Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-07-15
We continue to receive accounts from all
parts of the country of damage by recent
thunder storms.

Gold IRoNsIDEs." The following biographical
sketch of this veteran of the American Navy is cop
led from the Boston Daily Advertiser -
FRIGATE CONSTITUTION, commonly called
SOD IRoNsIDEs."-On the 5th inst. this
tavourite and fortunate ship came up and
anchored off the Navy Yard. When off In
dia-wharf, she fired national salute in hon
our of the day.
The return of this noble frigate to the
place of her nativity, and on the 4th of July
too, may be reckoned among the instances
OF the good luck that has always attended her.
She was launched from Harris ship-yard at
the north end, in October, 1897, and is con-
sequently nearly thirty-one years old. The
severe labour that attended her birth, which
was only effected at the Sd trial, was seized
upon by the enemies of navy as prophetic
of i'll luck With how little reason, her
brilliant career has fully demonstrated. We
may safely challenge the annals of naval his
tory to name the ship that has done so much
to fill the measure Of her country's glory.
She sailed on her first cruise, on Sunday the
22d of July, 1898, under the command of
Capt. Samuel Nicholson, and returned about
the middle of November. This was during
the brief war with the French republic. We
AA0hiSS tilC uppOllllulCHJ vi 1SddC I1ull as nGr
4th Lieutenant In May, 1903, Com. Ed.
Preble was appointed to her command, and
IN June he sailed with the squadron for the
Mediterranean, destined to act against Tri-
poll. 10 all conversant with this scene of
war, it is well known the Constitution acted
a conspicuous part, in fact bore the brunt of
the battle. After the destruction of the
Philadelphia of a guns; she was for long
time the only frigate on the station, and be-
ing ably seconded by the smaller vessels
with the gallant Decatur, did more to hum
bic the pride of the Barbary states, than all
christendom ever did before or since.
In short, such variety of service and
perilous adventure has never been achieved
by any vessel. She soon after returned
home, where she remained UNEMPLOYED. or
nearly so, till the commencement of the late
war with Great Britain. This was on the
18th of June, 1912. On the 10Th July, she
left the Chesapeake for New-York. and on
the 18th discovered and was chased bv
British squadron consisting of the Africa Ga.
and four frigates, for three days and three
nights. She escaped at last by skilful man.
agement, and arrived in Boston harbour on
the goth of July. This was one of the most
brilliant exploits of the war; After remain
ing few days in port she sailed again, and
on the 10Th Of August, fell in with, and after
an engagement of thirty minutes, captured
H. B. NJ. frigate Guerrero of 40 guns, and
BOP men. After burning her, Capt. Hull re-
turned again to Boston on the Both August.
and soon gave up the command to Capt.
William cambridge, who with the same crew
shortly after sailed on another cruise to
South America, where on the 29th of Deem
Der of the same year, after an engagement
OF about two hours, she captured H. B. M.
ship Java of 40 guns, and upwards of 400
men. This was one of the severest con-