The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-10-23
A FAMOUS WAR VESSEL
The Good Ship Constitution Was Launched
Hundred Years Ago and Bravely
She Fought Herself to Honor.

She Fought Herself to Honor.
cold Ironsides' is hundred years old
and this week the centennial anniversary
was celebrated in Boston. The United
States frigate Constitution, as she is known
officially, was built to protect American
TRADE from the pirates Of the Barbary coast,
but it was during the war of 1912 that she
made for herself an undying name in his
tory.
SIN the War of 1872" writes Lieuten-
ant Commander j. ID. Jerrod Kelley, L.
S n, in the first volume of his History
Of Our Navy" just published, "the battery
of the Constitution, though fine one, was
handled SO effectively and upon such novel
but true principles that the British, whom
she whipped with unvarying and delight
full regularity, claimed she was not 'saucy
frigate, as the song called her, but line
of battle ship, But this is sheer nonsense,
for she was stout frigate, nothing more,
and here is the list of ordnance that was so
we'll directed as to cause this idle foolish
ness of complaint. The gun or second
fighting deck was pierced for thirty pa
Founders, and on the spar or upper deck
she carried twenty -four 32-pounder carron-
AIDES and two bow chasers-sacred in all
naval yarns as the battle openers.
''These 24-pounders were long, thick
barreled pieces, and had what in those days
of hard knocks and close quarters was
called great range of fire. The carronades
$50 called after Carron, Scotland, where
these smashers were first built were short,
light guns, which sent heavy shot short
distance with crushing and not with a
piercing effect. This battery of smoo h
bore, muzzle loading cast iron pieces threw
a total weight of 1850 pounds, or 80
pounds in broadside, and this was deemed
enormous for the day and class ~
When the war of 1912 was forced upon
us the Constitution was in Europe, but she
returned speedily, was refitted at Annapolis
and sent to sea on July . says the New
York Herald. While off the Long Island
coast, Captain Hull commanding, she was
pursued by a heavy squadron of five ships,
engaged i'll the blockade of New York and
contiguous ports. The wind was light,
and Hull had to resort to many sailor de-
vices. His boats were hoisted out and sent
to tow the ship, and as the weather was as
calm as mill pond, he forged ahead
slowly But the enemy pursued the same
tactics, and began to overhaul the intrepid
Yankee. When night fell Hull found him
self on soundings, so he sent boat long
way ahead, carrying light hawser bent to
kedge or small anchor. This was dropped
overheard, and then all hands manned the
line and started the ship at fair speed
ahead. When abreast or up to the kedge,
it was tripped and another one sent out,
and under like tactics hauled upon. TIL.
result was that the Constitution outfooted
her enemies, and in the squall which fol
escaped.
On the 10Th Of August, in the same year
Hull fell in with the Guerrero Captain
Dacres At 5 p. m. the Englishman com
menced the fight BY opening on the Con
stitution at long range; at 7 p. m. h.
surrendered, though the actual fighting
time was only 30 minutes. The American
lost seven killed and had seven wounded
the British 70 killed and disabled TIL,
professional reputation of Dacres did no
suffer ~ this defeat, for he had fought hi
ship SO CALAMITY that in his statement be
fore the Court he was able to declare tn,
Guerrero had received no less than 30 shot
as low as the fifth sheet of copper below
the bends. This showed the gunnery b,
had to cope with and the precision ant
GOODNESS Of his adversary. All Americans
were greatly elsted by this ennohling vic
tory, and public enthusiasm WAS excited t,
the highest pitch. Huli's welcome hon,
was an uprising Of the people, and his skill
was made the theme Of ballad and story
The Constitution won many famous vic
tories after this and later in times Of peace
was assigned as a schoolship for the mid
shipmen at Annapolis and at Newpers
For many years she was laid up at Ports
mouth yard, hut in September she wa
lowed To Boston and there her birthday wa.
celebrated on Thursday.