The Red Cloud chief., 1888-05-11
The OLD CONSTITUTION.


}. The OLD CONS
An Interesting Historical sketch Of th
Famous American Frigate.
The frigate Constitution was built a
the Boston Navy Yard in 1871. at Il cos
of$3O2. us. Her tonnage was 1876. ant
she carried forty-four guns. For sew
eral years this vessel was engaged il
the foreign service. but during 1871
was recalled. and when war was de
clared she was at Annapolis. engage'
in shipping a new crew. She put on
of harbor there July II, 1872. On tn
18th she met a British fleet Of four YES
sells. and. being unable to cope with 81
many. she ran away from them. They
gave chase. and pursued the frigate fol
sixty-four hours. but were not able il
that time to get ear enough to fire or
her, SO she escaped and ran into port al
Boston July g. After . brief time
spent in filing her stores, the frigate,
with Captain Hull a. 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
a British ship the Guerrero. at latitude
II degrees. 40 minutes, longitude IS
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 slings
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 sen
arated. when q brOadside from the Con-
stitution carried away the foremost and
mainmast of the other vessel. and the
Guerrero rolled. a defenseless hulk. ut
the mercy of the waves. Captain Dacrc
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 for
the victory. and he retired from conn
mand of the vessel in favor Of Captain
cambridge. October 20. the COnsti;u-
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. the
Constitution went further south. and If
the coast of Brazil. ut latitude IS de-
grees 6 minutes south. longitude 81 Ge-
Srees west. met the English frigatc
Java. The battle was ut short range.
and the wheel of the Constitution was
shot away; but the American COM
mander managed his crippled vessel
well. avoided the raking fire If MS an
tagonist and directed the shots so skill
fully that in q little over two hours
from the beginning of the fight all the
rigging and masts of the Java had
been shot away. leaving her a
sheer hulk. She then surrendered.
and after the crew had been removed
the wreck was blown up. Captain
cambridge. or his arrival ut home. was.
of course, loaded with honors. The Con-
stitutiOn now had the credit of being a
lucky ship. and cambridge. having
o his share of glory through connec
ton with her. gave way and allowed
Captain Charles Stewart to take COM
mand. The vessel at this time received
the nickname Of odd Ironsides." Hav-
ing been well repaired. the Constitution
left Boston harbor December 80, 1913.
She q down toward the Barbados. |
and on February IA captured and de-
the British schooner PictOn.
After making a few other prizes. and
reaching the coast of Guiana. she turned
on the way giving chase to
British ship. which, however. escaped.
and when near home. being pursued
by two ~frigrates. from whom she got
away. and anchored safe in the harbor
Of Marblehead. April 6. The Consti-
tuition did not cruise any more until
1914. Then she set sail for
he Bermudas, thence to Madeira
md to the Bay of Biscay. OF Cape
st. Vincent, February 20. 1913. she met
:wo British vessels. the Cyane and the
and after a short. sharp fight,
'ucceeded in capturing them both. This
vas the last engagement of ''Old Iron
As peace had already been con-
The vessel was used for vari-
ms naval purposes until 1850, when the
Naval Department proposed breaking
ler up and selling her timbers. This
was changed. however. by the
'ublic feeling aroused by DR.. Holmes
tirring poem on the subject. beginning:
AYE, tear her battered ensign down."
The vessel was therefore repaired and +,
made = school ship for naval pupils I
Inter Ocean. !
Selling Eggs by Weight. '
Breeders of fancy fowls. especially -,
Il - h~~~l.. q Il