The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-19
"oLD IRoNsIDns. 100 YEARS AGO,
Terror Of the Seas to ne Properlx
H0nored.

Terror Of the Seas TO ne Properly
Boston. Mass. October 1s.--One AZ the
most interesting celebrations commemora-
tive Of the past glory Of the American
navy Will be the observance. October ?i.
OF the centennial OF the launching Of the
wooden frigate Constitution. familiarlv
known as "Old lronsdes." She was
launched October 81. 1897. In this city.
After her launch the Constitution spent
lew years In peaceful railing, but at the
outbreak OF the war with the Barbary pl-
rates In lS03-4, she was dispatched TO the
scene OF the trouble, under the command
OF Captain Edward Prebble, one OF the bold
aashlng, fearless commanders II the voting
american navy. Then followed a few years
more Of peace. She proved herself re.
markabiy fine sailer. Her m,st remark
able exhibition of seam ananp, however,
was soon after the outbreak OF the war
OF 1872, when, not far from Sandy Hook,
the Constitution. upon the lifting OF u
log, found herself almost in tho rAidst
OF whole squadron OF British SHIPS Al
though the wind at first was very i;eht.
then complete calm, ard then Ter some
time battling. he kept his ship Just be. ond
gun range, although several times tired at
until at last, the breeze freshenng, his
last snip out-sailed the enemy.
Inc Constitution fell in with the ere ok
British Guerrierre, off Halifax, rutust 10,
1872. In forty minutes the Guerci arre, dis
mantled and helpless in he trough Of the
seas, struck her colors. The ships we're
about evenly matched, the Constitution be-
sides her regular forty-f four guns. ha~ng
eleven small carronades. but the Grer-
rierre. on the other hand. had forty-n nine
guns all told yet the Constitution had
I'D nd
while the Guerrierre lost fifteen killed and
sixty-three wounded The Constitution
again put to sea. this time under the COM
mand OF Captain William Bninbrdge, and
sailed south. On December 20, 1912, off
the coast Of Brazil, she met the British
frigate Java. battle lasting one hour
and fifty-fve minutes was fought. at the
end of which the Java was capsl,ed The
Java lost sixty killed and 1O1 wouueed--
the Constitution only nine killed and twen-
ty-fve wounded. Every effort was made bv
the English to capture the terrible Con-
stitution. but in vain. She sailed away
from the big line Of battle At one time
after steam had been introduced. It was
proposed to destroy the Constitution and
use her tmbers for other PURPOSES. il be-
ing commended that her days OF real use-
fulness were past wave of protest. small
at first, yet growing, arose from all over
the country, and eliminated in the famous
poem of Oliver Wendell Holmes, entitled
"Old 1ronsidcs." which. rs much as her
victories, helped to endear her 20 the peo-
pie.
For many years she was used as a rrac
| tice ship at the Naval Academy amt then
as receiving ship at the Portsmouth N
H.. navy yard, where she remained until
| this year, the centennial anniversary of her
| birth, drew nigh. when she was taken from
| the wharf at Portsmouth. where she was
slowly rotting away. placed in the dry dock
| and overhauled preparatory to the cele-
| bration
The exercises will consist Of an address
| by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and the
reading of Holmes poem by Judge Grant
| OF this city. DIR. Edward Everett Hale
will act as Chaplain. Many vessels of the
| White Squadron will salute the ola ship
and give a parade in her honor.