Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-29
THE OLD CONSTITUTION.
The Old Frigate that Has Been
PensiOneu.
From the NeaO York Gyuphic.

"The veteran frigate Constitution; may
her shadow never be less!'
This was toast given upon the upper
deck Of this old time craft a short time
since, and IN response volley of cheers
arose from everyone present.
So much for poetical sentiment. Scarce
had the enthusiastic sounds ceased re-
echoing through the vacant apartments
before everyone, the speaker included,
was railing at the ugly shadow this float
ing battery has been shaped to cast and
wishing 1t were full story less and once
more OF it's original shapely contour.
In her day she was model gunbOat, a
three-decker of tifty-two guns and 470 men.
She was built at Boston OF the most dur
able timber. Her planks were bent with
out the aid of steam-a process that tends
TO weaken-and SO staunch was her en-
tire composition that she gained the APP
pellaton of "Old Ironsides."
The name Constitution was aptly chosen,
as her nativity dates back but few years
after the adoption of our national cOnsti-
tuition. At this time, 1894, three large
irlgates were built, viz, the united States,
| the Constellation and the Constitution,
and were the germ of our United States
navy. What jeers that department of
war suffers at present. In the infant stage
OF our nations existence these We're sea
| terrOrs and defeated the vaunted gunbOats
and armament which enabled them to
rove Independently as duelists or socially
in fleets, and in either case their deeds
were those OF bravery and glory.
| Formidable then, the Constitution would
now be but splendid target for the
enemy's fire should she again appear IN
! war paint, even as merely "a blockader.
| a N
| 1900. when she performed gallant service
| under Nicholson against the French.
She next figured in the Tripolitan war
under command of Edward Preble, and
won several severely contested advan-
tages. At last, after holding out pluckilv
broadside against a heavy land fire, she
| was Obliged TO withdraw from active SER
vice, yet continued to swell the needful
numbers of that tiny blockade.
At the breaking out OF the war OF 1872
she was given into command of Captain
Isaac Huh. Scarcely had she left port
before she was pursued by a British man
Ot-war OF siXty-iOur guns. Soon trIgate
| appeared in view, and then another, until
| i've were in rapid pursuit of this ''bunde
of pine boards" as the English styled
her. Three days and nights they con-
| tinued the chase and more than once
nearly surrounded her. Yet at no time
did she strike her cOlOrs. A calm rendered
the sails OF all useless, ana that band OF
| valiant patriots took to the light boats,
bent to their oars and towed their float
ing bAttlement beyond the circle OF the
enemy, where light breeze aided their
efforts, and by dint of acutest manage
ment that w0ndrOus or all naval achieve
ments was effected and our nonOred fri
gate was conducted beyond harms reach.
This masterpiece of success excited the
admiration of all, even the enemy, and
nerYed them to engage this Yankee craft
and eXterminate her, as was their Eng
lish boast. Consequently, "a month later,
the Guerrero, one of the pursuars, en-
| cOuntered Der and after short but des
| perate battle surrendered and soon after
wards sunk from the effects of the heavy
| tire.
No wonder that Hull felt satisfied with
his wonderful success and was wiling to
| share the future hOnOCs with other Off
GERS.
His successor was Commodore Bam-
bridge, and in a short time the duel be-
| tween the Constitution and the Java, a
| British trigate OF equal armament 10 the
| Yankee" took place. Like the preced-
ing, it was short, but complete success,
and won for our ship OF state world re-
| nOwned laurels.
The following year, 1918, under COM
mand OF Charles Stewart, she crulsed
among the West Indies, capturing several
! British merchant vessels. besides the
man-Of-war Cyane; and afterwards, under
| the same officer, did excellent Sc vice on
| the Mediterranean, and helped conclude
the siege conducted by Decatur against
Algeria, by heading formidable fleet OF
! twenty sail.
This ended the prominent career of
sold IronsIdes." Always under com
mand Of the most competent officers, she
| gained credit for being a lucky vessel,'
and her presence has always been an
omen OF prosperity to whatever region she
has held anchorage.
Some fifty odd years ago she was con-
sidered by the Navy Department bur-
densOme invalid, and it was decided 10
| dismantle her and sell her timber. When
the announcement was made, DR.. Oliver
| Wendell Holmes put FORTH the stirring
| protest in his pOem-"Old IronsiGes":
AYE, tear her battered ensign down."
ETC., which so aroused latent patriotism
| that the execution was checked. she was
! then-in lS34-d0cked, amid great alton
al pomp and ceremony, and thoroughly
repaired, and year later launched as a
schooship. In this capacity, with sails
reeted in perpetual peace, she has ever
since existed. Architecture and reyer-
ence must have been quite out OF tune
when the climax OF repairs was reached
and the nondescript roof extended from
! gun OeCk 40 mdlnh ara. n COdL Vi odu yer
low paint hides the dignity OF PROV and
hulk, and the entire effect is That Of a
boXed-up express parcel or floating
hospital.
The original igurehead was bust Of
! Hercules; but this was so mutilated in
the early engagements on the Mediterra-
mean that 'bIllet-head" was substituted
and used through the war OF 1872. In
1884 this was removed and placed upon
lamp post near Constitution wharf, Bos-
ton, and its place supplied by statue of
jackson. This produced such rebellious
feelings that it was afterwards replaced
by a representation OF the former billet
head, which yet remains.
From the time of her utility as school
ship up to the late war be was AT Auna-
polls, but was then, from obvious reasons,
removed to Newport Since the close OF
tue war she has registered from different
navy yards, and now graces the one at
! Kiltery, Me-, on Portsmouth harbor.
should any one choose "A place Tor medi-
tation and retrospect during a not summer
day, none better can be found than in
some silent quarter OF this old sea fort,
where the sunlight steals through the
portfolios that Will never more belch
forth destruction and reflect shadows Of
! ordnance and other munitions of war. 1t
is easy mere 10 turn the lands OF time