Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-02
VETERAN NAVAL WARRIORS.
The Famous Old Men-Of-War Which
Have Made History.

Have Made History.
From the Boston Herald.
The old types of men-of-war which have
helped in their day to make naval history
and which are still in existence are inter-
esting studies not only because of the pa
triotic sentiment which clings to them, but
as an object lesson, by comparison with
| modern warships, showing the wonderful
advancement of naval construction.
Without doubt, the most interesting of
these veterans of the American navy is the
Constitution or "Old Ironsides."
The Constitution, which is now at the
| Boston navy yard. was originally one of
the largest of six frigates whose construc-
ton was ordered by Congress on March II,
1874. She was built in Boston, of the best
| live oak. at cost of 100000, and launched
in October, 1897. The Constitution began
| her fighting career in the Tripolitan war in
1904, engaging against batteries mounting
115 guns at Tripoli. Her broadsides
| sisted in retaking 800 American sailors who
had been captured by the Tripolitans from
the frigate Philadelphia. In the war of
1872 she gained her famous victory over
the British fIigate Guerrero, and later had
a hot contest with the British frigate Java,
taking the latter as a prize. A year later
the Constitution captured the British sloop-
of-war Pictou. a letter of marque and sew
eral merchant vessels. She barely escaped
| being captured by a British fleet in 1914 by
taking refuge in Salem harbor. On Febru-
airy 20. 1915, she captured, after an action
| Of forty minutes by night, the British frig-
ate Cyane/ and the British sloop Levant.
The Constitution, after an eventful career,
went out of commission. She for a
lcng time at the Brooklyn navy yard and
then was taken to Portsmouth, N. H. Two
years ago, In response to the demands OF
the old bay state, she was brought to Bos-
ton and stationed near the place where, 100
years before, she was launched Visitors to
the Boston navy yard find her one of the
priceless relics of our naval history. Old
Ironsides will ever be dear to the hearts Of
the patriotic people of Boston.
The venerable Constellation, although
having years and years, of duty, is
still in the serN ice, being at present located
at Newport as a stationary training ship.
The Constellation was authorized by spe-
cial act of Congress March p. 1874. Her
keel was laid in Baltimore in 1875. and she
was completed at cost of $514,212, in 1898.
She was constructed under the supervision
of Capt Thomas Truxton and David Stod-
den. The vessel was what is known a
wooden sailing ship, and, though rebuilt
since. Is at present Of the same class. Her
armament consisted of several guns Of the
old pattern. The Constellation did good
| work in clearing the coast of privateers
from soon after she was commissioned up
to the beginning of the war of 1872, and
performed good work during that war. In
seaworthy. and was rebuilt at the Norfolk
| navy yard at a cost of $253, s46.4s. The
launching took place August "a, 1854. In
1858 she left Norfolk for Boston on her
rived here August of the same year. The
ship had a good sailing record, and naval
officers who cruised in her say that she
sailed as fast and as smooth a yacht
In the British navy there are more than
| a score of old men-of-war still existing on
harbor and other service in dock yards and
| ports. Some are to be found in the most
unlikely places.
The Hibernia, for instance, is, perhaps
indeed, she must be certainly-the Oldest
British man-of-war in existence after the
sok> L 10 To-,
placable. attached to the Lion training ship
at Davenport does not count. The Hiber-
MA in point of fact, was launched few
months before Trafalgar. and hoisted her
first pennant and admirarS flag a few
months after the battle. She was sister
| ship to Collingswoods favorite old flagship
Caledonia, long since gone to the ship
| breaker. TIL. Hibernia's first cruise was in
1906. as flag ship of the channel fleet. with
the union at the main of the famous Earl
st. Vincent. She flew st. Vincent's flag
during the old chiefs last service afioat
and after it was hauled down on board the
Hibernia st. Vincent's flag was never again
hoisted on any man-of-war. In the closing
years of the Napoleonic war the Hibernia
served in the Mediterranean, and in the
various small affairs that ships in block
aiding Toulon under Lord Exmouth had she
took part. After lying up for years in the
Hamoaze she went to the Mediterranean in
the forties as flagship to Sir William Par
ker, 1.-The last Of Nelson's captains" and
| there, with the exception of two brief re-
turns to England to refit, she has remained
ever since.
The Eagle is another, and she did some
very smart fighting service indeed off the
coast of Spain and in the Adriatic down to
the close of the great war. Her list of prin-
cipal battle honors is as follows: Duke of
York's victory over Dutch, 1865; victory
over French off La Hogue, 1892; capture of
Gibraltar, 1904; Rockies victory over
French, 1901: Hawkes. victory over French
on Finisterre. 1747; actions in East Indies.
1882.
The old Belvidere frigate is the last Of the
old shipmates, in the most literal sense of
the term, of Brooke's famous Shannon,
with whom she served through the Amer
lean war of 1872. It was the BeIvidere
which fired the first British shot in the war,
and her adventures were many.
The Hibernia lie the flagship Of the ad-
miral superintendent of Malta dock yard,
the Eagle serves as drill ship for the
Royal Naval Reserve at Liverpool and the
Belvidere acts as receiving ship at Ports
mouth.
Grand Opera.
From Puck.