The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-31

Then came the war of 1872, in which
the Constitution won the first notable
victories of the American navy agains
! a hrst-class European power. Captain
isaac Hull commanded her at this
/ time, and he proved to be a seaman
worthy Of the ship.
A NOTABLE ESCAPE.
While proceeding northward from
Annapolis 10 the New England coast
she was sighted by a British squadron
on July II. An extraordinary chase
ensued. The British vessels, eager fol
their prey sometimes got near enough
to open fire with their bow guns, but
none of the shots reached the speedy
American craft. All that skill could
do in getting the benefit of the vari-
able winds was resOrted to. One of the
devices of Hull was to send out boats
ahead to tow the vessel in a calm;
another was to carry a kedge anchor
long distance ahead for the crew of
the Constitution to haul up. Thus
three days and three nights passed.
On the fourth the wind favored the
constitution, and she drew away, and
thus ended one of the most famous
chases in our naval history. When
the exploit became known, the escape
aroused almost the enthusiasm of a
battle and a victory.
THE GUERRERO DUEL.
1t was a month later, while cruising
oil the Massachusetts coast, that she
won victory that will give her fame
as long as American history endures.
ON August 10 she fell in with the En-
glish frigate Guerrero, commanded by
Captain James Richard DacreS, and
mounted with SO guns, against the A
OF the Constitution. In those days
everything that fiOated under the En-
glish flag was regarded as invincible
The French fleets which the great Ma
poleOn sent out to fight the English
were annihilated. and the great Ar
mazda of Spain was Splintered. To
bowl over the navy of the puny colon
les was looked upon as the rarest sport
by the English commanders, and Da-
cres was only too eager for the fray.
When the Guirriere was first sighted
Hull came Immediately from his cabin.
He was a large, fat man, whose excit-
able temperament was held in strong
control His eyes cleaned when he
saw the distant speck of white. Imme-
diately the Constitution course was
altered. and with her light sails set
she was running free, with kites all
drawing and the chase looming clearer
and clearer each anxious minute of the
time. AT ) o'clock it was plainly seen
that she was large ship on the star
board tack, close hauled on the wind,
and under easy sail. In half an hour
her ports could be deserted through the
glass, and loud murmurs of satisfac-
ton ran through the ships company.
The officers smiled congratulations at
one another. and Hull's broad face
shone with suppressed emotion.
In his official account Hull speaks
of the conduct of his crew before the
fight in the following words: 1T gives
me great pleasure to say that from the
smallest boy in the ship TO the Oldest
seaman not a look of fear was seen.
They went into action giving three
cheers, and requesting to be laid close
to the enemy" Every minute now the
Constitution gained on the stranger,
who held her course, as if entirely OBJ
livious of her pursuers presence.
Within three miles, and to leeward,
Hull shortened sail and cleared the
decks; the drum beat to quarters and