The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-12-12

the limitation Of ornaments is whaA
Is hoped for, great many ships which
have done good service in the Ameri.
can navy will so to the scrap heap,
but there are several ships which the
American people may know in advance
never will be scrapped. ra'
1t Is not probable that the confer
ence will result in the scrapping of
the wartime memories Of the Amer
lean people,, although some Of the agi-
tators here who "ducked their duty"
in war aud left their fellowmen to DO
their fighting for them, apparently
wish that all the memories Of the past
might be wiped out. They are a pre-
cious lot, these slackers. Apparently
there is not a patriotic emotion in the
breast of any one of them, and yet
Washington authorities seem to feel
compelled to tolerate their presence
and their pernicious pieketing activ-
tiles. 4 e.. 4 Fr&$
I One expects to see some day. If
things 60 on as they are, n procession
marching along Pennsylvania avenue
with big banner at the head carry
lug these words: Scrap Old lron'
sides"-Old Ironsides being the frigate
Constitution which now lies in the
Charlestown (Mass.) navy yard, emp
ty of other cargo but loaded with
glorious memories Of sea victories OF
the past. The processionists would
march in vain, for the American peo-
pie presumably can be depended upon,
Il majority of them at least, to III
sist in the future, as they have in-
sisted in the past, that the ship which
Oliver Wendell Holmes once saved
from the scrap heap by his great poem,
AYE tear her tattered ensign down."
shall not be sent to the limbo Of for
getfulness.
The Constitution, therefore, unques.
.tionably is safe,. and so is the Con-
stellation, which virtually is sister
ship of the Constitution, and which
sailed the seas for many years and on
several occasions met and defeated
the ships Of the enemy.
h, Fate Of the kearsarge.
It was the governments intention
to save for all time the old Kearsarge
which fought the fight with the Ala
bnma off Cherbourg. France, in the
days of the Civil war. The ship was
kept in commission and it formed a
part of the North Atlantic squadron
for a good many years. With other
ships Of the squadron it sailed forth
one day in 1903 from Bar Harbor, Me-,
and that voyage probably was the last
time that the squadron Of the old
timers ever was together.
They were full-rigged ships with
steam auxiliary, and the sight Of them
with. all sail set was one long to be
remembered. The Kearsarge was sent
on q commission to the West Indies
with Il party OF scientists Oh board.
On perfectly clear, bright day 1t
ran on ROncadOr Reef, and it was i'm
pusslble to save her. There her bones
bleached.
The old Hartford, Farraguts ship
Mt Mobile bay, still is borne OH the
navy register but it IS out OF, COM
mission. It needs repairs badly, and
congress has been asked to add a SUM
to the next naval appropriation bill
which will enable this old fighting
craft, to be saved.
The body of the unknown American
soldier. which was buried in Arllug-
ton with such solemn ceremonies on
Armistice day was brought to the
United States on the Olympia, an old
time fighting vessel which was
!Dewey's flagship at the battle Of
Manila bay. II was on the bridge of
the Olympia that Dewey, turning to
Lieutenant Commander Gridley said !:
You may fire When you are ready,
Mr.. Grldlcy." The Olympia is to be
saved.
Oregon Surely Will Be Saved.
The old Oregon never will he
scrapped unless the 2eople lose their
patriotic memories and emotions.
There are men still comparatively
young who remember the voyage Of
the Oregon around Cape Horn when
she was on her way under forced
draft to make the east coast Of the
United States In time to join the fleet
Which later put the Spanish Admiral
Cervera's battleshins out of commits
sion in a running fight. 49,.
Admiral Charles r. Clark, who Is
still living, although he IS on the re-
tired list, was the captain OF the Ore
ron on that recOrd-breaklng voyage.
While on the way south from Sal,
Francisco to round the Horn, news
was received to the effect that Span-
lsh destroyers and torpedo boats were
on the lockout for the Oregon. THIS
news was read by Captain: Clark to
the crew assembled on the forward
deck. They received the information
with roaring cheers and the ships
band played 1.-THE Star-Spangled Bnn-
ncr." The Oregon made It's northern
port in safety and later did great
service in the fight ut Santiago.