Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-06-29
THE CONSTELLATION.

u service ever since. Thomas Truxtun
was her first commander. He cruised
about the Florida coast in 1898, acting as
convoy for American merchantmen dur
ing the troubles between the republic and
France. Two or three times that year the
Constellation was engaged with French
vessels, but 1t was not until February,
1899, that commander and ship achieved
distinction by the capture of the French
frigate L'Insurgente, 70 of whose men
had been killed and wounded during the
engagement, while but three were wound
ed and none killed on the Constellation.
The next year the Constellation had a
fight with the French La Vengeance. No
very decided victory was won On either
side ON this occasion, but the reputation
of the American commander and ship did
not suffer, for the French boat was much
the larger and heavier of the two vessels.
In 1902 the Constellation, commanded
by Captain Murray, was sent to the Mcdi-
~terranean, the bashaw Of Tripoli having
declared war against the United States be-
cause commanders of American ships
would not pay tribute. Nothing very ex.
citing happened there during the following
few months beyond n engagement be-
tween the Constellation and a dozen Tri-
politan g%unboats. Later the American
ship was obliged to return home for re-
pairs. In 1904, however, the Constellation
returned to Tripolf as q member of q fleet
Of 10 vessels commanded by Commodore
Barron, who used the President for his
flagship. Captain Campbell had charge of
the Constellation. During the exciting
naval campaigns Of 1904 and 1906 the
ship was SO well handled that frigate and
commander both received much distinc-
ton. The treaty Of 1906 followed.
In the war of 1919 the Constellation
rendered distinguished services, and In
1916 was again located in the Mediterra-
mean. In 1919 the ship did service off tho
South American coast. Then she was sent
to the West Indies under Captain War
rington, and there did great work in
clearing the Caribbean sea Of pirates.
After that the chief duty of the Con-
stellation and the officers in charge of her
was the suppression of the African slave
trade, a treaty having been made between
the United States Inc Great Britain dur
Ing Monroe's administration by which
each government was to maintain for that
purpose a squadron Of at least 80 guns on
the African coast. The adventures of her
commander during the time that she was
chasing slavers We're many and exciting,
but there is room here for brief reference
to only one Of them-the last.
1t was in August, 1860. Flag Officer In
man had command. One day he sighted
a large vessel under full sail, and his sus-
picions were deepened by her evident de-
sire to elude the Yankee ship. A spirited
chase lasting far into the night followed,
the Constellation in time coming close
enough to the fleeing vessel to be able to
fire a shot through her rigging. OF course
the pursued craft lay to without further
demonstration, and the CONSULTATIONS
cutter being sent to her she was found to
be the Cora, with 720 slaves on board and
meant prize money, In all amounting to
$50, 600, for captain and crew. A young Off
Ger was sent on board the Cora with seven
or eight men. Captain Campbell was
taken to the Constellation, but his crew
was left on the SLAYER. The experiences Of
the officer In charge Of the prize were
among the most terrible on record. There
was little food, the crew was mutinous,
and b compass was in error. The young
officer, however, managed to land the ne
groes on the African shore near Monrovia,
and at last started eon his homeward yoy-
age across the Atlantic. This consumed
many days and was marked by severe
storms and the running short Of the food
and water supply. Finally in December,
1850, the prize arrived in Brooklyn. She
was the last of the African slavers.
d. In the meantime Captain Campbell,
who had commanded her, had escaped. He
was afterward known as a negro minstrel,
and when he died was q clown, having
assumed the name of William B. Donald
son.
In 1851 the Constellation was the only
American ship in the Mediterranean sea,
where b was commanded by Commodore
81. K. Thatcher. Since her return from
the Mediterranean coast that year she has
been used mostly as a practice and school
ship. Her name has now been taken from
the register Of active vessels. She will
soon be dismantled, and what was the gal
LIANT frigate Constellation will shortly be-
come merely a receiving hulk.