Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-01-04
A BIG naval. event
Launching Of the First Warship
Of Our Young Nation.
SHE WAS THE UNITED STATES
1t Was a Great Day in Philadelphia
When Our First Naval Vessel Built
Under tho Constitution Slid Into the
Water on May 10, 1897.

nv kt0 S0tbSIlIQliOH Sllo INTO TIC
Water on May 10, 1897.
In the long list of splendid vessels
which in a hundred combats have
maintained the honor Of our national
flag the United States stands at the
head, After three years of unavoid-
able detention the first naval vessel
built by the United States under the
constitution was to be committed to
he waves. The day chosen for so
great an event In u history was May
10, 1891. The hour for the launching
was set for / In the afternoon, and the
whole city Of Philadelphia, it is said,
went down to Southwark 20 behold
such a rare show.
One estimate puts the number pres
ent at the launching at 10000 souls, a
goodly number for that period. An
other authority declares that an hour
after the launching tool place the
streets of Philadelphia neal the river
front We're still choked with people
going home.
1t was feared that a strong northwest
wind, which for several days had kept
back the tides of the river, would make
the waters Of the Delaware much too
shallow to permit the launching. Yet
at sunrise on the morning of the 10th
the best points Of observation began to
be occupied by an eager throng.
By oon every hilltop and every
housetop commanding a view on each
side Of the river and every inch of
space on the stands put up about the
vessel and before the houses on Swan
ston street was covered With human
beings. In the river a hundred craft
rode at anchor, gay with bunting and
richly dressed danes. AT / precisely
the blocks were knocked from under
her, the flashing Of the cable cut and
amidst the shouts of the great multi
tude the United States slid gracefully
down her ways.
The builder Of this first naval YES
sci of the United States was Joshua
Humphreys. The launching was wit
messed by the president of the United
States and the heads of the depart
ments, who were stationed in the
United States brig Sophie. Commo-
dore Barry was in command of the
vessel.
The %fgurehead on the vessel was
carved by William Rush and repre-
sented the genius of America wearing
a crest adorned with a constellation.
Her hair escaped in loose, wavy tres
ses and rested upon her breast. A
portrait of Washington was suspended
from her neck. and her waist was
bound with a civic band.
In the right hand the figure held a
spear and belts of wampum-the en-
blems Of war and peace. In her left
hand was suspended the constitution
of the Union. Above was a tablet on
which rested three books, to represent
the three branches Of government, and
the scales of Justice. On the base of
the tablet were carved the eagle and
national escutcheon and the attributes
of commerce, agriculture, the arts and
sciences.
Scarcely was the frigate in the water
than the journals Of the country who
were in favor Of the French republic
and took exception to the class rule of
the country, as they designated it, be-
gan to scott and to jeer. What would
the executive do with his navy Of one
forty-four gun ship? Send her to hunt
up the Africa and demand satisfaction
for the insults heaped upon the town
Of Newport and the French Minister
Fauchet? Send her to avenge the fog
ging given by an Englishman to the
captain Of an American slip? Would
he use her to stop the imprisonment of
our seamen and the plumber of our
merchantmen? Or would he use her
against the French?"
These radical Republicans noted that
Talleyrand himself had been heard to
say that France had nothing to fear
from a nation Of debaters that had
been trying for three years to build
three frigates.
The United States. was one Of the
first vessels to do service in the Wa
Of 1872, with that brilliant sea captain,
Stephen Decatur, In charge, and the
most remarkable Of the engagements
in which she fought was with the
Macedonian. OF all the battles between
American and British ships there was
none so often discussed and so well
remembered up to u civil war as this
sea fight, for the reason that the vic
tory vas well won for the Americans,
and the Macedonian was brought into
port, and for many years she carried
the stars and Observation-Disclosures
Press.
Few Nor~sslans Can Swim.
It is a curious fact, says the London
Lancet, considering the geography Of
the country. that the nronortinn of Nor.