The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-11-28
A CURIOUS RELIC.
How General Jacks"n's Head Nie"'

In recognition Of valuahio lces'
and also ms an honor offered war,
like President. patriotic ahl feiu'
Boston placed on the bow - gaze /
Constitution" n marv"loufeii-
carved life-size figure of Grn.h hcR-
son. The most skillful carTehese
wooden statues was employs anu
gave the figure a vigor of ana
likeness to the original seldo' 'und
in such work.
A long, full cloak fell the
shoulders. one hand was th1into
the breast of the coat. and tHher
grasped a scroll; while the hfwas
held proudly. and one foot siia ad-
vanced gave the General IN Tetic
and commanding posture.
The making and placing tins
iigurehcad was entirely the q OF
the Presidents political suppoiand
friends. aud those opposed to resl-
dental policy warmly rascn the
action. Enemies of Jackson sted
on the figures removal, but old
frigate calmly bobbed up aipwn
in the blue bay. the figure tOld
Hickory" gazcd sternly seawaand
for IA time nothing at all was I by
those who wished the figure reed.
1t was in Boston Bay { the
mysterious unloading of the ship
had taken place many ycaraorei
and early one July morning Old
town. the Constitution crew. her
officers discovered to their cfrna.
tion that second curious a,ecre'
attack mad been made oyer-ni4
General Jackson's wooden Il had
been sawed of just along the er III
and was not to be found! No'cter
but a very human hand hadelde'
the saw that accomplished thdcket
work. aud half-headless iigttace'
he sea from its place on the stltu
tons bow.
The ships company. rs IL ~
officers of the law and reporter in
dignant newspapers. went chin;
aud advertising for the cievGamp
who, evading the ships qua. hat
under the cover of darkness c,litte'
the peculiar crime. A long care
ful investigation did not z TN
criminals to justice. though 'mmo
dore Elliott offered one usan
dollars reward for any innatio
concerning the act.
\ year later the Constitutl cam
down the New York Bay, anbecon
head, made for the purp. wa
quietly bolted on in place of Q los
one. General Jackson's ahistra
ton closed not long after, aeXcitC
ment over political maltenbate
and nowadays the famous irehea
can he seen Ut the AunapnI Nava
Academy. where there are maDther
nearly as well known.
So much for the figure andDw +,
the lost head which had snyste
iously disappeared from lis p.
Three years after the uipIaine
decapitation in Boston Harbm ma
Captain Dewey by name, aud nati'
OF Cape Cod. asked for an iervie
with Mahlon Dickerson. the ere Ia,
of the Navy. To the Secrets su
prise. Captain Dewey pruted Il
missing half of General lcksor
head. After receiving the Tetary
assurance that no punishml won
be laid upon him, Caplal Dew
proudly told his story:
Near midnight. he and f. III row
out in small boat TO whershe b
vessel lay, and by the aid IL ro
and hawsers contrived toale {
tall bows. With ever-wa,Cnl ey
and ears for the not too yigila guart
Captain Dewey crcpt outNer t
water. and hugging the Garll clio:
! piled a small. sharp saw. All first
tempt, the saw struck II pll Il
| fastened the head 10 the bod but
the second trial he cut his PIE enti
lv OH lowered it TO the liltltlat, $
quietly down. and rowed AN. chut
ing over his own clcvernc4 and
surprise in store for the 'nw n
town. Patriotism. aud Hove
exciting and adventurous ndert;
in1s. led him to risk his life the
venture. Margaret BtSi,ua IN
| Nicholas.