The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-19

New York Herald: One hundred gears
ago the United States frigate Consttu-
ton was launched at Boston. from the
famous shipbuilding yard OF Claghorn
& Bentley. From the very beginning
she was tho pride OF our young and
struggling service, and when the con-
sumate victories OF the War OF 1879
made her an undying tradition she
achieved, and still holds. the first place
In the affections of the American peo-
pie. Like her sister ships, she was pro-
yided because ofthe forays made upon
our citizens and trade by the ruthless
Toyers of the Barbary coast, and her
earliest war service of any character
was before the crenelated walls Of Trl-
poll.
In 1894 Congress determined to stop
the depredatlons OF these Moorish row.
ers and authorized the construction or
purchase of six frigates. These were
designed by Joshua Mumphrles, OF
Philadelphia, and their construction
was consigned 10 builders located at
different ports on the seaboard. The
Constellation, still In the service, was
the first to be put aloat, thus antedat-
ing by few months the Constitution,
which stuck on the ways in the earliest
attempts to launch her,
They were model ships in every way,
and among other things were the first
vessels to carry on one deck the metal
formerly distributed between two
decks. I'm the War of 1872" writes
Lieutenant Commander ], d. Jerrold
Kelley, u. S. NJ, In the first volume of
his History OF Our Navy" just pub
lished. 'the battery of the Constitution,
though fine one, was handled so effec-
lively and upon such novel but true
principles that the British, whom she
whipped with unvarying and delight
ful regularity, claimed that she was not
'saucy frigate,' as the song called her,
but line OF battle ship. But this is
sheer nonsense, for she was stout fri
gate. nothing more. and here is a list
OF ordnance that was so well directed
as to cause this Idle foollshness OF COM
plant. The gun or second fighting
deck was pierced for thirty 4-pound-
ers, and on the spar or upper deck she
carried twenty-four 32-pounder carron-
AIDES and two bow chasers-sacred in
all naval yarns as the battle openers.
These 4-pounders were long, thick
barrelled pieces, and had what In those
days Of hard knocks and close quarters
was called great range OF fire The car
ronades ESQ called after Carron. Scot
land, where these smRshers were first
built were short, light guns. which
sent heavy shot short distance with
a crushing and not with piercing eff
feet. This battery of smooth bore, muZ-
Gle loading cast iron pieces threw tot
al weight OF 1850 pounds, or 7J0 pounds
IN n broadside, and this was deemed
enormous for the day and class. The
modern gun of 1854 inches calibre
weighs ITO tons, and fires a projectlle
of 1.729 pounds, which is impelled by 500
pounds of powder and will pierce thir-
ty-four inches OF iron at the muzzle.
One medium steel breeCh- loading rifle
is equal to six of the old smooth bores.
without considering It's greater pene-
tratlng and destructive power, and
ships one half larger than the Consti-
tuition carry crews one-half less, ana
are more efficient as the eyes OF the
fleet by the relation that steam bears
to sail"
THE FLAG SHIP.
War having finally been declared up
on the shIbboleth that there were mil
lions for defence, but not one cent for
tribute the Constitution was selected
as the flag ship of Commodore Preble
in the second expedition to the Barbary
coast. After much trying work this
suuadron, composed OF one frIgate, three
briRs, three schooners, six gunbonts
and two bomb vessels, arrived off TIL
Doli on July rs. 1904. Between August
and September five attacks were
made upon the town, defended 10y more
than one hundred guns. many gunb0ats
and auxiliary galleys and bomb vessels.
The town was never reduced, but such
substantial damage was inflicted that
the subsequent satisfactory, peace was
made possible
When the war OF 1872 was forced upon
us the Constitution was in Europe, but
she returned speedily, was RENTED at
Annapolis and sent to sea on July .
While OF the Long Island coast, Cap
tain Hull commnndinS she was ptr-
sued by heavy squadron Of five slips.
engaged in the blockade OF New York
and contiguous ports. The wind was
light, and Hull had to resort to many
sailor devices. He cut and hacked the
cabin windows and mounted two G-
FOUNDERS, and on the upper deck he
transported aft as stern Chasers, two
long lS-poundcrs. His boats were
holsted out and gent to tow the snip,
aud as the weather was as calm as a
mill pond, he forged ahead slowly. But
the enemy pursued the same tactics,
and. owing to their larger force which
they concentrated on the leading ships,
began TO overhaul the intrepid Yankee,
When night fell HUI found himself on
soundiugs, 80 he sent boat u long
way ahead, carrying n light hawser
bent TO 4 Hedge or light anchor, This
was dropped overheard, and then all
hands manned the line and started the
ship at q fair speed ahead. when
abreast or up to the Hedge, II was trip
ped and another one sent out, ana un-
der like tactics hauled upon The re-
sult was that the Constitution outfoot-
cd her eDemles, and In the squat which
followed at the end of the sixiy-two
hours chase, escaped.
"The escape Itself" writes Cooper,
us not so much matter Of 0dmira-
Ilon as the manner IN which Il was ef-
fected. Not an anchor was out away
nor a boat was lost" Tho people were
delighted with the Victory, HUI was
made the popular hero, and ballads
sans his praises, Here Ia q stun1a from
one favored Onel
"'Nonth HullH command, with tough
band,
And naught beside to back her
BEFORE a day, m log books say,
A fleet bore down TO thwnck her
A fleet, you know, II odds Or 40.