Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-01-07
Democratic Northwest.
AND HENRY COUNTY NEWS.
"OLD IRONSIDES."
The Beheading of the "COnstitu.
tiOn's" FIgurehcad.

Samuel Worthington Dswey was a
somewhat eccentric Cape God cap
tain, at times one of the Lords unac
countables, and just the man for a
reckless act or daring exploit He
had lately returned from the West
Indies with cargo of sugar, and his
employers, the firm of Henry and
William Lincoln, having disposed of
both ship and cargo, our cap ain was
entirely at leisure at the particular
period of our story, and the old adage
was proved that "Satan finds mischief
still, etc. One day, while sitting In
the counting room of this firm, on
Central wharf, the conversation turn
ed upon the subject of the desecration
of the old ship, as the indignant
Wings at that time of great political
excitement deemed it, when Dewey
remarked, II have great mind to 90
over there some night and cut off that
head" to which the junior partner of
that firm replied, rather in banter
ing, Dewey, if you will do that, III
give you hundred dollars 'Donel
said Dewey; i will take that"
But at the moment bis challenger
did not dream it would be done, and
thought no more of it. In the course
OF a week, or thereabouts Dewey in.
formed these friends that he had been
over to the navy yard reconnoitering,
and had made up his mind that he
could do it, Still as the captain was
a little erratic and uncertain. the mat
ter was not seriously considered by
these merchants
A few mornings afterwards, as
these gentlemen werA coming down
town to business, they observed, as
they neared Change and the State
Street sidewalks, that many were chat.
ting on the broad grin, and that evil
IDENTIFY there was news in town, when
some mutual friends stopped them
with the startling intelligence that
the Jackson fgurehead on the old
Constitution had last night been de
capitated. | was then lad in New
Hampshire town where there was a
'Jacksonite' majority, and | distinctly
remember the warmth and indeed
rage Of the discussion of those Jack
sonites' upon the streets, on the one
side, and the glee and enjoyment of
the 'Adamsites, on the other. Po-
litical rancor in these days is nothing
in comparison.-The specific dates
are OF no consequence here; but, the
occasion soon offering ITSELF one dark
and stormy night, amid thunder and |
lightning, Captain Dewey, provided
with glmlet and saw, let himself
down into little fiat. .bottomed skiff |
from Battery Wharf, and padded
away for Charleston and the ship in
question, which at the time was an
'chored in the stream, about ready for
sea, and off the navy-yard. He had |
recently noticed a small pendent rope
dangling over her side, within reach;
this when alongside, he made fast to,
and clsmbering up her great walls,
entered portfolio upon the gun deck,
and creeping forward to the bride
port, went out of that, and upwards,
till he reached the spar or upper decc.
He could hear the steps of the mar
inc guard on duty, and amid the
flashes of the lighting he could dis
tinctly see HIM pacing to and fro, and
was oblighed to govern his move
ments accordingly, for at times he
came within four feet OF him. At
length our adventurer perched him
self under the bowspirt, and OBTAIN
ing standing place in the foot-ropes,
bored the gimlet for handle into
the presidential head, and worked
away with his saw at the throat.
Here he soon found resistance in a
stout copper bolt, which was pre-
pendicular obstruction running up
into the head of the figure. He there
fore ms de another essay, beginning
at the chm and thus accomplished
his object; but before the final stroke
he took tt g precaution to attach one
end of his handkerchief to the gimlet,