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

meeunS q single vessel. Capt. Hull
then turned her PROV to the southwark,
and on the 10Th Of August man-of- war
was discovered from the masthead, which
afterward proved to be the Guerrero,
from which 'Old Ironsides had 80 mar
rowly escaped month before Capt.
Hull at once gave chase to the stranger,
and when about league to the leeward
began to shorten sail and prepare for
action. He cleared his ship, beat to
quarters, hoisted the American colors,
and bore down gallantly on the enemy,
intending to bring her into close combat
Immediately. The Guerrero was per-
fectly willing to fight, and the COM
mander comprehending Hull's move
ments, hoisted three national ensigns,
fired broadside of grapeshot, filed
away and gave another broadside on the
other tack, but without effect, as the
missiles all fell short. The Constitution
pressed ali sail to get alongside the foe
and engage in fair yard-arm and yard
arm fight. At little after six in the
evening the bows of the American ship
began to double the quarter of the Eng
hsh. Now boys, pour 1t into them -
shouted Capt. Hull, and the Constitu-
ton opened her forward guns with tern
bic effect. The conclusion OF the
broadside was tremendous. 1t cast the
men IN the cockpit of the enemy's ship
from one side of the room to the other,
and before they could adjust themselves
the blood came streaming from above,
and many of their companions, horribly
mutilated, were banded down to the sur
geons.
The enemy at the same time were
pouring heavy metal into the Constitu-
ton. The vessels were only half pistol
shot from each other, and the destruc-
uon wrought by the broadsides was ter
nble. Within fifteen minutes after the
tight began the Gueriere's mizzenmast
was shot away, her main yard was III
sings, and her hull, spars, sails, aud
rigging were torn IN pieces. At this
stage of the contest the Constitution ran
ioU1 OF her enemy, her bowsprit running
luto the Gueriere's larboard quarter
Both parties now attempted to board
but before this could be done the sails OF
the Constitution filled, and she shot
ahead and clear OF her antagonist, whose
foremost. fell, carrying with it the main
mast and leaving the British frigate a
helpless wreck, rolling like log in the
mander of the Guerrero, now hauled
down the jack, which had been kept fly
ing at the stump OF the mizzenmast, in
token OF Surrender, and a prize crew was
sent on board. She was too greatly
damaged, however, to be saved, and as
1t was evident that sue wouldn't sink,
Capt Hull gave orders the next day TO
set her on fire, and 10 minutes afterwafd
OH l. L.
victory to the Americans st this perios
OF the war can hardly be over estimated
For the first time in the history of the
world, as the London Times expressed
it, " did an English frigate strike to an
American" Up to this time the Ameri-
cans had little faith in the power Of their
navy, and they looked upon England s
wooden walls as almost impregnable
The victory OF the Constitution gave q
new vigor to the war in this country and
had a correspondingly depressing effect
in Great Britain. The American loss in
the engagement, which lasted half an
hour, WAS killed and 7 wounded, while
the British loss was IS killed, A wound
ed, and "a missing. The Constitution
was severely damaged III spars and rig
ging. She carried the news of the vic
tory to Boston, arriving there on the
Both Of August. When she went into
the harbor she was surrounded by q
hotilla Of gayly decorated small boats,
and escorted to the wharf. Here Capt
Hull was received with a national salute,
and an immense assemblage escorted
him to his headquarters in the city. A
grand demonstration was made IN his
| honor, and New York rendered him the
freedom of the city, presented swords to
him and his officers, and requested him
TO sit for portrait to be hung In the
! governors room In the city hall. The
| first really great engagement in which
the Constitution took part had made her
and her commander famous for many
long years.
Capt. Hull was retired from the COM
mand of "Old Ironsides" and Capt
Villain cambridge was appointed his
successor. He sailed from Boston on
October 26, 1912, and on December %.
when off the coast of Brazil, at about 9
\. NJ, discovered two vessels in-shore
and to windward. The larger one was
seen to alter her course with the evident
intention of meeting the Constitution,
and Capt. cambridge anxious to oblige
the stranger, tackled and stood in toward
her. He soon discovered that she was
an English frigate, and both at once
prepared for action. At 2 o'clock gen.
eral cannOnade from both vessels began,
and a furious battle was begun, both
frigates running on the same tack
When the fight had ragged half an hour
the wheel of the Constitution was shot
away, and for time her antagonist had
a great advantage over her. But Balm
bridge managed his crippled ship so
well that she was the first to come to the
wind on the other tack, and gave her OPP
ponent terrible raking fire. At 8
o'clock the English vessel attempted to
close by running down on the Constitu-
tons quarter. Her jibboom penetrated
the latter's miZzen rigging, but this and
the head of her bowsprit were shot away,
and the Constitution poured a heavy
raking broadside into her stern. This
was followed by another, when the enc
nfFTs foremost went by the board, crash
ing through the forecastle and main
deck. The Constitution now closed in,
and the two vessels lay broadside to
broadside, pouring metalinto each other.
Soon the English vessels mizzenmast
was shot away, leaving nothing standing
bat the mainmast, the yard of which had
been carried away near the sliugs. The
stranger then hauled down her colors.
and a prize crew was sent on board.
She proved TO be the frigate Java, carry
ing 3S guns, and IN command Of Captain
Henry Lambert. She was one of the
finest vessels of the British navy, but
the engagement left her complete
wreck, and Captain cambridge, after
transferring the prisoners to the Consti-