The Ely miner., 1933-05-26


significance to Memorial day for thousands of
American families.
Because there are still thousands of survivors
of these wars to help keep green the memories
and the graves of their comrades in arms we
have become accustomed to thinking of Me-
mortal day as day set aside for honoring only
the warrior dead of these conflicts. Time has
somewhat dimmed the memory Of the heroic
dead of the Revolution the War of 1872, the
Mexican war and the earlier Indian wars and
the graves of thousands of them are unmarked
and forgotten. So we cannot decorate their
graves with flowers, even If we would honor
them as we honor the heroic dead of later wars.
But pay our tribute to them in the form
of wreaths of memory, in recalling, If only for
this day, what they did for our country and Of
fering up to them our measure of deepest graft
tude for the lives which they so freely gave in
Its defense
Lay one of these wreaths of memory upon the
grave of Capt. James Lawrencel For 1t was
Just 120 years ago that this young naval officer
dropping mortally wounded to the bloody decks
of the il-starred q. S. S. Chesapeake. uttered
the words which were to become a watchword
of the United States navy and one Of the most
famous phrases in American history-"Don't
give up the ship!'
Lawrence was born in Burlington, N. J.. in
17S1 Destined by his family to become law
passionate desire to enter the newly created
United States navy. But in obedience to the
desires of his family he applied himself to the
study Of law until in 1898 when at length they
released him from his legal studies and secured
a midshipmans warrant in the navy for him.
His first service was on the frigate Ganges
during the troubles with France and he had a
part in the capture of several French privateers-
men. But Lawrence's first taste of real fighting
r-;%I, Dnr rnorr vHir otac
from 1903 to 1905 in which he more than once
distinguished himself as lieutenant under Isaac
Hull, Stephen Decatur and John Rodgers
In 1908 he was made first lieutenant of the
Constitution and his services the famous Old
1ronsides marked the last subordinate place he
held. The next year he was placed in COM
mand of the Vixen which he exchanged for the
Wasp and finally the Argus. In 1911 he got the
Hornet a fast and beautiful little cruiser, car
rying Is guns, and he was in command of her
when the long-expected declaration of war with
England came in 1912.
In February, 1873 Lawrence with the Hornet,
Fought an engagement with the British ship
Peacock which resulted in a complete victory
for the young American commander and won
for him not only the freedom of the city of New
York, handsome piece of plate and gold
medal from that municipality but also the thanks
of congress. But this was the last glimpse of
hoped to be placed in command of the
Constitution but his hopes were dashed when
he was ordered to take command of the Chesa-
peake then being fitted out for service at Bos-
ton
The Chesapeake was the "hoodoo ship" of the
United States navy at that time. From the very
first she had been unpopular ship, for she was
thought to be weak for her size and she was
very ordinary sailer. On June %, 1907 while
under the command Of Commodore James Bar
ron. the Chesapeake was an actor In a morti-
flying event which was to have far-reach1ng re-
suits. On that date she was stopped by the
British ship Leopard on the excuse that three
members of her crew were deserters from the
British frigate Melampus.
There had been great negligence in preparing
the Chesapeake for sea and she was in no con-
dition to resist the demands of the commander
Of the Leopard. So when Commodore Barron
cleared the ship for action, the Chesapeake fell
easy victim to the broadsides of the Leopard
and was forced to strike her flag after suffering
a loss of Is wounded and three killed Then the
Leopard sent a party aboard. seized the three
alleged deserters and made off while the dis
graced Chesapeake returned to Norfolk, Va.
Barron was court-martialed and sentenced to
Eve years suspension from the navy. This In