Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-12-31
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A CURIOUS RELIC.

How Gen. Jacksbn's Head Was stolen
From the FrigAte Constitution.
In recognition Of valuable services.
and also as an honor offered the war
like president patriotic and grateful
Boston placed on the bow of the frigate
Constitution a marvellouslv well-carv-
ed, life-size figure of Gen. Jackson.
The most sl5illful carver OF these wood
en- statues was employed and gave the
figure a vigo- OF pose ami likeness to
the original seldom found ia such work.
A long. full cloak fell from the shout
ders. one hand was thrust into the
breast OF t'la coat and the other Erasped
a scroll; while the head was hel3 proud
~ and one foot Slightly 4 lvance1 gave
the general an energetic and commando
ing posture when with betitting cere-
monies thay firmly fastened the figure
head 20 the bow Of the brave ship.
The making and placing of this figure
head was entirely the doing Of the pres
idents political supporters and friends,
and those opposed to the presidential
policy warmly resented the action
Enemies - Jackson insisted on the
figures removal, but the old frigate
calmly bobbed up aud down in the
blue bay. the figare of "Old Hickory
gazing steraly seavard, and for a time
nothing a. all was done by those who
wished the figure removed
1t was in Boston lay that the mvste-
rious unloading OF the tea ship had talk
en- place many years before; and early
one July morning the old town, the
Constitution s crew and her officers dis
covered to their CONSERVATION that a
second curious and secret attack had
been made over night.
Gen. Jackson's wooden head had been
sawed off just along the upper lip and
was not to be found. No specter, but
. very human hand had welded the
saw that accomplished the wicked
work. and half-headless figure faced
the sea from its place on the Constitu-
tons bow.
The ships company, as well as Of
ficers of the law and reporters of insig-
nificant newspapers, went searching
and advertising for the clever scamp,
who, evading the ships quarts, had,
under the cover of darkness, committed
the peculiar crime A long and care
full investigation did not bring the
criminal to justice. though Commodore
Elliott offered one thousand eight hum
dred dollars reward for any Informal
ton concerning the act.
A year later the Constitution came
down to New York bay and a second
head, made for the purpose, was quiet
Sly bolted on in place of the lost one.
sGen Jackson's administration closed
mot long after, all excitement over po-
Ilitical matters abated, and nowadays
the famous fgr@ehead can be seen at
the Annapolis Naval academy, where
There are many others nearly as well
known.
/ So much for the figure; but now for
the lost head which had SO mysterious
Qy disappeared from its place.
Three years after the unexplained
Edecapitation in Boston harbor a man,
Capt Dewey by name, and native of
Cape Cod, asked for an interview with
Maiden Dickerson, the secretary of the
navy. To the secretarys surprise,
Capt Dewey produced the missing half
sof Gen Jackson's head. After receiv-
ing the secretary's assurance that no
punishment would be laid upon him.
Capt Dewey proudly told his story
Near midnight he and friend rowed
put in small boat to where the big
Vessel lay, and by the aid of a rope and
the hawsers contrived to scale the tall
Bows With ever-watchful eyes and
EARS for the not too vigilant guards,
Capt Dewey crept out over the water,
and, hugging the general close, piled
small, sharp saw. At the first attempt
the saw struck bolt that fastened the
head to the body; but on the second
trial he cut his peize entirely off, low
cred it to the little boat, slid quietly
down, and rowed away, chuckling over
his own cleverness and the surprise in
store for the crew and town. Partisan
ism and love of exciting and adven-
turous undertakings led him to risk his
life in the adventure. Margaret Bis
land, in st. Nicholas.
MOSRV'S EXENITIONc