The evening times., 1899-12-25

The old American frigate Constitution
will be preserved and retained as par
Ct the Navy Of the United States. bill
feet, and its passage is said to be assured
The Constitution was one of those ships
built to protect American commerce from
the depredations of French, English, Portu-
guese, Tripo!itan, and straight-out pi-
rates. At the close of the American Revo-
luton the navy had been disbanded, the
ships sold, and the officers had dispersed
among the numerous ships OF the merchant
| marine. @s
In March, 1894. President Washington
transmitted TO Congress message detail
Ing the outrages perpetrated upon Ameri-
can citizens by the Barbary states. 1t was
| then that Congress passed an act author
izing the building or the purchase of six
frigates.
The frames Of these ships were quickly
laid upon the stocks at six different ship
yards. The ships were the Constitution.
President. United States, Chesapeake,
Constellation. and Congress.
French Oppressfons.
The captains appointed were John Barry,
Samuel Nicholson. Silas Talbot, Joshua
Barney. Richard Dale, and Thomas Trux-
ton. Work was suspended on the ships
when the dishonorable treaty with Algiers
was signed, but in 1897. owing to fresh
depredations by the French, It was re-
sumed The first Of the frigates to be
launched was the United States, which was
the first American warship built after the
adoption Of the American Constitution,
Inc French aggressions became so trou-
blesome that Congress authorized the pur-
chase and arming OF a number OF mer-
chantmen and East Indianmen. The first
OF these TO get away was the Delaware,
commanded by Stephen Decatur the d .er.
After the war with Tripoli came the SEC
ond war with Great Britain. After the ac-
ton between the President and the Beivi-
dera British squadron, composed of the
Africa, Shannon. Guerriere, BeIvidera ami
Eolus set sail from Halifax to find tie
squadron commanded by Commodore Rod
gers.
The Constitution shipped her crew at
Annapolis and stood down the Chesapeake
bound for New York on July II, 1872. On
the voyage Captain Hull, commender
fouEl himself practically surrounded by
the British squadron, coming south from
Halifax. TIE old Constitution being ont
three Gays of skillful sailing and good
shooting with guns mounted in the stern,
she escaped.
Service of Later Days.
Several weeks later the Constitution fell
in with the Guerrero, of thirty-eisht guns,
commanded by Captain Dacre. That was
glorious day for the young American cavy.
The Englishman was shot to pieces.
Twenty three of her men were kil.eL
Later, in the war OF 1912, the Constitution
under Commo5ore Bainbridge, fougth the
Java, Captain Lambert. of the coast OF
Brazil. After one of the fercest Of s,a
fights the Java was captured. She was a
fire frigate ard had on board the Governor
General of Bombay and his staff.
During the closing days of the war the
took the English men-of- war
Levant and Cyane, carrying her prizes into
Porto Praya, Cape de Verde Islands.
The Constitution saw some service in the |
war with Mexico, but steam was supplaIt- |
ing sail power and her usefulness as a |
ship was declining. When the |
civil war came on the Constitution was ly- |
ing at Annapolis. She would have fallen |
into the hands OF the Confederates had it |
not been for the prompt action Of General |
Butler. who with the Eighth Massachusetts,
Volunteers, went to Annapolis on the |
steamer Maryland.
For many years the Constitution was used |
is a receiving ship. as was the Old Con-
which saw perhaps as stirring
md successful service as the Constitution
IT as she was affectionately called in the
Id navy, "Old Ironsides."