The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-08-13

The wind had freshened at dawI
and the fleet was coming down IN fins
shape suddenly the breeze disap
pc red entirely and the Constitution
drifted around with her head TO th'
enemy. Three Of the heavy frlgate:
We're within five miles of her. Cap
tain Hull ordered out all the boats Il
tow the ship and placed several gun:
where they could be used as sterr
chasers. The English likewise tool
to towing and placed all their boats
at work on the three frigates. BY
thus concentrating their forces the
nearest ships were coming up fast.
At about 8 o'clock thirteen boat:
were put at towing the Shannon ano
she was rapidly approaching. Com
modore Broke wanted to get close
enough to engage "Old 1ronsides,'
and while the action was progressing
the other ships could obtain position
which would compel her surrender.
1t now looked to Captain Hull ano
his crew as though escape was impos
sible and they would surely be taken
In this hopeless situation the Van
kee ingenuity Of Lieutenant Morris
came to the rescue He suggested
that anchors be carried as far ahead
as all the cable in the ship spliced to
gether would allow and dropped
Then the crew could pull the vessel
up to the anchors. Captain Hui
seized upon the plan with the great
est eagerness. 1t was a fortunate
idea. A boat was sent out nearly q
half mile ahead and it dropped al
anchor. The crew then manned the
cable and, on the run, brought the
ship up to the anchor, lifting it as the
vessel passed over, carried ahead by
the momentum gained. Another boat
was in advance with an anchor already
placed. It's line was taken and the
performance repeated. The Consti-
tuition rapidly drew away from hel
pUrsuers.
The astonishment of the British can
be imagined as they saw the chase
forging ahead without visible means
of doing SO. Captain Hull gained
over mile before the enemy discov
cred his plan. They at once tried the
same scheme with visible success
their numerous boats giving them the
advantage in this also.
The British put most OF their force
on the Shannon and Gnerriere and
these vessels were slowly creeping
up. Captain Hull placed his long
range gun in the stern to reach the
enemy's small boats as soon as they
should come within shooting distance
One shot had been fired and passed
beyond the foremost British boat
when suddenly the wind came As
Captain Hull saw it approaching he
put his sails in trim and with the ut
most coolness picked up ali his boats
lifting them just clear of the water SC
that they could be dropped again on
the shortest notice The breeze did
not last over half an hour, but in that
short time the Constitution proved
herself better sailor than any of the
English vessels. As soon as the wiuC
subsided the boats were again put tC
work. Thus the day and night went
by, the men alternately towing, phil
ing and taking advantage of every
breath of wind that stirred the surface
of the water. When sailing the al
vantage was with the Constitution
when towing. with the British.
This was continued until O'Clock
in the morning. Then 4 good breeze
came up and part of the tired crew
were able to snetch few moments rest
And well they deserved it. For thir
ty-six hours hardly a wink of sleeI
had fallen to the lot of anyone aboarC
the Constitution. All this time th,
men had been at the hardest kind o
work They were nearly exhausted
when the wind struck the ship. Th'
breeze continued fresh the rest of tn,
night and in the morning the sea pre-
sented a beautiful sight. There wer,
twelve ships in plain view of each 9th
er, all of which had every sail set. anC
all pursuing the same direction.
Two American and two British
merchantmen had come up during
the night and were now in sight Tn,
English fleet was too eager to get tn,
Constitution to pay any attention t,
the small fry beyond flying the Ameri
can colors. This ruse was withou
effect as the Constitution exhibited
British colors, which showed the mer
chantmen that something was wrong
All this day and night the win,
Il In
ly drew away from her pursuers
showing her ability as swift sailor
At 6 o'clock the next morning the top
sails of the leading ships of the enc
my were just to be seen and at
O'clock they We're completely out @
sight. This is probably the most re
markable chase on record. 1t laste
sixty six hours and most of that tim
the vessels were nearly within ger
shot. During the entire chase not
man left tie deck of the Constitutio
to obtain rest The sailors acquire
occasional snatches of sleep at thei
| posts during the intervals when ther
was enough wind to render town
unnecessary, but even they We're kel
almost continually busy trimming til
sails to take the utmost advantage {
every slight change in the breeze
After etfecting her escape from I'll
English the Constitution made h,
wayto Boston. Captain Hull put I
sea for his last voyage in 90
Ironsides" on August 2. 1t prove
to be a glorious one for himsel
his ship. and his country. At
o'clock IN the afternoon on the 19t
of August sail was discovere
from the masthead Chase was III
mediately given. The stranger d
not endeavor to escape. but watt
for the Constitution tC come up.
3 o'clock she was made out TO be
frigate and there was little doubt til
she was an enemy.
When about three miles distant t
Constitution took in her light sa
! and cleared for action. On comi
within gunshot the enemy discharg
! her brOa1sila and then cbanpa1 /