Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-10-27
THE MAN WHO SAWED OFF THE
FIGURE HEAD

II n within the recollection OF many persons
that during the administration Of General Jack
son, much excitement was caused by "ihe fe;
ure-head affair" A foil length statue, in wood,
Of the venerable President had been pit upon
the old ship Constitution, and in the dead Of
night il was removed. Several months ago a
correspondent Of one Of the newspapers fur
nished the following statement in relation TO
the subject
a few years since in company with friend,
called on the venerable Mahlon Dickerson, at
his residence, near Dover county, New Jersey,
and aflet politely showing us over his grounds
and iron mines, he took us through his exien-
sive library, and while giving US a detail Of his
hooks, and the history Of many Of them, he al
so laughingly told us tie story Of the figure
head, which was looking down on US from the
upper shelf. He said
"You know at the time this oceurfcd was
Secretary Of the Navy, and that Government
had offered a reward for the apprehension Of
the perpeiraior of the outrage. Well, one day
] was sitting in the office. when q sailor walked
in with bundle in his hand, and asked if was
the Secretary Of The Navy. He went on 10
say
"You offered a reward for the one that cut
of the figure head Of Gen. Jackson o.
"Yes."
''I0m he ncn."
And uniying his budget, placed before me
the head. was amazed and puzzled 10 divine
what it could mean. ] asked him who helped
him 10 do IT,"
Nobody"
"How did you do -
al rowed out alone, climbed up in the cifains
aOd sawed it of. l attempted to saw Il on
through the neck at first, but the saw struck a
bolt, and had to saw il through the mouth"
'How did you manage to escape being seen
by the watchf''
Hump I swear there wasn't any light,
nor man on deck
"Who got you 10 do this ~
Nobody, and nobody knows it."
"why did you do i'll don't you like Gener-
al jackson ~
Eyes, am Jackson man, and have nc
objections to his Jaisf being on Old Ironsides
but don't believe in a,choie-length hgure-head
and il you put il back again, d-n me if
don, saw !, of agsin."
''ln consultation with the President, The
question came up, what shall we do with thi.
man I The old General said, as there didn
appear to be any political moiivei in the act, and
the man had voluntarily surrendered and as his
story implicated The officers Of the Constitution
who had sworn before the investigating com
mit,ee that the lights were burning, and watch
set, why, we had better let the man 60, and
hush it up"
$780," said Gov. r., "when left Washing
ton threw the head into my trunk, and brough
I it home, and that's the history Of the afair ot
the fgure-head.
We may add that Captain Dewey performet
the feat of saving off the figure head; ant
some years ago, when he resided in this city
related 10 The writer hereof all the circumstan
ces attending the occurrence. The night wa'
dark and rainy, and he therefore truly supposed
not only that tfs watch would not be OF
"lhe lookout" but that no damage to th,
ship, from any "outsider," was anticipated BY
the officers in command. So, he approached
while it lay of Boston harbor, making use o
mufied oars to propel the small boat whicl
carried him to the gallant vessel.
An anecdote Of the Captain may here b.
appropriately introduced. A Mechanics As
socation having been formed in Boston he can't
forward TO attach himself as a member, but OBJ
lection was made. on The ground that he wa
not asmechanic. He Immediately made speecl
in his peculiarly happy vein, insisting that b
had the necessary qualification, being mechan
ic. "What tradei" asked blacksmith. 81
great national gOOd-sacyer," replied the Cap
tain. Every one present understood the allu
sion, Ito the saving off Of the 6gure-head,
and so he was admitted to membership wiihou
! a dissenting voice. Washington Senlinel.