The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-05

A correspondent of the Washington (hroni
Gle contributes an interesting letter concerning
an incident connected with the famous old
frigate Constitution. HIRE is what the con-
tributor says about the part he had in it
During violent storm on the night OF July
9, 1884, some person or persons sawed oil the
fipure-head of Old Ironsides then lying at
Charle5town, Mass. The affair caused much
excitement at the time, and, as the hgure-
head was made to represent Gen. Jackson, 1t
was supposed political spite was the cause OF
this act In a paper published at the time, 1t
is said that the commodore offered one thou
sand dollars reward for the discovery OF the
perpetrator. The affair has often been re-
ferred to since but we do not think that the
name of the perpe.rator has ever been pub
Iished
The man who did II, we believe, was New
England printer named Bepjamin Bond, son
of old Deacon Elias Bond, OF Hallowell, who
lived to the advanced age of ninety-eight
wears. His son Ben was an avowed atheist,
once employed by Abner Kneeland, on the
Boston Investigator. When kneeland was
prosecuted for blasphemy, Ben Bond, his
printer, was summoned as witness, but was
objected to because it was alleged he did not
believe in God Chief Justice Shaw said !:
"Mr. Bond, don't you believe there is God p
Bond replied 80, yes, your honor, believe
there ara more than hundred Of them y
A number of years after, Bond was en-
ploved in the office of the leading Democratic
paper in Maine, and one time, when off duty,
some of his confidential friends in the Office
we're discussing the celebrated order OF the
Secretary Of the Navy to break up Old Iron
des, which order, it may be remembered,
caused Oliver Wendell Holmes to write those
stirring verses, beginning,
"Aye tear her tattered ensign down;
Long has it waved on high"
During the discussion, one of those present
who had heard it intimated that Bond was the
person who had sawed off the Jackson figure
head, asked him if it was SO, and if he would
relate the particulars. In response he related
the story of the affair, which was taken down
by Capt. D. A. Swan, one of his friends, and
was substantially as follows
There were four of US smoking our pipes in
the office Of paper on Devonshire street.
Boston, on the evening OF the "a OF July,
1884, when the placing of General Jackson's
head on the bows of the old frigate Constitu-
ton became the subject of conversation, and
much indignation was expressed that the De-
partment should forget those who on her
decks had humbled the British lion, and
made our flag respected wherever raised, and
in place of such blne-jackets as Hull Stewart,
Decatur and cambridge they should place
the head of a man, who, although confessed
" brave one and patriot, did not know the
main brace from the cooks coppers.
1 do not remember which OF the party pro-
posed it's removal, but know that when it
took shape each one rose to his feet clasped
hands and pledged that to-morrow's sun
should not shine upon that head on the bows
of the old ship. We then adjourned to the
Old Bite tavern, and there perfected our ar
ranpements. 1t was deemed prudent, to in
sure success, that but one man should make
the attempt, which was decided by lot, and
fell to me. Every detail was left TO me, and
after drinking all round success to my under
taking we separated with the understanding
that, if successful, l was to report at the
Office where my companions would remain In
waiting.
Fortunately, thunderstorm was passing,
and, armed with small hand-saw, which 1
still preserve, took my way to wharf, and
unmooring small row-boat, pulled out of
the dock, and drifted up the harbor with the
food tide until nearly abreast the ship, when
l shot across to her bow and caught by her
mooring chain, and lay quietly listening to
the tread of the sentry in the forecastle. The |
rain had commenced falling, accompanied by |
heavy thunder and binding fishes Of light |
ming. II was only the work of few moments |
to gain position beside the figure, and with |
a sharp saw, working only during the
peals of thunder, dislodged old Hickory's |
head from his shoulders, regained the
boat, dropped away from the ship and
and pulled back for I wharf, and in a few
moments, dripping wet, 1 reported at the
Office and deposited the head on the imposing
stone, wiped my saw, took drink of whisky, |
and went home to bed. The next day the
head was seen on Washington street, but how
it came to be there only four jour printers
ever knew. / am the only one of that num-
Der now living, and I'm thinking l shall not
be round myself much longer; SO good night,
boys.
Bond is now dead. He was at one time an |
acquaintance and employed on the same
paper with Shillaber Mrs. Partington) now of
the Post.