The San Francisco call., 1897-10-17

British ensign, and the third lieutenant
] who took possession, found that his prize
was the Levant, under command OF Hon.
Captain Douglas. The two prizes were
safely taken into Port Praya on the 10Th
of March.
a few days later while az anchor in the
harbor British feet hove in sight and,
although the port was a neutral one, Cap
tain Stewart was too well acquainted with
! British ethics to trust to their observance
of the rules of war ana decided to attempt
to escape. He succeeded in getting away
with the Constitution and the Cyane, but
the Levant being delayed was recaptured
before she could get outside. The Cyane
/ afterward did good service in our navy.
! To commemorate al once American yalor
and British perfidy vessel was built on
the same lines as the Lsvant, christened
with that name and for years carried the
4 stars and stripes.
Thirty wears later Old Ironsiues was
making voyage around the world. Oney
OF her midshipmen was William F. Her
rick, who now fills position in the Oak
land Bank OF Savings: The Constitution,
before leaving on that voyage, was en-
! tirely reconstructed al Charleston Navy
yard during the administration of Presi-
dent Jackson. and sailed under the COM
mand of Captain John Percival, whose &C.
centrcities earned him the sobriquet of
Mad jack She made the voyage
around the world in 1874 46. arriving at
MazatIan, Mexico. in April, 1916 By
strange coincidence she here met the
| United States squadron, un ier CommO-
dore Sloat, and among the vessels were
the CYane and Levant. This was Just
previous 10 the breaking out OF the
Mexican War. The Constitution, being
on special voyage, sailed from Mazatlan
April p, 1916 and arrived at Valparaiso
in the early part OF June.
While in Valparaiso harbor Old Iron.
sides proved that she was as we'll able to
win out in a contest with nature as 10 ef-
feet the capture of handful of British
frigates.
While in the harbor one of those wild
storms so well known to mariners on the
Chilean coast as "northers'' broke over
the roadstead. All the light spars were
aioft and the vessel was fully rugged. but
IN less than an hour everything was sent
down, ibboom and topmasts housed and
heavy yards lowered down TO the ham
mock nettings. Four heavy anchors were
run out ahead, and the tenn pest was defed
According TO Mr.. Herrick, the seas
were fearful, and the aspect of the good =,
old ship as she plunged her nose into tba
great green seas was majestic and SUBJ
lime. Her matches were all calked down
and battened, her booms tarpaulined and
secured by heavy lashings, and as she
plunged into the Sc as tons OF green brine
poured along her deck as fast as the ports
on either side and a the stern could let it
out.
All hands were below except a few of
the watch on deck. and Old Ironsides RODE
out the temporal in perfect security
FIVE barks and brigs went ashore in the
gale on the FL Mandoral, but the Consti-
tuition did not perce eptibly drag an anchor.
A painting of the ship under these condi-
tlons was made by Mr.. Herrick, from
which the accompanying illustration was
drawn.
The old ship was off Cape Horn July 4,
1876. anu arrived at Rio de Janero TWO
weeks later. Here she remained several
weeks under orders from Hon. Henry A.
Wise. United States Minis ter to Brazil,
who detained her as convoy ior about
twenty American coffee droghers, who
tDSlr CdTSoSS O1A OOHtN ~ ASASS LliS
security OF the old frigate from possible
Mexican privateers on the Mexican coast.
She saw them safely to the capes of Vir-
ginia, and then hauled off into the gulf
stream once more aud arrived at Boston.
where she tied up 10 the dock at Charles
ton Navy-yard October T. 1916 close to
which she was launched nearly fifty years
before.
Soon AFTER the War of the rebellion
broke out the Constitution came near fall
ing into the hands of the Confederates
while lying at Annapolis, where she had
been used as schoolship. The dan.
ger was averted by the prompt action
of fGeneral Butler and the old craft was
taken to New York. For years sue hsI
been laid up in ordinary at Portsmouth,.
but few weeks since she was towed down
to Boston, the place OF her birth. wbera
on the 21st inst. the Centennial OF hsr
launching is TO be appropriately cel&
brated.
The brave craft should not be permitted
10 rot at her moorings, but shouId he nra.
served and remain, as she will as dear IN
the hearts of Americans as ia the huIlof
the Victory to the nation that was VIC
torious at Trafalgar. STUART W. BoorH.