The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-02
OLD %IRONSIDEA.
The FrigRts Constitution still Numbered
Among tho Naval yes,els.

OLD IRONSIDEA
Tho TrIgats Consultation still Numbered
Among the Naval Vessels.
Not many people may know that the old
frlgats Consultation, so renowned In our
annals, is still included among the vessels
of the navy, says the New York snn. She
is "diamantlsd, as might be sxpsotsd at her
age, aud Is kept in that sondision at Ports
mouth, N. I'll. She IL . craft Of 200 tons
and now carries M battery in
place Of the forty-four 9ans Of tho days OF
glory.
1t was the Constitution that. after the
inhuspicioug opening on land OF our wa
with Great Britain slightly years ago, led off
with Z series Of splendid Victories ON the
sea. The honor Of the first capture OF Il
British war vessel undoubtedly belongs to
the Essex, Capt. David Potter, whoGe
defeat Of the Alert occurred six days before
this Constitution destroyed the Guerriere.
But the Esso1 carried thfrty-two
thirty-two-pounders and the Alert
only twsuty siohtesn-pounders; SO
that very soon after o~psning hrs, the
having captured one Of our transports. had
made up to the Essex. taking her to be u
merchantmen, wer0 compelled TO quit their
guns, and within eight minutes to strike
their flag. This conquest, though crafty
ing, was ineyitable: whereas that OF the
Conatitntion WAS gained over q craft nearer
her own size and strength.
But while yielding the laursls OF priority
to the gallant Essex on this Scors, the Con
stitution, under Capt. lsnno Hull. can claim
them again for SUCCESS in y trial of 0aman
ship between herself and a British squad
roh Till then affairs were looking gloomy
for us ut sea ss we'll AZ on land. The Brit
1oh fptrOAn Ilo1uiHnrA GDhiin 0ANO0u1nV n
fleet OF merchantmen. had escaped from Il
whole squadron Of oar war ships, whereas
our Nautilus had struck to AL English
squadron, being the first war ship captured
on either side. Under these untoward cir
cumstances, the Constitution, returning
ron led by the Afriea, = s~ixty-four-eun ship.
During four days she was chased by this
squadron. Through calm and through
breeze the flight and the pursuit went on.
At one tims she had boats out towing her!
At another her Grew were hauling upon .
kedRe anchor that had bean carried out and
dropped = long distance ahead. On the
fourth day the longed-for wind came, and,
with every sail sst the Constitution drew
away from her pursuers, the scene when
five friRatos were standing on the same tack
and the Constitution was showing her heslt
to the enemy being often ~reoounted eight,
years ago. 6ome Of thu historians dsssriba
this AS the fret of our triunphs on the ses
in that war. @ N@
But In our time, Of course. the fame Of
the Constitution IL more familiarly asso-
ciatsd with her capture of the Guerrero.
Il was on the 10Th of August, 1912, that tbs
two vessels met, both sager for = fight.
The scsns WAS off ths coast of Massaohu-
sets. The British craft, commanded by
hut Hull mansuvsrsd his vessel into the
right position befors he replied. Thu
eneny's mizzsnnast soon vent by thu
board, followed by her naiRmast. When
she struck she was. in fact, 80 completely
used up that she could not be taken intt
port. and had to be blown ny. The Q
%stitution was superior in tonnage and com
plensnt, carried more guns and threw .
much heavier weight Of metal in her broad
side; still the vessels were noar enouRt
matched for the victory to produce a tire
mendous impression on both sides OF tht
ocean. Alison describes the shock Of thi6
unwonted naval disaster" In England
where the bslief that the Britannia rulse
the waves was so profound that the Amorl-
onn nayY had seemed to be q mere mouth
full fer her.
That aame year the Constitution. uadel
cambridge, gained another great victory
over the Java, off the coast Of Brazil. The
Java, like her prsdeoessor, was = thirty
eight gun ship, and in the fight she los
IOI600a0t ana MlZZ0nm a66b, O0Sau6 = poItAoA
of her bowsprit, while to complete the par
ellel, like the Gusrriere, she WAS 80 wrecked
in khe fight thai she had to be blown up
II was a great exhibition of good seaman
ship and superior gunnery on the part o
tho American vessel, for, as Cooper says
the Java had literally been picked :!
pieces By shot, spar following spar unit
she had not one left" Her loss in killes
and wounded was very heavy.
Finally. in 1915, under command of Com
moaorc Stewart, the famous old ship mad
q double capture of tho British frlgat'
Cyane and sloop Levant.
Old Ironsides, rs she came to be callet
during the gar, was launched at Boston in
1897, and who knows but when the hun
dredth anniversary of that event Gomez
around she may again be put into commits.
sion, SO as to receive centennial honors!