The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-07-08
GOLD IRONsIDEs."
From Harper's Weekly.

ed 10 break up ner SlOTW anu patti'
beaten hull Us thing of no further
vslue-a piece OF vandalism against
which the people should indignantly
protest. Once before such Il proposition
was entertained, and called forth sir
ring protest from the pen of Oliver
Wendell Holmes. We quote the poem
here in the hope It may have again the
effect to rouse public sentiment against
the destruction of this magnificent me
mcnto OF our naval glory:
CAV, tear her tattered ensign down!
Long has IL waved on high,
And many an eye has danced 10 see
That banner in the sky.
Beneath II rung the battle shout,
And burst the lannon's roar:
The meteor OF the .cean air,
Shall sweep the clouds no more.
Her deck once red with heroes blood
Where knelt the YanquiShed Toe,
When winds were humming DER the Hood,
And waves were white below
No more shall feel the victOr's tread,
Or know the conquered knee;
The harpies OF the shore shall pluck
The eagle OF the sea!
"Oh! better that her shattered hulk
should sink beneath the wave;
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
And there should be her grave.
Nail To the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadOare sail,
And give her To the God of Storms,
The lightning and the gale!"
1t has be0n suggested that the Consti-
tuition should be fitted up to serve us the
flag ship of the station during the
Centennial celebration next year. The
grand old friga.e could not 10 put t
more appropriate service, and in com.
mon with all who cherish the gloriou.
memories of our naval history, we trust
that this design may be carried out.
The Constitution was built at Harris
ship-yard, in Boston, where Constitution
Wharf now is, ut a cost OF over $500, 900.
She was made very strong. Her frame
WIS of live oak, and her planks were
bent on without steam, as it was thought
that process weakened and softened the
wood. She was launched on the Dist of
October, 1897, in the presence of great
gathering of people, but did not start
upon cruise till July, 1898, when she
went to sea under command of Captain
James Nicholson. The Constitution
was 50 stanch ship that she received
the name of "Ironsides.' She Away. had
excellent commanders, and performed
gallant service against the Algerine pi-
rates and the British.
The Constitution was the flagship OF
Commodore Preble in 1904, when TripOlI
was bombarded. In the gallant action
OF the 29th of August in that year she
was run into within short distance
of the castle aud batteries, and by her
destructive ire ofround and grape shot ST.
fenced the guns OF the Notifications and
spread devastation among the Bashaw 5
feet.
The next great action in which the
Constitution was engaged was the en-
gsgement with the British frigate Guer-
rere, of thirty-eight guns, commanded
1 by Captain Dacres, 1t took place on
| the 18th of August, 1912, off the Ameri.
can coast in the present track Of ships to
/ England. The Constitution carried
forty-iour guns, and was commanded by
Captain Isaac Hull. After much man
euvring to obtain the weather gage the
hostile vessels Ut six o'clock in the even.
ing came within half pistol shot of each
other, and engaged in deadly conflict
with the entire force of each vessel
The guns of the Constitution were
double.shStted with round and grape, an(
their execution was terrible. The rig
gng of the two vessels finally became
/ entangled, and both parties prepared t.
board. The fire from small arms be
came exceedingly severe, and Lleuten'
ant Morris, of the Constitution endeav'
AIRED 20 lash the vessels together. A
this momentthe sails Of the Constitution
filled, and she shot ahead, instantly eN'
. posing the shattered condition OF her an
.ugUnlst The foremost of the Guer
riere fell carrying with it her mainmast
She was thus left helpless wreck upor
n rough sea. The combat had continued
for nm hour, and the Constitution WAS
about 10 pour raking fire INTO hei
disabled antagonist, when the latter dis.
charged gun 70 the leeward, IN toker
of surrender At daylight the Guer
rie-e was found to be sinking. The
prisoners and some movables were trans
ierred TO the Constitution, and at
o'clock in the afternoon, the battered
hunk haying been fired, She blew up
The Constitution carried the Intelligence
ot her own triumph to Boston. Hel
next exploit, under the command O
Commodore Bainbriige, was the cap
ture of the Java, British frigate o
thirty eight guns commanded BY taptaif
Lambert. This engagement took place
on the 10Th of December, 1872, of the
coast of Brazil. The action lasted thre'
hours. The Java was entirely disinasted
large number of her guns were disabled
her hull was terribly shattered, and bel
bowsprit WAS shot away. The ConStltu
tion did not lose spar. The Java wa
one ofthe best ships in the British service
Her officers and crew numbered ove'
four hundred; twenty-five were killed
and hundred and two wounded, her
commander fatally. The Constitution
lCstnine killed aud twenty-five wounded
On the 10th of February, 1914, while
on her way from Bermuda to Madeira
on a cruise, the Constitution, then under
command of Captain Charles Stewart
captured two important prizes, the
Cyane, thirty-six guns, and the Levsn'
twenty. The action began about I'VE
o'clock in the afternoon, The evening
WAS pleasant, the moon shining brightly
The British vessels maneuvrcd SO as &c
attack the Constitution simultaneously
At half-cable's length from each other
they awaited their antagonist sue
came up in gallant style, and managed
so skilfully as 10 pour tremendous broad
sides into both Of them. A little before