Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-02-19
THE SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.


to prepare the frigste Constitute, for
safely making the voyage from Ports
mouth to Washington, so that she might
remain at the latter point as a naval mu-
scum. Mr.. McAdoo, as acting secretary,
has promptly answered that it will cost
Sl2 900, and that she has already about
two-thirds of that sum available.
This year is the hundredth since the
famous old craft first took to the water.
She has long been laid up in ordinary at
the New Hampshire yard, dismantled,
while the rooted and Widowed structure
on her deck tells of = prolonged peace
full career, including service as prac-
tice cruiser for cadets and apprentices.
She was the third of six frigates or
dered by congress during Washngton's
administration, and she was launched in
Boston Sept. 20, 1897. Ten months
later she got under way as frigate of
A guns, and in 1899 was in the West
Indies, assigned to Barry's, afterward
Talbot's, squadron. 1t was while en-
that duty that one Of her officers, Mr..
Hull, with a party of men using the
American sloop Sally. cut out French
letter of marque, which, however, had
afterward to be given up.
Under Preble, in the war with the
Barbary powers, she distinguished her
self at the blockade and commandments
of Tripoli. But it was in our second
war with Great Britain that Old IRON
sizes gained her greatest fame. Return
ing from Europe at the opening of the
war, under Capt. Hull, when off the
American coast she came upon British
squadron, which gave chase, and for
three days and nights she had to use
every device of seamanshlp to escape
from her pursuers. Boats were en-
ployed to tow her in the calm Hedge
anchor was carried ahead and dropped
so the crew might haul upon it; finally,
/ on the fourth day, the wind came, and
then the Constitution stood away, with
all sails set, showir her heels to her
t chagrined enemies. II was flight as
S famous in our naval annals as some
victories.
9 On the 10Th of August, 1912, the Con-
Y stitution, while off the Massachusetts
Q coast, encountered the British frigate
Guerriere. Dacres confidently opened
q fire, but Hull, waiting till he was in ex-
s actly the right position, replied with
g tremendous broadsides, which not only
L forced the Guerrero to strike, but left
a her so disabled that Hull had to blow
her up. The American vessel was lit
% tie the larger, and had more men anC
:, u guns, yet the defeat of the British frigat'
q was such as to create profound impress
/, sion both in England and our own land
y Toward the end of the same year, unde
e cambridge, the Constitution encountered
!. another British frigate, the Java, off TIN
O. coast of Brazil. This fierce naval due
sr was another triumph for American
d maneuvring and craftsmanship, and tn
Java, like the Guerrero, not only ha,
ly her masts shot away and suffered
N heavy loss of killed and wounded, bu
u was such wreck that she also had to b
II blown up. In 1915 the Constitution, un
Of der Stewart, made a double capture o
s. the frigate Cyane and sloop Levant i
~ the same action, afterward, however
S. losing the latter to squadron whic
III came to the rescue.
49, Such, in brief, is the old-tIme recor
IN of vessel dearer to the whole America
ed people than any other that floats. tn
Oh Massachusetts Historical society, in
he memorial to congress, presented fe'
10 days ago, said that it had learned tbs
It's the Constitution must be. rebuilt or sh
'e would sink at her moorlngs. This seen
W. ~ strange, as it was commonly though
ok that her timbers were sound; but, how
m ever this may be, the society is right
m urging that the vessel as well deserve
80 preservation as the Victory, that boz
yn Nelson's flag at Trafalgar, and is kept b
'se England as historical relic.
-, There may be conflicting views as
he what should be done with the Constit
he tion. New Hampshire would of couri
les like to keep her in the Kittery yard;
Inn has at times, also, been proposed to
hit ner up IOr the use OF naval reserve
we while the proposed transfer of her to II
Oh Washington navy yard, where she ma
ia be employed as naval museum, is n
cd unlikely to secure the favor of congress
IN, At all events, the centenary of o
Ironsides would be well celebrated
ng putting her in proper repair and arran
i've ing for her final resting-place. In doir
IN, this, the aim should be to make Il
,er fewest changes possible, and to preser'
lar everything in her that comes fro
ed earlier days. 1t is quite enough tn
US Farragut's Hartford should have be-
Ms altered with a view to utilizing her. fifth
his up in modern fashion. At least the o
ry Constitution should not be furnished
Oh. with any view to eking out her practC