The Colorado statesman., 1917-09-08
MEMENTOS OF ADMIRAL
Uncle Sam Gets War Relics of
David G. Farragut.
Collection Includes JeweIed Sword
Presented to Fighter in Closing
Days of Civil War.

Some striking objects comm emora.
tive of the life and services of one of
the most romantic and inspiring fig
ures among the list of great American
naval heroes, Admiral David G. Far
ragut, have recently been received by
the United States National museum
at Washington as the gift of the es-
tate of Loyal Farragut, son of Ad-
miral Farragut, and placed on public
exhibition.
First in interest among these OBJ
jects is a jeweled sword inscribed
presented to Rear Admiral David G..
Farragut by Members of the Union
League Club, as a token of their ap-
probation of his gallant services rem
dered in Defense of his Country. New
York, April 23rd, 1864" This sword
was sent to him on board his ship
Hartford" about year after he had
succeeded in the difficult task of COM
pletely opening the Mississippi river
to navigation through its entire length
for the national navy and supply
ships. Other objects among the me-
mentos of Admiral Farragut received
by the museum are three pairs of
epaulets, chapeau, a cap, belt,
shoulder strap, two sword knots, 10
buttons, and eight naval insignia. The
collection also includes a fine portrait
of the admiral by william Swain, a
number of Photographic portraits Of
him, and several paintings of notable
scenes in his career.
The life of Admiral David G. Far
ragut reads like story of adventure.
AS a child be became the protege of
Captain Porter of the U. S. navy, and
at the tender age of nine and half
years he was appointed midshipman
in the navy and the next year was put
with Captain Porter on the frigate
Essex" which cruised up and down
the coast, the midshipman attending
school in Newport during the winter.
In 1872, when war was declared with
England, the Essex" was made ready
for service and soon captured several
prizes. On this cruise young Farra-
gut discovered and frustrated a mu-
tiny among the prisoners, and on
subsequent cruise of the Essex" in
the Pacific, he, at the age of twelve
was made prize master of a captured
ship, bringing the ship into port over
the head of the violent-tempered cap
tain who had been ordered to navi-
gate her and who refused to take
Farragut's orders. Farragut's first
battle-that of the Essex" against
two ships in the harbor of Valparaiso,
March %, 1914, was one of the blood
lest ever fought on the sea.
Subsequently in quick succession he
served on the "John Adams" the
Greyhound" the "Seagull," and in
1923, was assigned to the command
of the Ferret" which conveyed mer-
chantmen through the Gulf to protect
them from pirates. On this ship, yell
low fever developed among the crew
and he himself treated those afflicted
until he caught the disease and was
sent to the hospital in Washington.
During the next % years, or until the
beginning of the Civil war, he COM
manded - different ships, served on
courtS-martial, at navy yards, test
ing naval guns, constructing navy
yard at Mare Island, Cal, and was
otherwise busily engaged in naval af-
fairs.
His task during the Civil war was
to open the Mississippi river to navi-
CATION and to take the cities of New
Orleans and Mobile. He took New
Orleans after a desperate ten-day bat
tie, in the course of which the Con-
federate fleet was entirely destroyed.
He next proceeded to clear the entire
river and finally on August 5, 1864,
the fleet advanced on the defenses of
Mobile under heavy fire from the forts
and through water dotted with mines
and torpedoes. During the advance
the leading ship Brooklyn" stopped
and seemed likely to throw the whole
line into confusion. "What is the
trouble?" was shouted through trum-
pet from the flagship Hartford"
"Torpedoes," was the answer. Damn
the torpedoes," exclaimed Farragf.
"Four bellsI Captain Drayton, go
ahead full speed" and the Hart
ford" passed the "Brooklyn," took her
place at the head of the line and led
the fleet into the bay. After several
days of terrific fighting under heavy
fire from the big guns, the forts finally
surrendered.