Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-12-03
[From Cooper's Naval History ]
THE CHASE.
A THRILLING INCIDENT.


In approaching nearing our own times,
the incidents of the late war with England,
for the naval history of which, more abun-
dant materials exist are narrated with grea-
ter detail. Among the earliest events re-
corded by our author, is the escape Of the
Constitution under Commodore Isaac Hull
from a fleet Of British ships, in July 1912.
The story itself,and the style of its narrator
are both so spirited that we cannot deny
ourselves the satisfaction Of laying it before
our readers:
As the day opened, three sails were
discovered on the starboard quarter of the
Constitution, and three more on her stern
This was the squadron of Commodore
Brooke, which had been gradually closing
in with the American friga,e during the
night and was now just out of gun shot
AS the ships slowly varied their positions,
when the masts were entirely cleared away
the Constitution had two friga,es, a brig,
and a schooner aslern. All the strangers
had English coors flying.
1t now fell quite calm, and the Con-
siitution hosted out her boats, and sent
them ahead to tow, and with a view to keep
the ship out Of the reach of the enemy's
shot. AT the same time, she swept up one
gun deck gun to the spar deck, and run it
Out alt, as stern chaser, getting a long
eighteen off the forecastle also for similar
purpose. Two more Of the twenty four
below, were run out Of the cabin windows,
with the same object, though it was found
necessary to cut away some Of the wood
work of the stern frame, In order to make
room.
BY six o'clock, the wind, which con-
tinued very light and battling, came out
from the northward of west when the ships
head was got round to the southwark, and
all the light canvass that would draw was
set. Soon after, the nearest frigate, the
Shannon opened with her bow, and contn-
ued for about ten minutes, but percelving
she could not reach the Constitution, she
ceased. At half past six, Capt. Hull sound
ed in twenty six jathoms, when finding that
the enemy was likely to close, as he was
enabled to put the boats Of two ships on one
and was also favored with little more air
than the Constitution, all the spare rope
that could be found. and which was fit for
the purpose, was payed down into the cut
tiers, ben, on. and a kedge was run out, near
half mile and let 60. AT signal given,
the crew clapped on and walked away with
the ship, overrunning and tripping the kedge
as she came up with the end OF the line
While this was doing fresh lines and anolh-
er kedge were carried ahead, and IN this
manner, though out Of sight of land, the
frgate had glded away from her pursuers,
before they had discovered the manner in
which it was done. Ii was not long, how
ever, before the enemy resorled to the same
expedient. At half past seven, the Con
sttu,ion had little air, when she set her
ensign, and fred shot at the Shannon, the
nearest ship aslern. AT eight, it fell ca I'M
again, and further recourse was had TO the
boats and Hedges, the enemys vessels hav-
ing a light air, and drawing ahead, towing,
sweeping and hedging. BY nine the Shan
non, on which the EngIigh had put mos. of
their boats was closing fast, and there was
every prospect. Notwithstanding the stead
mess and activity Of the CONSTITUTIONS peo-
pie, that the frgale just mentioned, would
get near enough to cripple her, when her
capture by the rest of the squadron would
be inevitable. AT this trying moment, the
best spirit prevailed in the ship. Every
thing was stopped, and Capt Hull was not
without hopes, even should he be forced
into action, of throwing the Shannon astern
by his fire, and ofmalntaning his distance
from the other vessels. TWAS known that
the enemy could not tow very near, as 1t
would have been very easy to sink his boats
by the stern guns of the Constitution, and
not man relieved each other regularly at