Smyrna times., 1892-05-11
OLD IRONSIDES.
HISTORY OF ONE OF THE OLD Ships
IN THE AMERICAN NAVY

In Modern Navy Yard, sh
Is the Object of Profound Veneratio,
on the Part of Patriotic People of To
day. Who Are Proud of Her.
MOI many people may know that tb,
old trlgate Constitution, so renowned !,
our annals, is still included AMONG tbI
vessels OF the navy. She is dismantled
as might be expected at her age. and !,
Kept IN that condition at Portsmouth
n. ID. She is craft of 9 9OO to,S d;s
placement, and now carries no battery
IN place of the forty-four guns of the
days of her glory. w
IL was the Constitution that, after the
lnausplclouS opening on land of Our war
WIN Great Britain, eighty years ago.
led OH series of splendid victories on
Ine sea. The honor of the first capture
OF British war vessel undoubtedly he
longs to the Essex, Captain David Por-
ter, whose defeat of the Alert occurred
SIX days before the Constitution de-
stroyed the Guerrero.
but the Essex carried thirty-two 80
Founders and the Alert only twenty 49,
FOUNDERS, so that very soon after open-
ing hre the crew of the little British
craft, which, having captured one of onr
transports had made up to the Essex.
taking her to be a merchantmen. were
compelled to quit their guns and within
eight minutes to strike their flag. This
conquest, though gratifying, was in
evltable, whereas that of the Constitu-
tlon was gained over a craft nearer her
own size and strength.
But while yielding the laureIs of prior-
lty to the gallant Essex on this score
the Constitution, under Captain Isaac
Hull, can claim them again for success
IN trlal OF seamanship between herself
ana British squadron. Till then af-
talrs were looking gloomy for us at sea
as well as on land. The British frioa+o
Belvldere, while conveying a fleet of
merchantmen, had escaped from a
whole squadron of our warships. where
as our Nautilus had struck to an
English squadron, being the first war
snip captured on either side. Under
these untoward circumstances the Con
stltutlon, returning from Europe. fell in
with a British squadron led nv tba
Africa, 64-gun ship.
During four days she was chased NV
tins squadron. Through calm and
through breeze the flight and pursuit
went ON. At one time she had boats ont
towing her; at another her crew were
hauling upon a kedge anchor that had
Deen carried out and dropped a long dis
lance ahead. On the fourth dav tho
longed for wind came, and with every
sail set the Constitution drew away from
her pursuers, the scene when five frig-
ates were standing on the same tack and
The Constitution was showing her heels
70 her enemies being often recounted |
eighty years ago. Some of the historians
describe this as the first of our triumnbs
IN the sea in that war.
But In our time, Of course. the fame
u the Constitution is more familarlv
associated with her capture of the G41er-
1ere. 1t was on Aug. 10, 1872. that the
wo vessels met, both eager for a fight.
Inc scene was off the coast of Massachu-
etts. The British craft, commanded
~ the gallant Dacres, was first to omen
lre' out Hull maneuvered his vessel into
he night position before he replied The
nenlys mlzzenmast soon went by the
,oard, followed by her mainmast. When
ne struck she was, in fact, so complete-
y used up that she could not be taken
nto port and had to be blown up.
Inc Constitution was superior in ton
age and complement, carried more
uns and threw much heavier weight
metal III her broadsides; still the yes
els were near enough matched for the
lctory to produce tremendous impress {
ION on both sides of the ocean. Alison
escTlbes the Fshock of this unwontad
avail disaster" in England, where the
ellef that Britannia ruled the waves
as so profound that the American navy
ad seemed to be mere mouthful for
er. {
Ihat same year the Constitution. un-
er cambridge, gained another great
ctory over the Java, off the coast of ,,
razl. The Java, like her predecessor. :
as S0-gun ship, and in the battle she !
ST toremast and mizzenmast, besides a =
VT OF her bowsprit; while, to complete
70 parallel, like the Guerriere, she was =
wrecked in the fight that she had to /
blown up. 1t was q great exhibition c
good seamanship and superior gun u
'ry on the part of the American vessel: T
r, as Cooper says, ''the Java had been e
orally picked to pieces by shot, spar -
flowing spar until she had not one
It," Her loss in killed and wounded :,
IS very heavy. u
Finally, in 1915, under command of d
Stewart, the famous old shin y, "
ade double capture of the British - =,
gate Cyane and sloop LeYant. i" i"
0id lronsides, as she had come to be Ii
lied during the war, was launched at m
ston in 1897; and who knows but al
len the hundredth anniversary of that OF
ent comes around she may again be Ii
into commission, so as to receive cen fl
lnial honors9-New York Sun, m