The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-04-28
The OLD CONSTITUTION.
An Interesting Historical Sketch of the
lannon's American Frlcate.

An Interesting Historical sketch of the
Famous American Frigate.
The frigate Constitution was built at
the Boston Navy Yard in 1897, at cost
of$302, us. Her tonnage was 1876. and
she carried fortyfour guns. For sew
eral years this vessel was engaged in
the foreign service, but during 1911
was recalled, and when war was de-
olared she was at Annapolis, engaged
in shipping a new crew. She put out
of harbor there July Y, 1912. On the
18th she met British fleet of four YES
sells, and being unable to cope with so
many, she ran away from them, They
gave chase, and pursued the frigate for
sixty-four hours, but, were not able in
that time to get near enough to fire on
her, SO she escaped and ran into port at
Boston July 26. After a brief time
spent in filing her stores, the frigate,
with Captain Hull as her commander.
left Boston August 2, went to the Bay
of Fundy, and there captured several
British vessels on their way to the st.
Lawrence. August 10 she fell in with
British ship the Guerrero, at latitude
Al degrees, 40 minutes, longitude so
degrees. 4S minutes. The British COM
mander began firing at long range. but
Captain Hull held back his fire till the
vessels were only few yards apart.
Then pouring in his shots, their execu-
ton was terrible, and in fifteen min
utes the mizzenmast of the Guerrero
was shot away, her main yards in sings
and her sails cut to pieces. The ships
were now so near that the bowsprit OF
the Guerrero passed diagonally over
the Constitutions quarter deck, but
such heavy sea was running that
neither crew could attempt to board the
other vessel. At last the ships gradu-
ally worked around till they had sep
arated, when broadside from the Con-
stitution carried away the foremost and
mainmast of the other vessel, and the
Guerrero rolled, defenseless hulk, at
the mercy of the waves. Captain Dacre
then surrendered. The British soldiers
were taken on the American vessel and
the wreck of the Guerrero was set on
fire. The Constitution brought the first
tidings of this victory to Boston. A
handsome medal was given to Hull fol
the victory, and he retired from com
mand of the vessel in favor Of Captain
Bainbridge. October &c, the Constitu
ton and Hornet left the port of Boston
together, sailing southwest. Leaving
the Hornet to blockade an English yes
sci found in port Mt San Salvador, thu
Constitution went further south, and OF
the coast of Brazil, at latitude 10 de
grees minutes south, longitude 81 de
grees west, met the English frigat'
Java. The battle was at short range
and the wheel of the Constitution wa
shot away; but the American com
mander managed his crippled vesse
well, avoided the raking fire of his an
tagonist and directed the shots so skill
fully that in a little over, two hour
from the beginning of the fight all tn
rigging and masts of the Java ma
been shot away, leaving her
sheer hulk. She then surrendered
and after the crew had been remove
, the wreck was blown up. Capital
cambridge, on his arrival at home, was
of course, loaded with honors. The Con
, stitution now had the credit of being
lucky ship, and cambridge, havin
won his share of glory through connec
ton with her, gave way and Above
Captain Charles Stewart to take com
mand. The vessel at this time receive
: the nickname of "Old Ironsides." Hav
ing been well repaired, the Constitutio
| left Boston harbor December 80, 1915
She ran down toward the Barbadoe;
and on February ii captured and de
stroyed the British schooner Picton
After making few other prizes, an
reaching the coast of Guiana, she turne
homeward, on the way giving chase t
a British ship, which, however, escaped
and when near home, being pursue
by two frigrates, from whom she &C
away, and anchored safe in the harbo
l of Marblehead, April 6. The Const
!, tuition did not cruise any more unit
December, 1914. Then she set sail 70
the Bermudas, thence to Nader;
) and to the Bay of Biscay. Or Cap
St. Vincent, February 20, 1918, she me
two British vessels, the Cyane and tn
Levant, and after a short, sharp tight
succeeded in capturing them both. Thi
was the last engagement of "Old Iror
sides" as peace had already been cor
cludcd. The vessel was used for var
Gus naval purposes until 1850, when til
Naval Department proposed breakin
her up and selling her timbers. TIL
purpose was changed, however, by tn
public feeling aroused by DR.. Holme:
. stirring poem on the subject, beginning
AYE, tear her battered ensign down"
, The vessel was therefore repaired an
} made q school ship for naval pupils
| Chicago Inter Ocean.
! Selling Eggs by Weight.