Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-18

forecastle and main deck. The Constitution
now closed in, and the two vessels lay broad
side TO broadside, pouring metal into each
other. Soon the English vessels mizzenmast
was shot away, leaving nothing standing but
the mainmast, the yard Of which had been
carried away near the slings The stranger
then hauled down her colors, and prize crew
was sent on board. She proved to be the
frigate Java, carrying 38 guns, and in CON-
mand Of Capt. Henry Lambert. She wss one
Of the finest vessels OF the British navy, bul
the engagement left her q complete wreck,
and Capt. Bainbridge, after transferring the
prisoners to the Constitution, ordered her 6r-
ed, and she blew up on Dec. 81. In this en-.
gagement "Old Ironsides" lost only men,
with 25 wounded. Capt. Bainbridge was
slightly injured in the hip by musket ball,
and the shot that carried away the wheel OF
the Constitution drove q small copper bolt
into his thigh, inhicting a dangerous wound.
On the Java Go we're killed and 40 wounded.
After this exploit the Constitution sailed
for Boston, reaching that port Feb. IL, 1873
Capt Bainbridge resigned the command, and
the frigate was put on the stocks for repairs
She left Boston for a cruise Dec. 3Oth, 1913
under command Of Capt. Charles Stewart, and
on Feb II, 1914, captured the British war
bohOOhoI lNNJut WIN n AtANoN VI lnhIHuo MuiCn
was under her convoy. On April 80 che was
very nearly captured by two British frigates,
the Junon and La Nymphe, but managed Ia
escape by making Marblehead Al the close
of December she again put to sea, still undei
command OF Capt. Stewart, and on Feb. 20,
1915 two ships were sighted, which we're ev
identity in company from the signals they eI-
changed. The Constitution gave chase, and
at 6 in the evening, being within range, show.
ed her colors, when the two strangers flung
out the British flag. The three ships were
nov so arranged that they formed the points
of an equisteral triangle, the Constitution
being to the windward. In this position "Od
Ironsides" opened fire, and for 10 minutes
the three ships kept up continuous cannon
ade. One of the English vessels became dis
abled and retired temporarily from the action,
The other managed to get to the leeward OF
the Constitution, and the two vessels poured
broadside after broadside into each other.
The Constitution justified cher claim to the
name Of "Od Ironsides," and in three quar-.
ters OF an hour the English ship surrendered.
She proved to be the frigate Cyane, Captain
Fslcoln, manned by crew OF 1870 men and
carrying SO guns. An hour after the surren.
der Of the Cyane, her consort, the Levant
having repaired her damages aud being igno.
rant Of the capture OF the Cyane, bore up and
met the Constitution coming in search Of her.
She was soon overpowered, and at 10 o'clock
at night fired gun TO leeward and surrender
ed. The loss Of the Constitution in this gal
liant action was three men killed and wound
ed that of the enemy in the two vessels was
estimated at 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 battles, ironcads and
steamships had taken the place Of the wooden
frigates and sailing vessels OF which "Old
lronsides" WAS so worthy q representative.
In active war she became practically useless,
but she held place in 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 victories 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 and caused the enemy the great
est humiliation. So thoroughly was this real
lied by the citizens Of the United States that
when the Administration, Just before the civ.
Il war, proposed to dsmanIle the old ship and
break up her battle beaten hull on the ground
that 1t was OF no further val%e, q storm OF in
dignation arose throughout the land, to which
the government wss fc.ced TO yield The
proposal called forth . stirring protest from
Oliver Wendell Holmes in the following poem,
which has since been reoited in every school.
room and lyosum In the land, and has become
standard piece of American literature
'Ay, tear her tattered ensign downl
Long has 1t waved on high.
Aud many an eye has danced to see
That banner In the sky.
Beneath 1t rung the bAttle-shout
Aud burst the cannOn'H roar;
The meteor Of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.
"Her deck, once red with heroes blood
Where knet the yanquished foe,
When winds were humming DER tue food
Aud waves white below
No more shall feel the yictor's tread,
Or know the conquered knee:
The harpies Of the shore shall pluck
The eagle OF the sea
"Ohi better that 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 dag,
Set every threadbars sail
Aud give her to the God OF storms,
The lightning and the gale!"
Since the war of 1912 the Constitution had
been used mostly as a training or school-ship
in special service. She was stationed at An
napolis most of the time until the breaking
out Of the civil war, and then was removed to
Newport 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 Con-
structor Hart, grandson OF the man who
built her in Boston 81 years ago. In 1873
she was detailed to take the goods of Ameri-
can exhibitors to the Paris exposition, and
upon her return was again placed in service
as school ship. In the summer of 1880 she
WAS anchored at the Brooklyn navy-yArd for
several weeks and was visited by throngs OF
people during her stay. Last April she went
on a short cruise, and, not being heard of for
ten days, rumor was circulated that she was
lost. The report created great deal of ex-
citement, which was allayed by the announce
ment on April 20 of her safety. OF the SEN
timent felt for every plank of "Old Ironsdes''
an anecdote of the administration OF Presi-
dent Jackson may be given. The original
hgure-head of the Constitution was q bust of
Hercules. This was shot away in the war in
the Mediterranean, and its place supplied by
a carved billet head. In 1884, while the frig
ate wss lying at the OharlestoWn navy-yard,
Commodore Elliott had this billet-hsad re-
moved, and substituted for it bust Of Gen.
Jackson. This substitution was denounced
by the opposition as partisan outrage. Ell
AiOtt was uoouhou III uohhphpbE6, phupnlelb,
and speeches, and threatened in anonymous
letters with violence il he did not remove the
effigy. He was deaf to all complaints, and
finally, one stormy night In July, 1884, dar.
ing young man from this city went out to the
ship in a skif, sawed of the head OF the i'm
age, and carried it to Boston. All efforts tc
discover the perpetrator of this outrage on q
government vessel we're fruitless, and the ex.
ctement finally died away. One of the cir.
culars posted about the streets Of Boston
when Jackson's image was substituted as q
figure. head was headed: "Freemen Awake
or the Constitution viii Sink |" Il appealed
to the most exoitable passions and people
to ''save the ship, and asked citizens TO as
semble in Faneuil hall to take action against
the outrage.
The "BUzEard Gang" Sentenced.
The notorious "Abe" Buzzard and the RES
of the "Buzzard gang, including Abe's broth
er Ike" George Brimmer, John Frankfort
John Lippincott, James Clifford and Aexan,
der Lehman, who escaped from the Lancas
ter, Pa, prison in 1882 and 1888, We're brough
into court at Lancaster last Saturday, aud
sentenced to 10 months each in the peniten
tiary for jail-breaking besides serving ou
their unexpired terms. "Abe" Buzzard has
over ID years TO serve, ike" BuzzaTd ovsl
seven, George Brimmsr IA, John LippincOt
four, James Clifford four and John Frank