New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-26
GOLD IRONSIDES' HISTORY
RECOLLECTIONS CALLED Up BY THE
PLAN TO BRING HER HERE.
CONTRAST BETWEEN THE CONSTITUTION
AND THE OLYMPIA-GALLANT WAR
SHIPS OF THE PAST AND
PRESENT

That most gallant Of earlier naval vessels. the
Constitution best known perhaps "Old Iron
sides which has been spending honorable old
age In the quiet retirement Of the Portsmouth
Navy Yard until recently. when she sent to
Boston may again be PIT In commission and carry
that ensign which it was supposed had been finally
hauled down in 1881. after being borne calamity
aIoft for than eight decades. II is the desire
OF the Dewey Reception Committee 10 bring the
Constitution 20 New-York in order that she may
take part In the coming reception 10 Admiral Dewey
and afford visible comparison 70 the welcoming
thousands and 70 The gallant Admiral himself hs-
tween the earliest and latest ptdes Of the American
Navy
The accompanying cuts will give some idea OF
what the contrast will be-the vessel Of wood.
the other Of steel The first IL perfect type
81 the old fashioned frigaIe that in equal or I'M
equal combat with ships Of equal power or out
numbered two one. she surrendered. and
for the first time the bidding OF an American
shin caused an English frgate strike her flag.
The second With others OF her kind Of which she
the guiding and directing spirit. destroyed A
feet 4 nd wrested from the hands Of Spain great
empire IN the Far East. The beginning and the
end the "Old Ironsides" and the Both have
made history. and perhaps is 70 make II
still
THE oLYMP1A's CAREER.
go well known and recent are the achievements
Of the Olympia that they need but slight descr.p-
ton Her keel was laid In lure. 1881. and she We 3
launched on November 8. ,S-l. completed ADrtl l.
1ses and hrst commission Februsry 5. 1875. She
was constructed AT San Francisco h. the Union
Iron Works and Is schooner rugged She Is sec
ond class arnored cruiser carrying srmor varying
from q. ~ AZ inches in thickness Her main bat
terry consists of ten 5nch rapid fire guns and fou-
s-inch breech loading rifles mounted in tur-ets al
her secondary battery comprises fourteen rapid
fire s-pounders seven rapid fire l-poundeTs. two
Colts and one field gun She also csrriss six
Whitehead torpedoes Her displacement Is $50
ton. and she requires "a officers ard 4l6 men.
Her hull and machinery cost S1.7s6."o She was
first sent on several short cruises, and then vas
attached 10 the Asiatic station
II Nav 1896 her name became known the world
over through the battle Of Manila Bay In that
Azht 81. was commanded by Captain Charles Yer
nor cridlev who later his way home on SICK
leave 'iied A. Yokohama. Japan. Much OF the
success ~ this ia tile due ~ Captain Gridley
ana ~. unfortunate death in far away land
shouId not interfere with the fame that Is due
-,r, nor should his oountrynen forget The service
he aid for them
The Constitution odd 1ronsides, as sne mas oeen
Lovingly called for almost century, was one NJ
- .ris.,as whose keels were laid IN 1874. and the
,hrd and most famous vessel 70 fy the flag Of the
r-r.ed States Navy after the adoption ~ the Con-
.,,,,.to, ~ the United states The United States
u,as the first and the Constellation the second.
r3,,u, ~ live oak and with tmbers bent without
,bs use Of steam from her strength she took ner
name "Old Ironsides" Her tonnage was l235 ana
re- cost s9oo rs Launched October q. 1875. she
s,s-ad IN her first cruise in July 1888 under cap
,s,n lanes Nichols but the new century had been
ing in for four years when she saw her nrst
sc-,ys service As Commodore Preble's flagship IN