The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-11-10

>Ssss-sttss5. - G,as ...ss,saer aua yeI
he was one of the greatest fighting
men In the American navy
While the young American naval Of.
acer was still in the early twenfies hf
found himself with no less than ten
duels on his hands Stockton hao
served with distinction in the war OF
1872, and when the rulers Of the Bar.
barry states became troublesome a
short time thereafter he accompanied
the squadron to the Mediterranean and
was one of the most active of the of
ficers in ridding the sea of the pirates
In those days the American navy
was practically a stranger in European
ports, and the British, smarting under
the defeats of the war Of 1912, were
very unfriendly toward Americans. On
one occasion the Erie, upon which yes
sci Stockton was an officer dropped
anchor In the bay of Naples An Ital-
Ian came aboard for job aud showed
a recommendation given him by an
American naval officer beneath which
a British officer had written a con
temptuous epithet.
Stockton was furious when he read
what the British officer had written
Learning the officer was aboard one of
the British men-of-war in the bay.
Stockton sent him a challenge The
Englishman seemed disinclined to fight
except at long range with pistols, but a
duel was finally arranged
Stockton shot the English officer In
the leg. The Britisher dropped, yell
ing: 'I'm hit, I'm hit! Are you sat
isfed?" Stockton said he was not,
but finally agreed to let the matter
drop If the Britisher showed proper
courtesy to all Americans thereafter
From Naples the Erie sailed for Glib
raltar. The officers of the British regi-
ment stationed there were still angry
at the memory of the war of 1912 and
made life unpleasant for the young
American. Stockton was not the sort
Of man to take their insults calmly
The upshot was that he rashly agreed
to fight duel with each Of the regi-
ment's ten captains The chances of
Yet he fought several of the duels,
wounding his adversaries, and escaped
practically unhurt. The series of
fights came to an end in d sensation
al fashion before all ten of the cap.
tains had met him. In one encounter
Stockton had just wounded his oppo-
nent severely when a guard of British
cavalrymen swooped down upon him
and placed him under arrest. Stock
ton wrenched himself free, sprang at
one of his mounted captors, tore the
man from the saddle, vaulted on to the
riderless horses back and galloped
away to his ship, outstripping his pur-
suers and gaining the Erie in safety
Stockton feeling that he had been
deceived 10y the British officers and
that their conduct In arranging for
his arrest was contemplate. branded
them as a lot of knaves. Meanwhile
Stockton was the idol OF the squadron.
and when he returned TO New York
in 1921 he was Fighting Bob" to the
whole country.
Stocktons next mission was to take
charge of the American Colonization
society's expedition to found a negro
colony on the west coast of Africa.
By rare diplomacy he secured and set
tied the African territory that later
became the Republic Of Liberia. Once
while In Liberia, he held a whole hos
tile tribe at bay single handed by level
ing pistol Mt their king Upon his
return, there being no work for him
in the navy, he retired and for twelve
years he was successful tinancier and
promoter
In 1888 Stockton went back to the sea
He devoted himself to introducing into
our fleet the use Of steam vessels ia
place Of the old fashioned sailing ships
and was thus in way the father of
the present mighty battleship and
cruiser. Later he was made com
mander in chief Of the squadron in the
proposed attack on California. and In
a short time he won for himself the
title of "Conqueror or California" In
honor of his achievements Stockton.
Cal, and Stockton street In San Fran
cisco bear the conquerors name.
Stockton died ia 1866. having com
bined during his career Of soldier of
fortune the vocation Of duelist, sea
fighter, colonizer, territorial conqueror,
hnancler and statesman Philadelphia
Press