The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-07
Prague. The Office would, however, remain
long vacant should the Princess become
Queen Of Spain.
CHASE or THE OLD IROSsIDEs.
A "Reminiscences Of the Last War With Eng
land Excitement of the People when
the Constitution Entered Sa-
lem Harbor.
[salem Mass, Reglster.I


/ have been much entertained By an article
In the Salem Observer OF july IL on the oid
shopkeepers OF Salem, most or al OIL whom
remember. The writer OF it, in bis notice OF |
Amos Hoyey, Ma or-General OF NJ Massachusetts
Militia In 1873 VINO certainly always looked
the gentleman in his shop and the officer on
parade, refers to the escape Of the Constitution
frigate, chased into Marblehead by swO Brit
ish frigates. AS I have vivid recollection
of some Incidents connected with this affair
which may be interesting, give them to you
to dispose OF as you SEQ tit ] was then nine
years old, living at the foot OF Daniels street,
below Derby street. On q Sunday, soon after
dinner, which was, probably, on that day, at
noon, Mr.. Robert Stone, one Of my fathers
partners In business, came IN and said that
ship had been chased into Marblehead ny the
enemy's squadron, then blockading the bay,
and il would be we'll TO know about It, The
| family horse and two-wheeled chaise We're
| brought out and at my urgent request l
| was permitted to occupy small cricket
| placed oH its floor. We drove no Essex street,
| through Central, over the bridge to South
! Salem, and, when halfway up the hill at its
end, saw man approaching on horseback at
speed, who, on seeing and recognizing us,
pulled up hastily and said: lie frtgate
/ Constitution has been chased into Marble
bead-we mean to defend her, and we want
all the men and ali the guns you can send
as. | am the Chairman OF the Selectmen.
| Will you take charge OF the message to the
| authorities, and do what you can for usS
must go back" The proper assurances were
| given, the chaise was turned, and we drove
| directly to Gen. Hoyey'S house on Essex
street. and next east OF the Franklin Building.
| My father went into the yard to the front
| door, and saw the General come out to re-
ceve him. Mr.. Stone, whose house was di-
| recty opposite his went to inform his family
and was left in charge OF the horse. They
| both returned almost instantly. The General
asked q few questions, naturally, as to the
best course to De pursued. The reply was:
"You will do as you think tit, We will see to
sending what they want, both guns and
| William Manning's stage stable, filled with
the best stage teams in New England, was
Just round the corner, on Union street, opp0-
site your then printing office. Fortunately, it
being Sunday the horses were all in and
fresh. Manning himself was standing under
the old elm tree. No words were wasted
t'Send all your horses, with harness and
drivers for four six-horse teams, to the gun
house ON the neck the Constitution Is chased
into MarDiehead." They shall be there,
wae the reply. We drove on, and through
Derby street to nay grandfather's house,
which stood where now stands the Custom
house. They wished to find, and they did
find, George CroWninshield, the a jax lebanon
in every deed Of daring whether It was To
rescue people from flood or fire, to 20 through
town meeting, fight for his country's Hag
or, as he afterward did, in person and at his
own expense, to bring from Halifax the bodies
Of Lawrence aud Ludlow, after the loss OF
the Inflated Chesapeake. Jney all then went
directly to the Neck, but, much to my disgust,
. ! was discharged, with my cricket, at Daniel
| street, with directions to tell my mother The
news. IL spread rapidly, the streets were
soon filled with people, and in about half an
hour saw the first gum think al l8-pound-
er, with six fast horses On the run, go through
Derby street with George Crowniushield
upon it. There had been sotGe delay In grb-
ting at the guns, and afterWard in fitting the
, | harness. The courthouse was a brick structure,
. then recently built Just inside the Neck gate,
ON the left hand side, and, with the guns, be-
, longed to the United States. I he heavy oak
doors were secured by locks and bars; but
opposite was ship-yard, and soon heavy
stick OF timber, by the united efforts OF sailor
and mechanics, under the direction OF the
person named above, was advancing to force
an entrance. Mr.. Stone told me, many years
, , after ward that just as the assault was to be
! made, he said Capt. George, walt a minute.
You are under bonds to Keep the peaee-iet
me give the order" It was given, and the
doors went in. ] saw several OF these heavy
, guns pass by for MarDlehead, and reInem-
ber an hour or more after the rest, one
drawn by 3 yoke OF oxen on it's slow and
winding way. Ihfs must have Seen the Que
spoken OF in the Observer.
! or what took place in the other parts OF the
: town / know nothing. The two gentlemen
, first spoken OF drove directly to Marblehead,
were In the fort and went on board the
frgate. Capt CroWnlnshield came round in
4 her to Salem, where she was brought for
further safety, Offering his services as pilot,
. but Of course regular pilots were ia charge. /
that evening, TO see her come lnlo the harbor
1t was matter of much speculation as to
), how lar in she could come. She kept well
. over on the MarDehead shore to hold the
:, deep water, and came to, to let go her
: anchors, when nearly abreast OF the CroWnla-
4 | shield wharf.
: Great excitement prevailed at Marblehead
n and especially in the fort, on seeing three
: frigates approach the haib0r and there was
= an apprehension that they We're all enemies
: the chase playing pOssum.' The Constltu-
tioIs ensign Gld not blow out, the wind being
n aft and light. AS she came abreast OF the
4 fort It's guns were brought to bear on her
= when a sailor was seen to ascend the rigging
! | lay out on the nlizzen peak, and clear The
= Stars and Stripes from the sail. Then q
Il shout, which rang through all the ships, Wen'
:. up from the shore, and the Constitution wax
:. safe large portion Of her crew were Mar
= biehead men. The Constitution REMAINED
h some days in Salem harbor and public pal
!, was given to Capt. Stewart and his officers IL
! | Franklin Hail. The brick clubhouse on tht
: Neck I saw taken down about 1880, it having
BECOME unsafe, and leave being obtained o
Z the United States authorities. The land OF
: which it stood was taken into the Alms-houst
/, farm. j never heard my father speak mucf
q | Of this affair, but after his death [ was tolt
q | that the expense Of transporting those guns
. to Marnlehead was borne by his partner ant
: himself, the town authorities refusing u
Il pay it.
) Upon this Sunday afternoon the Rev DR.
~ Bentley on entering the church, observed
j. that there was but ope male member or I'll
; parish present OF whom he inquired what |
+ meant. This gentleman, in reply, told him tn
r. news, which he had heard at the church door
r The Doctor made a short, emphatic prayer
Il announced what he had heard, said "lher
a is more immediate need OF nay services u
: Marblehead than here" and dismissed tn
= aggregation. He then went with his parish
+ toner's to Marblehead, where, it was afterwar
q said and believed, that he went into the LOT
- and offered his services to the officer In CON
r. mand for any duty he might assign him.
Y believe this story, like great many other
= told Of him, to be untrue; not that he woul'
) not have done it, but because his com panic
q told me- in after years, that they We're t.
,c gether, and nothing OF the kind took place
. the hope that what I have written may intel
i est your readers, [ am respectfully yours.
r. MILTON, Mass. n. >.
n
he leu Can he Happy