The Portland daily press., 1895-02-09

December ID.
A BRITISH sLOOP-OFWAR
was found in the mort and an effort was
made to get up a battle between the Hornet
and this vessel which was heavily laden
with specie. but the British officer avoided
the conflict and despite the assurance CT
the Americans appeared to distrust the
promise that the Constitution would take
no hand in the engagement. The Hornet
was left at San Salvador to blockade the
Britiaher, while the Constitution, on the
day after Christmas, proceeded southwark.
p On the morning of December 20, Balm
bridge deserted two sails in the distance. 1t
was pleasant day, with calm and lght
wind. There was some manouvering on the
part of the Constitution to gain compost
ton of advantage. At noon the Constitu-
ton displayed the American flag, the other
ship showing the English ensign. Unintel-
Iigible signals were displayed on each ship,
and cambridge, after tack toward the
enemy, fired shot across his DOW. Inns
action brought on a battle. which began at
. O'Clock with fierce cannonad1ng. The
enemy appeared to have the advantage IN
the light wind which prevailed and sought
to gain better position, with no better re-
suits than mat LU6 SIlpo HCiO 81"
within pistol shot. .s
By this time the sails of the Constitution
had been torn away, but by sklllful man
agement that vessel obtained position
from which she could strike her opponent.
The enemy lost his bowsprit. Twice TINS
stump projected over the rail- OF the Amerl-
can vessel. By deXterous wearing the
Constitution was bl ought by the side OF the
enemy, where the fierce battle was renewed
almost hand-tu-hand. The mast or the
enemy was shot away. The yards were torn
from their supports. and in few moments
the English ship ceased its firing, apparent
ly a surrendered wreck.
The Constitution had gone beyond the
range of Ere and leisurely repaired the
damages of the fight. During this WORK
Balm bridge was surprised by the renewal OF
the fight on board the English ship, which
he supposed he had silenced. He sent an
officer in an open boat to take possession
of the English vessel. which proved 10 pe
the Java. having on board draft OF men
for other war vessels. The battle had been
CT two hours duration. of ususual Warmt d,
and was of disastrous results to Inc En-
glishman. The masts had been shot away
and the bnll was greatly damaged. Twenty
two men had been killed and more than luo
wounded.
The Constitution did not loose a spar.
There were some scratches ai,d some OF the
rigging had been cut. Nine of the Constltu-
tion's crew were killed and twenty-five
wounded Commodore BainDridge was
slightly hurt in the hip, and dangerous
wound was made by flying bolt, but he re-
NAMED at his post until midnight. Ball.
bridge did not like to bring the Java into
San Salvador. which was Brazilian port,
as the attitude OF the Brazilian Govern
ment was known to be inimical to the in
terests of the United States. So
THE JAVA WAS BLOWN UF,
and the prisoners taken to San Salvador
and released on parole The pei Torrance
added to the reputation the Constitution
had already gained for the deadliness of her
broatiside fire, and the superiority in nayi-
cation and strategy of American command
ers.
cambridge found the Hornet still at Sau
Salvador, inten,ly watching the English
tIeasure-laden vessel The Constitution re-
NAMED few days in port, and then sailed
for Boston, where Balm bridge arrived Feb
ruary 81, after an absence of four months.
SOAAStS3-eNh-S~Ah
the Enterprise were regarded AS the
s'iucky" vessels of the service, and nothing
in the war of 1912 so far had disturbed the
superstitious reverence in which the Con-
stitut1on was held by sailors.
cambridge gave up the command of the
Constitution in 1913. and the ship was found
to require extensive repairs. The old crew.
which had done such heroic service was
IL. III Il n -
was placed in her under command of Capt.
Charles Stewart who with cambridge had
so successfully opposed the proposition to
abolish the navy atsthe outbreak of the war
of 1872.
In tie winter Of 1914 the Constitution
made cruise southwark. along the coast
to the West Indies, and on her return cap
tured tie Pictou. an English man-of-wa1
She was chased into Marblehead by two
English frigates, which she had out-man-
oeuvred and outsailed. From Marblehead
the Constitution sailed for Boston, having
taken several prizes on this cruise in adj
dition to the Pictou.
On December II, 1841, the Constitution
again left Boston and visited Bermuda and
the Bay of Biscay. Later she took two
prizes near Lisbon while in chase of large
ship which she supposed to be the ELIZA bet b.
On the afternoon of February 90. Stewart
observed two ships in the distance. which
the
CONSTITUTION IMMEDIATELY BORE
DOWN
upon. One was a small frigate and the
other large sloop-of-war. Stewart crowd
ed sail ON in the effort to overtake the
enemy.
The Constitution. cleared for action, and
al O'Clock, from a mastorly position which
Stewart had gained, opened fire, which was
answered with promptness and fervor, and
continued for fifteen minutes. The ships
were enveloped in dense cloud of smoke.
After few moments the cannonading
ceased. and Stewart. found that one of the
enemy's ships WAS in thejline of the broad
side fire of the Constitution. There was
some..tacking and manoeuvring between the
three ships. and after more firing one of the
vessels-the Cyane-surrendered. The other
ship was theI Leyant. which. after further
chasing and firing, also surrendered. On
the Cyane six were killed and twenty
wounded. On the Levant twelve were
lyillad aDd a1ytpen wOundad Copafi