Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-10-11
When Uncle
Sam G0tANavu
INA Hurry

- been astolnded at Yankee ingenuity
While such present day experts Henry Kaiser and
thousands OF engineers and workers have been sending
boats down the ways in ending splash historians
discovered that not only the miracle accomplished
but it done nearly $50 under more
difficult circumstances
The other day when the Pennsylvania Historical Com
at Erie Pennsylvania finished restoring the decks
hull and interior of the famous Niagara flagship of the
Americans the Lake Erie curious and in
teresng sideght on the building of the fleet that won
great victory for the United States revealed
1t little known Yankee shpbuilder, Daniel Dob
bins who created for Oliver Hazard Perry in record time
victorious fleet from the trees that lined the shores of
Lake Erie The staunchest Of the lot the flagship
In 1872 when the British were in absolute control of
Lake Erie Cap'n Daniel Dobbins who along with other
had either driven off the lake
imprisoned made his way from the port of Erie then
called Pressure Island to Washington D. c. to acquaint
President Madison with what was going
1t a long and tough journey peset with hostile
Indians and renegades but the doughty captain who had
lost his ship to the British determined Ito see
what those folks down in the gon to do
about it."
When Dobbins arrived he got an audience with Pres-
Madison who deeply concerned at this first
Of the enemys operations Lake Erie to reach Wash
ington. Unless the redcoats stopped American
pansion westward would be barred her northern boun-
Diary put in danger.
An American fleet on Lake Erie to engage enemy
urgent necessity But it impossible to ma
terialize o thin
III build a fleet yon, Mr. President" Dobbns
burted out The shores of Lake Erie lined with fine
oak and pine Pressure Island has good harbor facilities
All need is workers.
So convincing was Dobbns President commits
stoned him to do the Job he Immediately
New York CITY round whatever carpenters and other
workers he could persuade to return to Pressure Island
with him
In New York Dobbns enlisted the services Of Henry
Eckford a naval architect three skilled boat
builders But when they arrived at Presque Island they
discovered that the carpenters which the u S Navy had
promised to send from Washington d. c. had been de-
layed, hadn't been
After few days of impatient waiting. Dobbins said
70 Eckford Wen house carpenters we're wasting
time Whereupon he sadded his horse and spent week
securing the countryside for every who could
Then. working from Eckfords plans Dobbins began to
build the Niagara and her sstershp the Lawrence The
Niagara himself from black
oak, 40 feet in length. The white
and black oak and the deck of pine
When the soops began to take shape and Eclford
dered them pierced for 20 guns and two ports it
Dobbns who personally supervised the rounding up
and transportation OF 32pound 2pound-
hauling them for hundreds miles Pesque
Smaller vessels started until there fleet
OF nine the Then late in March, 1913, Oliver
Hazard Perry 2syearold naval hero had fought
well IN the against Tripo arrived Presque
take charge He Dobbins and his aide
Eckford had truly built fighting ships fighting men,
BY August the American feet was launched ten ships
IN awhich set out 10 seek and destroy the enemy"
month later that remarkable feat accomplished
From the deck Of the Niagara Perry his immortal
message We have met the enemy and they are ours
two ships two brgs. schooner one sloop"
AS for the valiant Niagara it had odd history
the battle.
Deliberately sunk in Misery Bay in 1915 because some
Washington declared usefulness was at an
end the staunch ship, raised 9s years
Perry Centennial Then again suffered neglect after
her brief restoration TO glory
Two years ago the state OF Pennsylvania provided
funds repairing her and the Pennsylvania Historical
Commission set about making the gallant Niagara Iiv
ing testimonial TO American ingenuity and enter
prise.
The other day the work Of restoring tho hun and IN
completely finished the masts and rigging
Will More than 600 patriotic and pro,
present day Americans already have Perrys valiant
flagship