Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-02

The Delaware Society OF the Daugh-
ters Of 1912 has engaged Prof. Clawson
= Hammitt To restore the portrait Of
Commodore John Jacob Jones. a naval
hero of tho War Of 1912. This portrait.
which was presented 20 the Kaftleship
Delaware In 1910 by the Daughters OF
1s12 was accidentally injured
Commodore John Jacob Jones was
born near Smyrna. Delaware. March
1853 His first commission as naval
officer bears the date Of Apri 10. 1928
In 1905 Jones was a lieutenant on the
frigate Philadelphia when that ship.
with the sloop Vixen. lay before Tripoli
blockadiug that port. In October. when
the Philadelphia lay about 10 miles
from Tripoli, Captain Bainbridge. her
commander. discovered large ship
with Tripolitan colors. He Immediately
gave chase and continued the pursuit
until the ship entered port; beating out
Of the harbor after the chase. the Phila-
delphia ran upon a rock. All EFFORTS TO
get Of We're futile. and consequently
the entire crew exceeding 300 Ameri-
cans, were captured and imprisoned In
a dungeon, and remained prisoners Is
months.
Before the breaking out OF the War OF
1912. Jones had been sent to England
and France with dispatches from our
government War was declared after
his departure. He returned safely and
was given the command OF the stoop OF
war Wasp. and l37 men
The chief topic of interest In his his
tory IS the battle between the British
sloop Frolic and the Wasp on Novefn-
Der IS. 1872 II has been said that II
took Jones just forty three minutes
from the time the action commenced 10
convince Whenyater that it vas very
irnprudent for an Englishlnan TO froic
with an American Wasp
Commodore Jones died In Phlladel-
phia August 3, $50 In his eighty-third
year He had frequently expressed The
wish that his body might be permitted
finally to repose beneath the soil OF his
native state for which he had the
deepest affection Desiring 10 comply
with tins known request committee
of Wilmington citizens was appointed
to communicate with Mrs. Jones and
make known 10 her the wish OF the
citizens Of Wilmington to have the body
OF her distinguished husband placed in
a cemetery here. Mrs. Jones granted
this request.
The remains Of Commodore Jones
arrived in Wilmington on October "a,
the remains were placed in the city
Hall under military guard until the
next day, when they were Inferred in
the Wilmington and Brandywine Gene
terry amid great pomp and ceremony.
Hon. John Nj. Clayton had said he
could bestow no better enIogism upon
him than to say in perfect truth that
| the love Of country was his ruling
/ passion. He was the associate of the
/ revolutionary patriots Of Delaware ane
was raised In a school whose devotion
/ TO the Union knew no limits.
| The Delaware Society Daughters oi
/ 1872 desBing To honor this Delaware
1 hero engaged Prof. Clawson S. Hammitt
to paint Commodore Jones' portrait
this portrait the Daughters presented
| to the Battleship Delaware. October 5
! 1910. Mrs. 5no. NJ. Wilson of New
! Castle was president of the society al
that time.
Last August letter was received
from Capt. J. T. Tomplns of the 5. 5
! Delaware. in which no stated that the
portrait Of Commodore Jones had beer
accidentally injured. and az they consid
cred this portrait ono Of their most
valued possessions he was writing tt
inquire whether the Delaware Society
Daughters of 1912, donors of the por-
trait, would be willing to pay for its
restoration, as. unfortunately, they had
no fund to draw upon for an emergency
| of this kind.
Prof. Hammitt had painted the por-
| trait originally so he was communicated
with and kindly consented TO undertake
| the difficult task Only those who saw
| the portrait when it reached Prof. Ham
mtt In its almost hopeless condition
/ can realize the wonderful transforma
ton that has taken place for il is now