State

Captain Johnson Blakely lie was one of I lie most romanlic figures in Ilie history of Rorlli Carolina. A flashing flaring naval officer, whose fate is still one of the unsol vefl mysteries of the sea. OX t ho campus of I he Uni¬ versity of North Carolina, at the fork of two small streams, is a emit tree which has become By ill A J EL IVEY SEAY immortalize! in the history of the University as "The Meeting of the Waters." By searching among the hundreds of names ami initials which have been carved upon this aged tree for more than a century ami n half, one may find the almost illegible name of Johnson Blakely, who made fame for himself in the annuls of the Uni¬ versity by once til roil telling to throw the president of that institution out of tin* window. The portrait of Blakely which bangs upon the wall» of the Philan¬ thropic Society Mall reminds Xorth Carolina of the fame of her naval hero whose last voyage i* still one of the sea's unsolved mysteries. The discipline of the University in the seventeen-nineties was strict and Blakely, an indc|>cu(lcnt, ad¬ venturous ami fun-loving youth, naturally wa* impatient of the restric¬ tion.- placed upon him. Certain col¬ lege disturbances had 1ичч1 going oil and l>r. Caldwell, the president at that time, hail reason to believe that Blakely was involved. lie went to his room one day to question him. Denying all knowledge of the affair. Dr. Caldwell. who considered Blakely’s attitude disrespectful, threatened to throw him out of the window. "I beg, Sir, you will not attempt it," was the young student’s ready reply, "ns it will necessitate my throw¬ ing you out." The courageous spirit in which Blakely made lii.s boyish threat to Dr. Caldwell was an expression of that spirit of independence which made him the greatest, of Xorth Caro¬ lina’s heroes of the sea. Though Xorth Carolinians always refer to Johnson Blakely as a native son, lie wa* born in Ireland. Soon after bis birth, in 17.41, bis parents started to America with him but his mother died on the voyage over. The Irish father and son were welcomed in Wilmington, where the father be¬ came a successful merchant and where the two lived until young Johnson’s college education began. He first attended n school on Long Island to which many Southern fami¬ lies sent their sons. In 171*7, he entered the University. His father bad died, leaving enough property for him to continue bis education. At the University, In- participated in all the customary activities, hold¬ ing every possible office in the Philan¬ thropic Literary Society, though he was often disciplined for laughing out during the meetings, as he had a very keen sense of humor and made no attempt to suppress his mirth when anything amused him. In -pile of his mischievous nature, he did well in his studies, lieing especially gifti-d in navigation, surveying and mathematics. So far as is known, Captain Blakely has the distinction of being the only individual who ever threatened to throw a president of The University of North Carolina out of a dormi¬ tory window. Johnson’s career at the University was cut short in 1799 because tin- property from which In- was receiving rent in Wilmington was burned. He then joined the American navy as midshipman and for 12 years, sailed the high seas, finally becoming a lieutenant and being placed in com¬ mand of a H-gun brig, the Enterprise. Sim» after, lie captured a British privateer, the Fly. and as a result was put in command of the Wasp, an American brig, and on May 1, 1S14, began one of the most colorful trips of lii.s naval career. A series of brilliant attacks and captures of British ships followed, beginning with the British brig-sloop, the Reindeer, nud ending with the brig Allnnla. taken about 30 miles east of the Madeira islands. This ship was taken to Savannah and Blakely then set out to look for further s|Kiils. After October 19, 1414. when the II’iia/i was sceu bv the Swedish ship. Adonis, it was never sc4-n again. Wliat happened to the -hip and its gallant commander lias remained for¬ ever a mystery though many solutions have been offered as to its fate. Per¬ haps some large Knglish vessel sank her. Perhaps she was lost in a gale at sea. Some claim that she had a terrific battle with a powerful British man-of-war off the coast of South Carolina, both «hips having been sunk. Others say she w»« wrecked along the African coast and her crew captured by a band of Arab». Xo matter what the fate of Xorth Carolina's sea hero, he has received the honor lie deserves. In IS 14. the United States Congre-» passed a joint resolution of thanks for his services, awarding him a congressional medal of bravery. The same year, Xorth Carolina passed a like resolution, awarding him a handsome sword sot with jewels. Blakolv left an infant daughter to whom Xorth Carolina contributed *600 a year for her education until 1829. She died a year after her marriage to a member of the Danish nobility.