The daily Alaskan., 1917-02-20

water on way lVI ifSF'
 In the long list of splendid vessels which in ae 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 the waves. The&day chosen for so great an event in our history was May 1O 1T97.. The hour for the launching was set for 1 in the afternoon, and the whole city of Philadelphia, it is said, went down to Southwark to behold such a rare show.
 One estimate puts the number pres ent at the launching at So,O0o souls, goodly number for that period. An other authority declares that an hour after the launching took place the streets of Philadelphia near the river front were stin' ehoked with people going home.
 It was feared that 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 noon every hilltop and every housetop commanding 6 view on each stds 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. Tn the river a hundred craft rode at anchor, gay with bunting and richly dressed danes. Al 1 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 ves- sel 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 Sments, who were stationed in the United States brig Sophie. Commo- dore Barry was in command of the vessel
 The figurehead on the vessel was carved by William Rush and repre- sented the genius of America wearing 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 civic band. .....
 In the right hand the figure held a spear and belts Of wampum-the em- blems of war and peace. h her left hand was suspended the constitution of the Union. Above was 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 ahd the attributes of commerce, agriculture, the arts and sciences.
 Scarcely was the frigate ln 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 1t, be gan to scoG aud to jeer. What would the executive do with bis 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 Fauchet2 Send her to ayenge the fog ging given by an Englishnan to the captain of an American ship2 Would he use her to stop the implessment of our seamen and the plunder of our merchantmen? Or would he use her against the FrenchT''
 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 War of 1912, 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 we'll remembered up to our civil war as this sea fight, for the reason that the vic tory was well won for the Americans, and the Macedonian was brought Into port, and for many years she carried the stars and stripes Philadelphia