The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-02
OLD IRoNsIpE FIGUREHEAD.
Historic Relic Now Resting at
Willow Dale.

There is considerable said at the pres
emit time in the telegraphic and editor1-
al columns of the different papers OF the
country, in regard to the proper dispo-
sition 20 be made of the historic old war
frigate Constitution" or old cold Iron
sides, as it is frequently called. The
preponderance of opinion seems to be
that this Old ship should be kept in its
original form as nearly as possible, and
preserved as a most interesting relic OF
the earlier naval history of our country.
Some, however, seem to be OF the opln-
ion that 1T would be better to build
new "Old Ironsides, introducing few
of the timbers from the ancient and bis
torio ship, tho latter to be broken up
and the fragments disposed OF as SOU
yenirs among relic hunters.
| 1t is not the purpose of this article to
enter into any discussion Of the question,
| but, as any incidents connected with
the famous old ship will naturally be
read with iRtsrest at this time, we copy
the following authentic account from one
of Ben Perley Poore's books, of an event
which, at the time OF its occurrence.
created much excitement throughout
the country. General jackson was then
president of the United States, and polit-
ical feeling was wrought up to the high
est pitch.
"When the Solid men of Boston
ascertained that General Jackson had &C
tually signed the order for the removal
of the deposits from the bank of the
United States while enjoying thei. hos
FATALITIES they learned that the United
| built vessel, which was being repaired at
the Charlestown navy yard, was to be
ornamented with q full length figure
of General jackson as a f1gure-head.
This was regarded as an insult, and the
carver whe was at work on the figure
was requested to stop work ing on 1t.
This he declined to do, and had bis half
carved block of wood taken to the navy
yard, where he completed his task under
the protection of guard Of marines
When the hgurs-hsad was completed, 1T
was securely bolted to the cntwater OF
the Constitution, which was then hauled
out to her anchorage, and vessel was
stationed en- either side of her.
1.-THE Bostonians grew more aud more
indignant and finally daring young
Dewey, detsfmined that be would decap-
itate the obnoxious image. The night
which he selected was eminently pro-
pitious, as q severe raiBstorm was rag
Ing. accompanied by heavy thunder and
shs9p lightning.
"Dewey senlisd his boat with a
mnfied oar to the bow Of the friaate.
49, HI >nAo IL eff nd
protected by the head BOARDS, only placed
on the vessel the previous day. Then,
with finely tempered SAW, he cut of
the head, and returned with it to Boston,
where party Of his friends were an1-
ioGsly waiting for him at Gallagher's
by the Wings, and Commodore Elliott
was almost frantic with rage over the
fnasplt thus offered to his chief
dewey soon afterward went to Wash
ingtoR. where he exhibited the grim
features Of the head 60 several leading
Wings, and finally carried it, tied up in
q bandana handkerchief, to the Navy
Department.. Sending in his card to Mr..
Mahaore Diekersor, then the Secretary
oil the Navy, he obtained an audience.
He was short, chunky sailor man.
with resolute blue gray eyes, which
twinkled as be said:
Have the honor of addressing the
'Yof have,' replied MI. Dickerson,
and as am very busy will thank you
to be brief.
" MT. Dickerson,' said the captain,
Il am the man who removed the figure
head from the Constitution, and J have
brought ii here to restore it,
"SecretRry Dicksrson threw himself
back i'm his chair and looked with aston
isnment at the man who had cast such
an indignity upon the administration.
eyes, sir, / took the responsibility.
" Well, sir, will have you arrested
Immediately, and the Secretary reached
toward his bell to summon his messen-
ger.
" Stop Mr.. Secretary. said Captain
Dewey you, as a lawyer, know that
there is no statute against defacing a
shlp-of-war, and all you can do is to sue
me for trespass, and that in the county
where the ofTense was committed. If
sex County, Massachusetts, and stand
my trial
"Mr. Diokerson reflected moment
and said: You are right; and now tell
me how you took away the head?'
dewey told his story, and the story
goes that Secretary Dic6erson asked him
to wait while he stepped over to the
White House, followed by a messenger
carrying tho head. When General jack
son saw it, and beard the Seoretary's
story, be burst into a fit of unoontsolla-
Bile LAUGHTER.
&c why, that, he cried at length
why that Is the most internal craven
image ever saw. The fellow did per-
fectly right You've got bin, you say !;
well, give bin a kick and my corpli
ments and tell him to saw it off again.
"Dewey was after this frequently at
Washington, ard he finally obtained the
appointment of postmaster in Snail
: Virginia town. He used to have on his
.-sritincr 1ards 4ha rsrrasantaG inn Of