The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-08-15


AM on the thrty-fourth anniversary
E of his birth-on August %, 1919.
-aH. III 1t Is not given to many men TO
O win deathless fame before they
are thirty. But Fate decreed that
a youthful commander In the United States navy
should be OF those favored morals. Nor
was 1t blind chance or a mere stroke Of luck
which brought him his renown. When his big
opportunity came he was trained and ready for
It, The result was one of the most brilliant vic
tories in the history of naval warfare-his de-
feat and capture of a British fleet on Lake Erie,
September 10. 1913. That, plus his triumphal
announcement. the laconlc quality of which Is
in keeping with the briefness of his career has
made the name of Oliver Hazard Perry one of
the best known In American history.
II ever there was an American family which
exemplifes naval heritage 1t was the Perrys
of Rhode Island. That heritage began with
Christopher Raymond Perry who was only thr-
teen years old when the Revolution began. But
he Immediately enlisted In the Kingston Reds
and served vaianty In the Continental army.
He next served on prlvateer, then on board the
Miffn.. was captured by the British and for
three months endured the horrors Of the British
prison ship. Jersey. Escaping from the Jersey,
Perry enlisted on the Trumbull under Capt.
James Nicholson and had part In the victory
over the British privateer Watt, in 1779. Later
he was captured again and sent to -Newry, Ire
land. as prisoner of war;
There he became acquainted with Sarah Alex
ander, pretty Scotch girl, whose grandfather
had fed from Scotland to Ireland and who had
been left an orphan In her childhood. At the
close of the war Christopher shipped as sea-
man on British ship bound for America. Sarah
Alexander was passenger on the same ship and
upon her arrival at the home of DR. Benjamin
Rush IN Philadelphia, Christopher sought her out
and they were married He took his bride to
the Perry homestead at Wakefield. r. l., a house
that looked out toward the sen and from which
her husband and her sons were to go down to
the sea In ships" and become officers In the
United States navy.
There were five of them-0liver Hazard Ray
mond H. j., Matthew Cabrath James Alexander
and Nathaniel Hazard. AS If this contribution
to her adopted country's forces was not
enough. two of her three daughters married naval
officers Capt. George w. Rodgers and DR.. VIII
liam Butler
The influence Of this mother on her sons had
much to do with their later fame She told them
stories of her warrior ancestors In Scotland; she
closely supervised their education she fitted
them to command by teaching them to obey" and
when, still In their teens they answered the call
Of the sea. she sent them forth cheerfuly. She
lived to see all of them make honorable records
In the service of their country and two Of them
to become famous-Oliver Hazard the victor
In the Battle of Lake Erie and Matthew Cal
hraith as the commander of the expedition which,
In 1854, opened the ports Of Japan and started
that nation on the rise to It's present position
among the world powers.
Oliver Hazard Perry entered the United States
navy at the age of fourteen as midshpman.
That was in 1913 when war with France seemed
Inevitable. But 1t not until the war with
Tripoli, when Commodore Preble was sent to
suhdue the Barbary pirates that young Perry
his first active service. In 1910 he was COM
mssioned lieutenant and placed In command
of the schooner Revenge The Revenge
wrecked off Watch Hill. near his home, but a
naval board of inquiry not only cleared him Of
all blame for the disaster but also praised him
for his conduct on that occasion.
BY the time the second war with England be-
gan. Perry was known of the best ord
nance officers In the navy and early In 1872 he
was placed in command of hotilla of gunboats
In Newport harbor. But before he had chance to
distinguish himself with this command certain
significant events took place In the West which
determined that he would win his fame on our
inland seas rather than on the broad Atlantic.
In July, 1872, General Hull surrendered to the
British at Detroit and 1t became apparent that
control OF Lake Erie would be vital factor In
the war. Immediately both Americans and Brit
ish began construction of war vessels and a
thrilling race with time ensued There was
feverish activity In the British shipyards at
Maiden, opposite Detroit and far to the east In
the harbor OF Presque Isle tnow Erie. Pal there
was similar bnstling about. An American fleet
was to be built there under the direction OF
young Oliver Hazard Perry who was to take
command of 1t, Awrest control Of Lake Erie from
the British and cooperate with Gen. William
Henry Harrison, commander in chief OF the
american military FORCES IN ONO, then Threat
ened with invasion by the British and their
Indian allies -
Making his way through the wilderness In a
sleigh. Perry arrived at presqne Isle In Fehru-
airy 1913, and found what seemed 10 be hope
less task on his hands. Only the materials for