Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1919 — 40 YEARS AGO YESTERDAY [ARTICLE]

40 YEARS AGO YESTERDAY

John O'Oonnor Returned From a Four Years’ (Voise. ‘•Commodore’’ O’Connor of Knlman called up The Democrat Monday morning to tell us that 49 years ago yesterday—which was Good Friday, April 15, 1870 —the United States battleship Iroquois dropped anchor at Hampton Roads after a four years’ cruise around the world, much of which time it was in Japan waters. Mr. O’Connor was stationed on this ship and he says that the boys were almost tickled to death to get back home again, and when the anchor struck bottom they went wild and hugged each other in the exurberance of their Joy. ‘He said that one doesn’t appreciate this country unt*x he has been away for a long time, and he cAn understand the feelings of the boys who are now coming back from overseas when their boat lands at a home port. The next day the Iroquois coaled at Norfolk and Sunday 1 morning— Easter Sunday—started for New York. They had barely got outside the capes when they came upon an English training ship that had went aground cjuring a heavy stonm the night before. They rescued the 600 men and the 100 or more officers and crew, but the ship soon after went to pieces and became a total wreck.