872. Mr..
Gregory declares that he cannot
trace his genealogy back to Commo-
dore Gregory, and that it is not his
nature to lay false claim to famous
ancestors and extol his family tree,
but agreed that 1t was possible that
his lineage might be traced back to
the sea commander of the war of
1912
The staunch cruiser was built in
1916 During the Mexican war it
met the Admittance, ship twice the
Portsmouth size, off the Pacific coast
Within half an hour after opening
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