The Opelousas courier., 1900-05-05
SAM bEWEY's ORTr.
liis Audaclty Paralyzed the Secretary But
t4s'ts# Pleased Old Hickory M

Since Admiral Dewey sailed into
Manila Harbor, anecdotes showing the
family grit are in order. The follow
ing Of Captain Sam Dewey is told in
Washington:
There was a family of Deweys on
Cape Cod In Jackson's time; whether
the one from which our Admiral
sprung or not, l cannot say. Its sturdi-
est member was Captain Sam Dewey,
q ship-master of the old school who
bore the American flag Into the remot-
est seas. Captain Sam was an ardent
Wing, and when Jackson's wac on the
United States Bank made him extreme
ly unpopular with the Wings Of Boston,
Dewey determined to show his disap-
prevail by cutting OF the head Of a full
length figure Of General Jackson which
formed the fgare-head of the famous
fngate Constitution, then lying in
Charlestown Navy Yard. This would
be no easy feat, for there was a guard
ship on either side, with sentries on the
watch.
But at midnight, in a heavy thunder
storm, he rowed out to: the vessel,
pulled himself up by her chairs, and
with q well-oiled handsaw decapitated
the figure, and carried the head unde-
tected to the Gallagher House, where
a party Of his Wing friends were wait
Ing: to receive him. The affair soon
appeared in the newspapers, and
spread like wildfre throughout the
country. Democratic journals an
nounced under double-leaded headlines,
"Dastardly Outrage; United States
Frigate Mutilated"; Another Wing
Insult to President Jackson" ETC.
while the Wing newspapers applauded
and chuckled over it as a huge joke.
"Old Hickory Beheaded," did duty as a
headline in scores of Wing newspapers
Of the period. Captain Dewey became
the idol of the Boston Wings; but not
content with his plaudits there, went
on to Washington, bearing the head
with him, intending to gain further
notoriety by boarding the lion in his
den. After exhibiting the trophy to
Clay, Webster, and other Wing leaders.
he appeared at the Navy Department
with 1t wrapped in a red bandanna
handkerchief, and sent his card to
Mahlon Dickerson, then Secretary Of
the Navy.
admit him." said the Secretary; and
as Dewey entered he added, well, my
man, state your case, and be brief, for,
as you see, l am busy"
Il cut of the ~fgure-head of the Con-
stitutien," said Dewey, "and I have
brought it here to return it."
The mans audacity paralyzed Dick
erson for a moment. Then he said,
You dare disfgure Old Ironsides=and
then come here to tell Of it,.
"I took the liberty said Dewey,
eoolIy. u
We'll, SIR said the Secretary, reach
ing for the bell-rope, wen see IL We
can't have you arrested and punished
Hold Nh. Secretary" said Dewey.
FsYon are 9 good lawyer, and must
know there is no statute against dis
figuring o man-of-war. All YOU can
Is. ~ sue LAc AOE uAA RAot
in the. county where the deed was COM
mitted." @ i.
You are right" said Dlckerson,
after a few moments reflection. "And
now tell me how you succeeded in get
ting that fgure-head from under the
noses of u blueiackets." l..
"We1f,'' said Dfckerson, after hear
ing the story, you stay here while I
go and see the President about this
matter" j. .i~,f 49,,
Old Hickory, on seeing the headEand
hearing the story burst into q fit OF
laughter. THAR said he. "Why,
that is the most Internally ugly image
I ever saw! No wonder the fellow
wanted to remove it from the Gonstitu-
lion! You have him, you say. Well
give him a kick, with my commitments,
and send him home again."-Harper's
Weekly. -, -.>.;F a:.s,..