The National tribune., 1895-02-21

American and French cruisers did much TO
ward changing the tune of their laughter
But British officers were still anxious 90 know
il the Yankee-built frigates really could sal
with any respectable speed, and to satisfy them
selves on that point the commander of a crack
sailing British ship. while on blockade duty
off San Domingo, sent a challenge 10 Capt
Silas Talbot, Of the Constitution, to an all-day
race wagering q cask Of wine on the result
AS the British ship had the reputation of being
one of the best sailers in the West Indies, tine
younger American officers were immediately
on their mettle, and urged Capt. Talbot tc
accept the wager, and, as making an agreeable
break in the monotony Of the cruise, he con.
scented.
The First Lieutenant Of the Constitution was
Isaac Hull, afterward her famous commander.
Even at that time Hull had won a reputation
for being one Of the most skillful navigators
/; in the service, and the sailing of the frigate
on that occasion was Entrusted to him. The
race began ST day. break and lasted until sum-
set the Constitution having il all her own
way from the first. As the sun was going
down she fred her evening gun, the signal
that the race was ended, and, hesving to,
waited for the Englishman TO come up. The
British commander handsomely acknowl-
edged his defeat, and lowering his barge sent
the cask of wine aboard. Had this Captain
lived 16 years longer the modification of his
defeat would have been diminished by learn
ing that IS British frigstes and several ships.
of-the-line subsequently, endegvored to over.
take the Constitution with similar want OF
success.
Probably no other shin hss done so much
to level British naval pride as Old Ironsdes.
High rewards and rapid promotion awaited the
English commander who sailed into Spithead
with the dreaded Constitution as a prize.
When by the extraordinary seamanship Of
Capt. Isaac Hull she escaped the clStches Of a
powerful British squadron of Sandy Hook in
1912 after chase of some 60 hours, Capt.
Byron, commanding one Of the ships of the
pursuing squadron, wrote to a friend in Lon
don: Nothing can exceed my modification
from the extraordinary escape Of the American
frigate." The even more remarkable escape Of
the Constitution in 1916 from another British
squadron of Port Praya caused the command
ing English officer to commit suicide.
OF this group Of six frigates which formed
the nucleus of the present American Navy,
only three are now in existence-the Consti.
tuition, the President and the Constellation.
The Constellation is now in American waters,
but the President is in London. She was
captured early in 1915, after long chase off
Long Island, by powerful British squadron,
and has been kept in London az a trophy.
in a certain sense the fourth Of the famous
group the Chesapeake, also is in existence
to-day. She Was captured June ], 1913. by
the British Begun frigste Shannon and car
ried to England. Some years after the war
she was broken up, and many Of the timbers
were sold TO British miller named John
Prior, who built iour.mll out of them at
Wickham, Hsnts Some OF the shot of the
battle are still visible sticking il the timbers
of the mill.
Such being the notable career Of Old Iron.
sides, it is not surprising 20 find that the
action Of Congress in appropristing money 10
restore the ship to her original condition has
met with widespread satisfaction, and the
wisdom of placing her where che can be viewed
by patriotic young America will be amply
demonstrated in the growing interest in this
important arm Of the service.-New York
Tines.