The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-09

ceased. Hull made ready for the engage
ment, which he found he could not AVOID.
Every one on the Constitution was in fine
spirit. Not a man but believed that. by
American skill and courage, the pursuers
could be eluded. if they could not De oe-
feated. The pursuit was kept UP oy the
Guerrero almost alone. TheIe was certain
to be- battle within an hour. suddenly,
nine minutes after nine. the constitution
sail felt southerly breeze. ana immediate
advantage was taken of 1T. Inc per1or-
nance. which gave the Contitutlon the ao-
vatageous position. excited the admiration
of the enemy. 1t was then that the Guer-
riere opened fire, but still without any of
the shots reaching the Constitution.
All the morning. until noon. the toilsome
work of
TOWING THE BIG SHIP
was kept up. All the afternoon and al the
evening there were bathing winds. and
sometimes the men obtained short respite
from towing by a iair breeze from the south
ward. At midnight it was calm again.
Morning brought little change in the situa-
ton Twelve sails were in sight, including
theConstitution and an American merchant
| man, which now appeared In the distance.
At noon the Constitution gradually gained
on the English. storm now arose and the
vessels became separated, one of them bare
| ly visible at the horizon. Gradually the
vessels separate more and more under the
tlertness of the American commmander.
who awaited himself of every condition.
and who used superior skill in naviga-
| tioL. The following day. after three days
| md three nights. the English ships gave up
| be chase, which has become historical In
| naval annals. and which covered Hull and
| ais men and his officers with glory. main
| aiming the reputation and sustaining the
| sentiment W hich surrounded the Constitu-
| ion.
| The Constitution left Boston August 2.
Capt. Hull still in command. The vessel
| ook 1un eastward, with a hope of en-
| oountering some of the English cruisers said
| be in that vicinity. The Constitution
vent as far as Halifax without meeting any
If tine enemy, and proceeded on to the Gulf
I If st. lawrence. where Hull ioox two
| ,rizes of little value. which he burned. On
| August Is. Hull discovered five sails, and
| the Constitution gave chase. One of the
vessels was set fire to by the enemy. anoth-
or one was taken, and the others escaped.
| The Constitution proceeded southwark.
and on the afternoon of August 10. dis
covered a frjgate in the distance As the
Constitution approached the enemy 1t was
discovered that everything on board the
| English vessel was ready for an engage
ment and Hull made ready to oblige the
| Englishman. There was some manoeuvring
after the fashion of the Constitution and
the squadron which had recently chased
| her. As the fire began the ships drew near
or together and when fairly side by side
each poured into the other
A CLOSE AND HEAVY FIRE.
| The proximity of the enemy's guns even
| caused small fire in the cabins of the Con-
sti,ution. AS the vessels touched both
paI ties epared to board and in an instant
| the men of the Constitution We're on the
taffrail all ready TO spring on the English
Ideck. B 10th parties suffered from the close
/ fire and some of the ablest officers of both
vessels were killed in this almost haLd-to-
| hand encounter.
| Neither party could board the others YES
| sci in the face of such fire. Suddenly the
sails OF the Constitution filed and the yes
| sci shot ahead just as the foremost OF the
enemy fell carrying down with it the main
| mast and leaving it defeated and useless.
| The distressed vessel was now boarded by
young officer and party from the Constitu-
ton who returned with the news that the
vessel was the Guerriere. There was danger
of the sinking Of the English ship and Hull
sent all his small boats to remove the pris-
oners. By noon all the men had been
transferred. the prize crew was recalled the
Guerriere set on fire and in fifteen minutes
the vessel was blown mp.
Capt. Hull now made his way back to
Boston where his appearance with ship
load of English prisoners and the stirring
accounts of his experience with the Guer-
riere moved American hearts to exultanr
pride. The Constitution had suffered con-
siderably in her rigging but very little in
the body of the ship. She had lost seven