Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-28

.. The grea, distance from our own coast and the
oerfect wreck we made of the enemy's fr'gate,
forbade every idea Of attempting to take her 10
the limited States. had therefore no aiteriia'
tive lett bu, burning her, which did ON the alst
of December, after receiving all the prisoners
and their baggage, which was very hard WORK.
only having one boat left out OF eight, and mol
one left on board the Java" After blowing
her I'M. the Constitution returned to Boston,
where she arrived on the 18Th OF FEBRUARY, 1918.
Well do we remember being at the Federal
street Theatre, when the news OF this victory was
announced from the stage BY the maosaser' Mr.
Powell, and shortly after when the gallant Com :
modure, together with some of his officers appear
ed in one of the boxes, the whole mousse resouhu
ed for manv minutes with the cheering vi the au-
dience. The veteran Cooper, then IN the prime
of life. was in the second act of Macbeth, aud al
though he stood a little behind the scenes eh're'
" forgetting the gracious Duncan he had murder
ed, We saw him swing bis cap roun" Win as lhoc"
enthusiasm as any one.
| In June, 1918, Capt. Charles Stewart was aP.
nointed to her commands: and on the 3Oth OF
Dece mber, she proceeded to- sea. notwithstanding
Bo,ton was then blockaded by seven ships OF war,
and safely run the gauntlet through the whole OF
them. She returned on the 4tn 0f April, III 4.
aud was chased into Marbenead by two OF the
eneny's heavy frigates, LA NxmPhe and Ju'
non.
About the middle of December 1914, she pro-
ceeded On her second cruise under Capt Stew.
art, and on the 29th of FEBRUARY, oft Madeira, Tell
in with, and after a severe action OF 40 minutes.
succeeding in capturing his IL. b NJ. ships Cayne
of "a, and Lrvant of 81 guRs. and $50 men.
more perfect specimen of nautical skill Was prob
ABLY never witnessed, than was exhibited through
! out the whole Of this memorable battle. Inc
advantages Of divided force, or as the boys call
It. of two upon one, are well known to all. par.
| ticularly to men Of naval science. A rakin2 hire
is almost always very sure to be decisive >of the
fate of battle and TO haze avoided this from ell
Their Of her opponents, and with leading breeze
too, is indeed miraculous, especially when we
recoIIecl that the Constitution succeeded IN ra'
king both OF her antagonists more than once du-
ring the engagement.
After taking possession of her prizes. the three
ships made sail tor the Cape de Ve'd Islands.
and on the 10Th of March came to anchor IN the
harbor of PerI Praya. in the Island ut 81 Jago -
Two days after this, squadron ct the enemy
hove in sight. consisting at the Newcastle anu
Leander, Of SO guns each. and the Acas,a frigate
of 40 the whole under the command ct Sir Geo
Collier, and in seven minutes after the discovery
| w
had cut their cables and were under way, being
at this time only about gun snot to wIndward of
the enemy. TIE Levant was recaptured. Tue
Cyane had the good fortune to escape. and now
iormsa part of our Navy. The Constitution
continued her cruze, aud shortly after returned
To Bnston, where she vas for the third time re
ce,ved wrh every possible demoDstrat'nn 4ot joy
and exultaton TIE last news from her hJd
been brought by the Cyane, arrived at N. York,
when the auuvp squadron was left IN chase, aud
she had heard heavy canonadng shortly alter
oosIno sight Of her, so that the most intense anx-
| iety had tor sumo time been entertained tor
her safety.
Peace had now been proclaimed, and to have
lost this noble vessel aud her gallant crew at thus
late hour. and after sucn a catalogue OF glorious
services too. would have cast gloom over the
| whole country.
No wonder then that her safe arrival, after. 80
MANY +" moving accidents BY flood and ttld;"
and after having escap so many perls "f the
81. waters, winds and rocks''-should be greeted
with universal enthusiasm. Captain Stewart not
only received the thanks of Congress. but OF al
most every state legislature then IN session, and
from many quarters some more substantial marks
Of appreciation.
After this, old Iron.s sides was taken to the
Navy Yard and Immediately dismantied. where
she renamed unemployed, we believe with a SIN.
gle exception, till the spring ct 1895, when she
was again fitted out. and sailed under the COM
mand Of Capt. Daniel + Patterson. to join the
squadron in the Mediterranean. She remained
there about three wears, after which she return.
ed again to the United States, and as it to add
one mere to the many instances OF good luck that
have always attended her-she was so fortunate
as to arrive and fire federal salute in her native
citv-durIng the celebration OF the 4th july
1928, and contributed not a little, as we'll by her
beautiful appearance as By the delightful associa.
tions that are ever uppermnst in the presence OF
of such glorious vessel, to heighten the splen'
dor and add a zest to the festivities Of the day.
We have now we believe briefly touched upon
most Of the leading incidents m the eseniul his
tory Of this favorte ship; doubtless there are ma
ny others we'll worth recording, but which can
be only known 10 those who at the time OF their
occurrence were on board Of her. We have ne
yer been able to find any but very uDsatisfac tory
accounts of her operations before TIIpuli aud