The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-01
FINE DISPLAY or SEAM4NsHIP.
How the Captain of the Constitution Han his
AhIp Aground on the HrItIsh Comsl.

rom me iNhtH liHf' Jan. ~
The historic old wooden sailing frigate
Constitution. belonging 10 the United States
Navy. grounded on Friday morning. Jan. H.
of BOllHrd Point Swanase Bay. The trgatc
was despatched from America for tho purpose
Of bringing homo the American exhibits and
military guards from the Paris Exhibition. and
Cured. She leit llavre on Thursday afternoon.
and stood across the English Channel, the
weather at the time being thick and hay. Sup
losing himself TO be about twenty-five miles
from the nearest point Of the English const
Judging Of the distance they had sailed By the
time-ton hours-which had elapsed since leav-
ing liavr', Capt Badger was in the net Of giving
the order TO steer down Channel when the ship
Capt. Badger permitted himself to approach
nearer the coast than IL customary under the
freshly from the northward, he lid SO advisedly
Ilo Is unable to account for the strunding Of the
ship. except by tho assumption that her way
wns assisted by the set Of u current. His first
iniimatiOn OF the cOntguity OF the land was tho
humping Of the, vessel at "a o'clock in tho
morning Tho bottom, fortunately. proved to
be a mud. formed OF chalk and sand. Never
thccss in case OF eventualities tho whole Of
the ships boats were immediately got out in,
GLIDING those on crutches upon tho deck rs well
ms those hanging from the days. An attempt
to Tighten the ship was also promptly, mado. by
relieving her OF her two Gf-pouhder brOadsde
guns tho rest OF her battery having been left
behind. couple Of anchors. and as many
chain cables large package OF exhibits,
which was obstructinR the deck, was also placed
In a lighter
By these means tho ship WAS slightly light
encd, but Capt. Badger is OF opinion that the
efforts to get the frlgate off would have proved
unayaing had II not been for the assistance Of
the Malta, dockyard tug, Mr. Harding, master
which had been despatched 10 tho spot by tho
Commander in -Chiefat Portsmouth. with STAFF
Capt. DathHn. the Assistant Master Attendant
on board. The Constitution lifted with the tide
and WAS drawn from the shore at half past 5
O'Clock on Friday afternoon, and lowed by the
Malta 10 the MOtherbank, whore she arrived at
O'Clock on Saturday morning. On passing the
Needles the frigate had a second narrow escape
from disaster. AS the steel hawser attached TO
tho Malta parted, but second line WAS made
fast before she had time to get far astray.
Another casually occurred when of Cowes
When the ship was found a1oAt the boats were
returned to tho daylts but a couple OF launches
and n cutter which were accommodated on the
weather deck, were as n matter Of prudence
taken in tow by the Sprighty tender. couple
Of men being left in each 10 manage them:
When off the yachting station. the sea and wind
being very lively at tho time. the Sprightly's
painter appears to have caught in ono OF tho
cutters rowloeks and capsized II. Tho men
were thrown into the water and were almost ON
the point Of drowning when picked up by the
tonder. The boat got ndrift but WAS re NOyered
on Saturday morning by the coast guard in
Stokes Bay. The Constitution was brought
into Portsmouth harbOr on Saturday afternoon,
In tow OF the Malta aud Echo tugs. She docs
not leak, and 10 apparently uniniured but. rs it
| 10 probable that the rudder may have sustained