Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-12
Reminder Of Days Of Wooden Hulls
and Smooth-Bore Guns.
UNITED STATBSFRIGATE CONSTITUTION
Remarkable Career of Vessel
Built Over a Century Ago.
HER SEVERAL COMMANDERS

The disposition Of the old United States
frigate Constitution-now the oldest relic of
the days of wooden hulls and smooth-bore
guns with sail propulsion-which, after sail
ing from here in June, 1872 won for herself
the sobriquet Of "Old Ironsides' in the en-
suing war with Great Britain. is one which
should interest the people Of the District. as
well as the officers of the government. And
1t is not unlikely that if proper efforts were
made the government will allow her to end
her days at Washington. where so many of
her officers lived and were feted-Commo-
dores Nicholson. Decatur, Hull, -Chauncey,
Rodgers, Porter, cambridge and Stewart
among them.
AS may be supposed. the noble old frigate,
now in her 10th year. has long passed her
usefulness as a man-of-war, and even had
there been no improvements in building and
coupling vessels. 1t is doubtful If her tim
bers would stand the recoil Of gun.
While detracting from the services Of
none of the old naval vessels, it may be
said that the Constitution made the bright
est record OF all, and it is probably that she
was more generally known half century
ago than any other vessel Of the navy.
Hers is a most interesting history. much OF
which has appeared In the writings OF
Cooper and others. and much in verse. in
some the little literary quality being offset
with strong fact.
The Constitution was one of the vessels
authorized by the act Of 1874, the United
States and President and the Constitution
each carrying fortyfour guns. and the Con-
stellation and the Congress, each with thir-
ty-Six guns, being the others. They were
designed by Joshua Humphreys of Phila-
deiphia, who had been appointed naval con-
StructOr at SO GOO The COnStitu.
ton built at Boston at a cost of $780,,
TO, and was launched in 1897.
Described as "Big Wagon"
There Is extant a letter of Col. G. w.
Parke Gusts, Washington's stepson, in
which he speaks of going to Boston with
Washington, and says that great things
were expected of the big wagon" as he
Colonel Custis) called the ship. Colonel
Custis doubtless had in mind, when he
called 1t a wagon, the tail gate Of Cones
toga wagon.
In July, 1898, under the command of
Capt. Samuel Nicholson, with a compile
ment of 400 officers and men. she put to
sea, and in the troubles with France made
several captures on the coast of Guinea
and in the West Indies. In the Triporitan
war she was one of Commodore Prebles
squadron, successfully In command of Lieu
tenant Robinson, Captains Chauncey, De-
catur and Rodgers. In the attack on the
Tripolitans' shore batteries, vessels and
boats. August 3. 1904. she fired her first
broadside at enemy.
Captains Porter, Campbell, cambridge,
Ludlow, Lawrence. Hull and Morris di-
rected her movements till early in 1872,
when she lay at our navy yard, in charge
of Captain Isaac Hull, under whom she
entered upon her brilliant career in that
war. From here she sailed to Annapolis
and from there to her birthplace. Boston.
hnra ubn Ivyly OF bot,
chased by the British frigates Shannon
and Guerrero. Sailing August 2. she took
several prizes, and meeting the Guerrero
700 miles east Of Cape Cod. August 10. in
a battle Of twenty-five minutes she dis
mantled and captured the Guerrero, with
loss to the enemy Of fifteen killed and
sixty-four wounded, ours being seven killed
and seven wounded. The battered Guer-
riere was manned and started to Boston,
but the following day was blown up.
Tributes In Verse.
Hull carried the news Of his victory to
lowed, the commodore and his officers be-
ing feted and everywhere welcomed. At
dinner given in Boston to celebrate the
victory ode. composed by L. NJ. Sar-
gent. to the air of I'VE Mariners of Eng
land" was sung. Two stanzas of the song
follow:
britannia ? gallant streamers
Float proudly DER the tide,
And fairly wave Columbia's stripes
In battle side by side;
And ne'er did holder foemen meet
Where ocean surges pour.
Ger the tide now they ride
While the believing thunders roar.
While the lannon's fire II flashing fast
And the believing thunders
when Yankee meets the Briton,
Whose blood coDgenial flows
By heaven created to be friends,
By fortune RENDERED foes.
Hard then must be the battle fray
Ere we'll the fight Is DER.
Now they ride side by side.' etc.
In the song THE Constitution and Guer-
riere." for long years sung by the sailors to
the tune ''Landlady Of France" this fight
is described. and Of the second broadside
it says.
"Our second told so well
That their fore and mizzen fell
Which doused the royal ensign. SO handy. o.;
By George. says he. we're DONE
And they fired a lee gun,
While the Yankees struck up Yankee Doodle,
Dandy O.
Then Dacres came on hoard
To deliver up his sword.
L0ath ives he to part with it. IT was handy, o;
oh, keep your sword says Hull,
For 1t only makes you dull
So cheer up come let US take little brandy. o.
'John Bull may boast his FILL
Let the world say what 1t will,
But the Yankee boys for fighting are the dandy O."
The PARLIAMENT of England" is told IN
song:
''You thought our frigates were but few, and
Yankees could not fight.
Until bold Hull tn. Guerrero took and banished
her from sight '
In the Patriot Club song. in which
each member sings a verse and the COM
pany the words, now give me thine" first
sung July 4, 1915, aluson Is made to Hull
and the sobriquet "Ironsides." given in the
following:
Should tyrants swear we shall be ruled,
Defeated PaclI design
May every gascOnade be Hull'd-
'Our Constitutions iron side,
Should foes to bttter her incline,
Again sill crush oerweenins PRIDE" etc.
SONG of the Yankee Tars.
In Yankee Tars." song written by Dr.
Darlington OF Pennsylvania, and sung at a
dinner given by the Pennsylvania delega-
tien to Commodore Decatur and Captain
Stewart in this city. January 8. 1885, ap-
pears:
First gallant Hull he was the lad,
Who safld tyfanf hunting.
And swaggiDe Dacres glad
To strike to striped bunting
In THE Seven Naval Victories was sung
to the tune OF Derry Down:
John srarr'd at distance. right Of success
Till iona ban closed with n furious press;
And bre: king half Of his ribs a blow