The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-01-07

snlps were sighted, which We're evident
~ In company, from the signals which
they exchanged. The Constitution gave
chase, and at O'Clock in the e-ening,
being within range, showed her cOlors,
when the two strangers flung out the
British flag. The three ships were now
so arranged that they formed the points
OF an equilateral triangle, the Constitrl-
ton being to the windward. In this
position "Old Ironsides' opened fire,
and for 10 minutes the three ships kept
up continuous canuonade. One of the
English vessels became disabled and
retired temporarily from the action.
The other managed 10 get to
the leeward of the Constitution, and the
two vessels poured broadside into each
other. The Constitution justified her
claim to the name of "Old Ironsides,"
rand IN three-quarters Of an hour the
English ship surrendered she proved
to be the frigate Cyane, Capt. Falcon,
manned by crew OF $50 men and carry
ing 80 guns. An hour after the surrender
of the Cyane, her consort, the Leyant,
having repaired her damages and being
Ignorant of the capture of the Cyane,
bore up and met the Constitution coming
in search of her. She was soon over
powered, and at / o'clock at night fired
gun TO leeward and surrendered. The
loss of the Constitution IN this gallant
action was men killed and II wounded
That of the enemy in the two vessels
was estimated ut II killed and wounded
This was the last engagement in which
the Constitution was called to take part.
A long period of peace followed the war
of 1912, and when the United States was
next called on to take part in naval bat
ties iron clads and steamships had taken
the place Of wooden frigates and sailing
vessels, of which "Old I1onsides +" was
50 worthy a representative IN active
war she became practically useless, but
she held place III the affections Of the
country which no other ship has ever
held. Her name and her exploits were
familiar TO every school-boy. 1t is not
too much to say that the glorious vic
tories which she achieved during the
second war with England hastened the
termination of hostilities by many
months, while they certainly inspired
this nation with fresh courage aud
caused the enemy the greatest humilia-
ton. So thoroughly was this realized
by citizens OF the United States that
when the administration, Just before the
civil war, proposed TO dismantle the old
ship and break up her battle beaten hull
on the ground that it was OF no farther
value, a storm OF Indignation arose
throughout the land to which the govern
ment was forced TO yield. The proposal
called forth stirring protest from
Oliver Wendell Holmes in the following
poem, which has since been recited in
every school-room and lyceum in the
land and has become q standard piece Of
American literature:
~, tear her tatteged ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has CHANGED 10 see
That banner n the sky.
Beneath il rung the battle-shou.,
And burst the cannOn's roar;
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.
Her deck. once red with heroes blood
Where knelt the vanquIshed foe,
When winds were humming DER the food,
And waves were white below
No more shall feel the victor's tread,
Or know the conquered knee;
The haTpics Of the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea!
Oh better then 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 threadbare sail.
And give her to the God Of Storms,
The lightning and the gale,
Since the war of 1912 the Constitution
had been used monthly as training or
school ship in special service She was
stationed at Annapolis the most of the
time until the breaking out of the civil
h1r -
and continued In the same service. In
1875 she was placed on the stocks at the
League Island Navy-yard and subjected
to repairs under the supervision of Naval
Constructor Hart, a grandson of the
man who built her in Boston 81 years
ago. In 1873 she was detailed to take
the goods Of American exhibitors to the
Paris exposition, and upon her return
was again placed in as school ship. In
the summer of 1880 she was anchored at
the Brooklyn Navy-yard for several
weeks, and was visited by throDgs of
people during her stay. Last April she
went on a short cruise, and not being
heard Of for 10 days, p rumor was cir
culated that she was lost. The report
created great deal Of excitement, which
was allayed by the announcement on
April 20 of her safety. As an evidence
OF the sentiment felt for every plank Of
cold Ironsides," an anecdote of the adj
ministratiOn OF President Jackson NAV
be given. The original figure-head Of
the Constitution was 81 bust of Hercules.
This was shot away in the war IN the
Mediterranean and its place supplied by
q carved billet-head. In 1884 while the
frigate was lying at the Charlestown
navy-yard, Commodore Elliott had this
billet-head removed, and substituted for
it bust of Gen. Jackson. This sub
stitution was denounced by the op-
position as a partisan outrage, Elliott
was assailed in newspapers, pamphlets,
and speeches, and threatened in anony-
nous letters with violence if he did not
remove the effigy. He was deaf to all
complaints, and finally, one stormy
night 10 July, 1884, a daring young man
from this city went out to the ship in a
skiff, sawed off the head of the image,
| and carried it to Boston. All efforts to
discover the perpetrator of this outrage
on a government vessel were fruitless,
and the excitement finally died away.
/ One of the circulars posted about the
streets of Boston when Jackson's image
was substituted as a figure-head was
headed, " Freemen Awake or the Con-
stitution VIII Sink ~ It appealed to
the most excitable passion and people to
"save the ship" and asked citizens to
/ assemble in Faneuil Hall to take action
against the outrage.
A Smile of Satisfaction.
II.