Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-18
Huneredth Anniversary Of the
Launching Of the Constitution.
MOST FAMOUS OF AMERICAN SHIPS
Some Of the Interesting Incidents
in Her Glorious History.
TO HONOR OLD IRONSIDES

event, she still survives the wear and tear
of peace and war. Charlestown harbor,
Boston, was where the launching finally
took place. The American navy is, there
fore, just century old, for the Constitu-
ton was one of the first battle ships built
by the then youthful government, after it
had achieved its independence.
1t will be source of patriotic rejoicing
to Americans that "Old Irolsides" is to be
present on this occasion. She was one of
the first trio OF battle ships built by the
United States, and is by all odds the most
famous vessel that ever fioated the Ameri-
can flag. To survive the dangers of war,
and, what is sometimes more wasting-the
decay of peace-through one hundred years,
is a record more remarkable for ship than
for a man, and "Old Irons;des'' deserves
all the praise lavished on her in speech and
song. There is no other vessel the associa-
many names familiar in our history or
that can boast such record of gallant
achievements by American tars.
Great Men Have Walked Her Deck.
Hull. cambridge, Decatur, Rodgers and
Stewart were among her captains. Paul
Revere furnished the brass bolts and spikes
that went into her sturdy frame. Betsy
Ross, mother OF the American flag" sewed
the great banner of fifteen stars and fifteen
stripes that tioated above her when she first
breasted the waves. Holmes wrote an ode
to her that is familiar 10 every schoolboy.
Lord Byron was once a guest on board, and
Captain Dacres, afterward a British ad-
mlral, was entertained there as a prisoner.
Her record during The war of 1872 included
the capture of three frst-class British fri
gates. lJi guns. 800 prisoners and property
worth above 81 O0,Uj0 Truly, if ever a
ship deserved to have her birthday remem-
befed IN her ripe old age the Constitution
dCeS
1t was in 1I94, in view of the troubles
with Anglers, that President Washington
and Gen. Henry Knox, Secretary of War
Che navy was not then a se2arate depart-
ment. recommended the building of a num-
Der of first-class frigates. The country
was then without single man-of-war The
lew merchant vessels that had been hastily
ntted out for service in the revolution had
been dismantled or returned to their earlier
uses. congress was by no means a unit
on the plan TO establish a ravy and the hill
Tor the building of six ftigates of mot less
tran thlrty-two guns" had a majority of
only two votes in the House of Representa-
tives. "a
Most Powerful Vessel of Her Time.
OF the six vessels thus provided for only
three were at once built. They were the
Constitution. of IL guns, 1916 tons burden
ana costing 1902, 719, which was built at
Charlestown; the United States, of the same
siZe built st Philadelphia and the ConsteI-
lation. of &c guns and ,265 TONS built at
Baltimore They were all of American plan
and build; the designer was MIR Joshua
humphreys of Philadelphia. That he was
a MAJ of vigorous ideas is shown by his
response 10 General Knox when the latter
asked him to submit designs for the pro-
posed ships. He said:
III we build ships of the same size as
the Europeans Uhey having SO great a
number of them), We shall always be be-
mind them: l would build them of larger
size than theirs. and take the lead of them,
which is the only safe way of beginning a
navy"
This wise counsel was adopted, and the
Constitution, with an armament that was
Increased to % guns, was mere power
ful than any frigate of 1.-The Europeans"
Although the Constitution was afterward
reckoned the luckiest ship of the navy
her launching was not altogether aus
picious. 1t had been. arranged to send
her off the stays on September 20. but after
moving few feet the ship stuck, and it
was found that the dock on which she
Tested had settled. A second attempt was
also unsuccessful, and it was not until
october II that she finally floated free.
Constitution and Gucrricre
The engagement OF the Constitution and
the Guerrero forms a story that we have
all read and g,oated over in our school
histories. II was the first American VIC
tory in the war of 1872 and coming from an
unexpected quarter it set the country wild
with enthusiasm. When Hull and his vic
tCrious crew returned to Boston a great
dinner was given 10 them by the citizens
and John Adams presided: Congress voted
a medal to Hull and $50, 900 to be divided
among the officers and crew; the whole
country set to singing praise of the Yankee
tarS.
Hull and Dacres. the rival commanders
i'll this engagement, We're acquaintance,
and afterw9rd became firm friends. There
IS an unauthenticated story to the effect
that they had once laid a wager of a hat
as to the result of battle in case their
ships ever met. According to this story,
when D?cres came on board the Const!tu-
uon and offered his sword to Hull the
latter cOurtoously declined to take it, but
said: III trouble you for that hat If you
don't mind" The incident may not be true
but 1t illustrates the spirit of the fighting
Yankee captain.
The other exploits of the Constitution,
Including her escape from Admiral Brobes
squadron in three-days' chase, her cap
ture OF the Java and later of the Cyaae and
LeVant il. sI4gle engagement, are too
familiar toc require more than mention.
In Later Years.
In 1853 the old ship-old even then-was
thoroughly overhauled ard rebuilt ut
Charlestown. and figured in an incident
that aroused considerable feeling at the
time: though it has since been generally
ioi t'o'ttH. btli. Allure" JackSOn was snon
at the height of his popularity, although
then, as always, he was bitterly hated by
some of the New EngIanders. Capt. Elliot
who had charge of the remode!ing of the
ship. thought to do honor to the President
by having a new figure-head constructed,
representing Jackson in the Hermitage
scene holding a scroll on which appeared
tie words: The Union-it must be pre-
served"
AT once a torrent of protest broke out in
nnt
cedented. a disgrace to the noble old ship,
etc. Threats were freely made that the
figurehead would not be allowed to keep its
place, and after it was mounted on the
ships Prov a sentry was detailed to watch
1t. and every night lantern was hung
where its light would shine on the figure
One dark night, when terrible storm of
thunder and lightning was raging, Capt
Samuel Dewey. Boston shipper, rowed
out of Chariestown harbor with mufhed
oars, and climbing into the ships fore
chains sawed Off the fgurehead almost
under the nose of the sentry. The affair
was great mystery for time, but after
the excitement had somewhat subsidized
Dewey journeyed to Washington, carrying
the figurehead in a bag, and there turned
1t over to the Secretary of the Navy He
vas never punished for his act.
The Past Half Century.
The past half century has been an nm