Evening star., 1897-02-26
A MATCHLESS RECORD
Representative Fitzgeralfs Tribute to the
Old Fngate Constitution.
She Is to he Repaired and Brought
Here to BE Used
Naval Museum.

The naval appropriation bill carries an
item for 5000 for repairs to the old
frigate Constitution. to put that vessel into
condition to be brought to Washington
where 1t will be preserved and used as
naval museum Mr.. Fitzgerald of Massa-
chusetts Is responsible In a great measure
for the appropriation and for the plan of
bringing the frigate to Washington. At the
time the naval appropriation bill was under
consideration In the House. few days ago,
be gave something of history of this old
war vessel Mt. Fitzgerald said:
In the war with Tripoli, under the COM
mand of the gallant Preble the Constitu-
ton bore the brunt of the fighting. and in
single year. with the aid of noble Decatur
and the smaller vessels, humbled the pride
of the Barbary states, while the civilized
world looked on in wonder. admiration and
respect She remained in the waters of the
Mediterranean till the commencement of
the second war with Great Britain, June 1S.
1S12- In July. as the, Constitution left New
York for a long cruise. she was discovered
and chased by British squadron of five
powerful vessels. under the command of
Commodore Brooke. 1t was only by the
most dauntless spirit and skillfuI maneuver-
ing OF the frigate that she managed to
escape For three days and three nights
the squadron gave pursuit. and. had 1t been
successful. the loss of such a fine frigate so
early IN the war would have had a moral
influence impossible to estimate and would
have been an frreparable injury to the
American navy at that time. About a
month after her escape the Constitution
encountered the British frigate Guerriere
and after terrific contest of over an hour
totally diSmasted her. and gained victory
unequaled In its results. placing the United
States in the front rank of naval powers
the queen of the seas.
1t is impossible to describe the feelings
OF JOY and pride that animated the Ameri-
can people when the news of the victory of
the Constitution over the Guerriere was
known In Boston particularly the widest
excitement prevailed. and the people were
frenzied with delight.
Boston being shipbuilding town. it was
the boast of her mechanics that In the
event OF war the wooden walls of Column
bia. as these frigates were called would be
the salvation of the republic: and to think
that one of their own Massachusetts YES
sells. built by Massachusetts, shipwrights
manned by Massachusetts sailors and COM
manded by Massachusetts captain should
capture and destroy one of the pets of the
British navy was indeed source of un-
bounded satisfaction 1t is impossible at
this late day to convey the great moral
effect produced in America by this victory
So much had been written about British
supremacy upon the seas that public opin-
ion believed her invincible on that element.
Inc world. in fact, accorded to England
this high position The victory can in
some measure, be appreciated by this state
ment. and the confidence which it inspired
1T is hardly necessary for me to go into
further details of victories attained by Old
Ironsides: how. under command of Capt
William Bainbridge. she captured the
frigate Java. and with Capt. Charles Stew
art she captured the Pictou and three
others. and under Capt. William b. Shu-
brick she captured the Cyane and the
levant. or recount the numerous merchant
men she captured. Suffice is IL to state that
exclusive of merchant vessels sent back by
her to the United States, Old Ironsides in
her actions with armed vessels of the Eng
lish navy took 1j4 guns and upward of 9o6
prisoners. and killed or wounded 29S of the
enemy; and the value of the property cap
tured could not be estimated at less than
81 100000. Where in the annals of the world
can such record be matched? Where are
the achievements worthy of place with
those of the officers and men of Old Iron
sides? Is II any wonder that long. loud and
mighty the cry goes up throughout the
length and breadth of this fair land to pre-
serve and perpetuate the dear old frigate
Constitution