Morris tribune., 1883-02-07
THE OLD IR0NSIDES.

Every navy has its favorite ship
around which cluster the most glorious
traditions of the service-the TYPICAL
ship of the nation. The mention of the
English man-of- war, Victory, calls to
mind Nelson Trafalgar The Embuscade
recalls one of the most brilliant exploits
Of the French marine.
In ctr own navy, the Hartford and
Kearsage, by reason of the exploits
with which they have been associated,
arc popular fav9rites. Yet, even il the
light of their renown, the fame OF the
Old Ironsides rema rs undimned, and
she still holds in the public estimation
the place she made her own in the days
of Preble, Hull, cambridge and Stewart.
Eighty years old, of no posi- lie use IN
modern warfare, the noble vessel had,
after an interval OF nearly thirty years,
reappeared in foreign waters, as the
bearer TO Havre of our goods for the last
great Paris Exposition. Having dis
charged this mission of peace she has
turled her sails forever.
The Constitution was built at Boston,
was rated as ''f0rty-four-gtn trigate,
though her armament exceeded, some
times by eight, and Oh one occasion by
eleven, this number of guns. She did
not 90 to sea until tie Goth of Jun6, 1893,
when she began to cruise against the
French privateets, France and the
United States then being at war.
The Constitutions service during the
"Quasiwar," as the hostilities with France
have since been called, were signalized
by one or two dashing exploits. One OF
these illustrates the spirit of the navy OF
that day.
The English packet Sandwich had
been captured by the French and car
ri d into Porte Platte. AS the Sandwich
was a remarkably fast ship, active pre-
parations were made to convert her into
privateer for the purpose of preying
upon English and American COM
merCe.
Her movements #efe closely watched
bvthe officers of the Cors ituticn. The
first lieutenant, Mr.. Isaac Hull repeated
" urged upon Commodore Talbot the
feasibility of cutting out the blockaded
privateer. Finally orders were given to
make the attempt.
A Small ceasting sloop was procured,
manned by sedlren and marines, and
commanded by Lieut. Hull. She was
sent into the harbor disguised sc HARM
less trader. The better to conceal the
purpose of the expedition, the frigate
stood off the coast.
The real character of the sloop was not
suspected. The French allowed her to
come in collision with the Sandwich. At
word of command, the seanleE end ma
rines rushed from below, and despite
,,,,,~+ hoo r1a6 tho chin Iriv
ing the crew from her deck and lowering
the tri-color that foated defantly at her
peak.
Although the enterprise involved the
storming of battery on shore, the
Americans rejoined the frigate without
loss of a man. In the end the brave
seamen hal their trouble for their pains.
Port Platte being neutral port, the
Sandwich was given up to Spain by our
government, and the officers and men OF
the constitution lost the prize money.
During the war with Tripoli, many of
the officers and men OF the constitution
participated in the different enterprises
against that pirate stronghold. Five OF
her midshipmen took part in the destruc-
ton Of the Philadelphia, and by the en-
plosion of the Intrepid, which had been
sent into the harbor of Tripoll as tor
pedo, designed to blow up the Tripolitan
gunboa!s, two of her lieutenants, Messrs.
Wadsworth and Israel, persisted with
the lamentcd Somers. 1t was belleved
that the high-spirited oCean-warrlors:
preferring death to surrender, applied
the torch to the magazine of their vessel
and persisted with her.
While the Constitution was lying at
Portsmouth, England, in 1911, an angry
alteration occurred between Capt. Hull,
at that time in com nand of the frlgate,
and the English captain in regard to de-
serters. A man had deserted from the
Constitution, and the British officers had
refused to give up the runaway, he hav-
ing represented himself to be British
| subject.
A few nights later, an object was seen
| floating on the water alongside the Con-
stitution, which proved to be a sailor.
When taken on board the man declared,
| in rich Irish brogue, that he was ma
| tive born American. The next morning
| the British authorities demanded the
surrender of the lrishman; but, follow.
ing their precedent Capt. Hull refused
to give him up.
| Observing some suspicious movements
| on the part of the English vessels lying
near him, Capt. Hull determined to
change his berth. Two British frigates
had ranged up close alongside the Con,
| stitution. The crew of the latter stood
| nearly at the gun, and the pilot ex-
| presse1 doubts of going clear. He was
| told to 90 foul, if he could do no better;
| but bv careful handling collision was
| avoided.
That night the Constitution was fol-
| fowed to hernew anchorage by frigate,
| and all on board the "Old Ironsides"
| anticipated an attempt to repeat tht at
tack that had been made on the Chesa-
| peake. Accordingly the drum beat to
quarters, and every preparation was
made to repel an attack.
| An officer passing through the batteries
said to the hardy seaman clustered about
the guns that this was sailors quarrel,
and he should expect good service OF
them. Instantly, as if by spontaneous
| impulse, a cry was raised
"Let the quarterback look to the
colors, and we will look to the guns!"
The English frigate, noticing the prep
arations, sheered off, and the night
forward the reply of the sailors became
ton.
During the war of 1912, the Constitu-
TONS traditional good fortune attended
escaped from British squadron of sew
en- vessels, which for three days and
nights held her in hard chase.
During the chase it fell calm, and
Capt. Hull, adopted the ingenious ex-
cape. Boats were sent forward with
| ,,ol,arc xuhiof, ArpnroI