The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-10
tn. 'con.titu io,' and the Java. 8"

The latter part of December. 1872, the
old frigate Constitution, under the COM
mand OF Commodore William Bainbridge'
was cruising in southern waters OIL inc
coast of Brazil. Her brave little cohsorl'
The Hornet, she had LETT bochadlng me
Rome Cheyenne, British sioop OF
war. in the harbcr Of Bahia. Every day
the Hornet dared the Engllshman 10
leave her anchorage and meet her, broad
side to broadsde. in the open sea pe-
vond the neutral limits and he prolec-
ton of Brazilian guns. Writes Captain
Lawrence OF the Yankee sloop, 10 Cap
tain Green. Of the Bonne Cheyenne: l
pledge nv honor that neither the Consul
tuition nor any other American VcsseI
shall interfere.
And as if to emphasize this announce
ont. the Constitution spread her sans
and sailed off to the southwark BAN
BRIDGES last message to the "alchhb
Lawrence being. May glory and success
attend you" But Captain Green was
prudent: the English vessel Kept 10 tHe
harbor with her load of specie ana her
superior armament, and cambridge II
was who won the glory and success
Surely the Constitution was launched on
A lucky day. About sixty hours after
leaving the Island of st. Salvador behlnd
her the Constitution was again clearing
decks for action. and the men were
cheering as they jumped to the guns
The following IL the official account
that Commodore Bairbridge made 10 the
Secretary OF the Navy. 1t is as concise
and dramatic as all the reports oi our
naval heroes were in those days, ana
as he wrote cambridge was suffering
from serious wounds and IN danger
of his life:
II have the honor TO inform you 'ndt
on the 18th of December. at T. NJ /"
south latitude 10 degrees ana b mihute''
west Longitude 80 degrees. and about ten
leagues distant from the coast OF Brazil
fell in with and captured his Britannia
Maiesty's frigate Java. OF forty-nine guns
and upwards of four hundred men. com
manded by Captain Lambert. very dis
ttnguished officer. The action lasted one
hour and fifty-1ve minutes, in winch time
the enemy was completely dlsmantled, not
having a spar OF any kind standing.
"The loss on board Lhe Constitution was
nine killed and twenty-five Woundcd' az
per enclosed list. The enemy had Sixty
killed aud 10l wounded (among the latler
Captain Lambert, mortality, uut,. by the
enclosed letter, written on bOard inns
shin by one of the officers Of the Java,
and accidentally found, il is evident thdt
the enemy's wounded must have been
much greater than as above stated anu
who must have died Of their wounds pre-
yious to their being removed. Ihe etler
states sixty killed ana 10 wounded
should | attempt TO do justice by
renresentation to the brave and good
conduct Of nv officers and crew, i should
fail in the attempt; therefore, sufhce IL
10 say that the whole of their conduct
was such as to meet my highest ehco-
miums. | beg leave to recommend the
officers particularly, 20 the notice Oh
the Government, as, also, the uhloitu-
nate searnen who were wounded. ana inc
families of those brave men VINO Iell III
action.
THE great distance from our o"''
coast and the perfect wreck we maue vi
the enemy's frisate. forbade every luea
NJ Alternating to take her to the United
States. I had, therefore. no alternative
but burning her, which did on the list
after receiving all The prisoners and their
baggage. which was very hard work'
only having two boats left out OF eight
and not one left on board the Java
ION blowing up the frigate Java pro
ceeded TO St. Salvador, where ldiucu
all the prisoners on their parole 10 ie
,urn to England and there remain uh'l'
regularly exchanged. and not TO serve !"
their professional capacities IN any piaoe
or in any manner whatsoever nsa."'t
the limited States OF America until 'her
exchange shall he effected.
\ nathetic and dramatict incident oc-
cured when the wounded Capt. Lambert
was being moved OFF the ship at ST. oai-
vador. He lay OH the deck suffering IN
tense main. when cambridge. supported py
two officers, approached. Bending down
with great dificulty. he placed captain
Iamberts side-arms on the cot on winch
the latter lay, saying that the sword OF 50
brave a man should never be taken rom
him: then the two wounded commanders
grasned hands i'm mutual respect ana au-
miration .--Harper's Weekly.