Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-22

abeam of the sternmost vessel and shot
ahead to cable-lensth.s distance. until the
Constitution to windward-grim. silent.
alert, ready.
All Fired 6nceasinsly.
The action begAn straight away, all
firing hotly and u singly broads.de and
broadside. carron b, twenty -four pound
ers. and chaserss fifth fusiliades, single
shots and volleys-all the chorus OF VII
famous saltpetre and piercing and crushing
shot At the end of fifteen minutes the
enemy siackened bit, 1t was at this time
moonlight-the moist, soggy shine Of the
seas about the bay of Riscay. The ocean
was oily smooth. with long low sweepings
of Atlantic pillows pulsating on the breast
OF the deep; and the Hight airs which had
were deadened by the cannonade into CATS
paws and fiat Gains Over the water
stretched a blanket of smoke, through
which the moons rays filtered 80 trickingiy
that hulls and spars were hidden.
Stewart ceased firing to let this powder
smoke drift to such leeward as still re-
manned; but whenlssky and sea cleared he
discovered in nick OF time the sternmost
say. AS quickly as weli-served guns could
bear he poured a. broadside into the foe
of his lee-beam, threw his after-sails flat
aback, and shaking out everything for,
astern speedily. sTffe rearmost ship filed
away to avoid the threatened ralSing. while
the other tried to tack across the Consti-
tution's forefoot and return the drubbing
lust served out with such bung and spigot
layishness. But WREN nations quarrels
were to be settled by saffortzing, Stewart
was at his best, for never did truer seaman
work ship or rule the ardent helm. He
filed away, shot the Constitution ahead
straight as shaft from archer's bow, and
So quickly that his antagonist wore ship
10 avoid destruction and scurrfed dead to
leeward, followed by weight OF heartsome
metal that stronger craft might wisely
seek to dodge Stewart then raked and s.
fenced the other ship, and on surrender
found she was the Cyane After a BRIEF
respite he ran for her consort, which had
now come by the wind repairing damages,
and after exchanging broadside. and pep
pering her in a futile endeavor to run. the
Ievant, well fought but overwhelmed and
ma stored, yielded.
Stewart took his prizes into Porto Praya
of the Cape de Verdes, but the day after
his arrival three English frigates were seen
through the lifting fog standing up for an
anchorage. The American and the prizes
cut their cables and vent seward. followed
in a hot pursuit h the enemy. BY good
luck and skill the Constitution and Cyane
escaped. but the Levant had to double back
to the harbOr. Here. despite the rights
vouchsafed in a neutral port, she was re-
taken.
Curiously enough, the great victory was
Stewart received his first news of this at
Porto Rico when hameward bound.
The Fgure-Head Controversy.
In 1884 Capt. Elliot who had been second
In command at Lake Erie, excited violent
political and partisan demonstration by
decorating, at the Boston navy yard. the
bow of the Constitution with f1gurehead
Of President Jackson. One stormy night
his excellency was decaptated as neatly
and deftiy as If the best tools had with
with patient labor enlisted the brightest
sunshine in the desecra tion
Marines and blue jackets were held un-
der dark suspicion. and the country
seethed in fermenf of keen contention. Re-
wards were offeredf but in vain, and for
years the secret was we'll kept. It is now
said that seaman was the cuiprit, not
for any political motive. but because of
cherished antipathy to the full-length i'm
fine old sailors were compelled. with in
adequate busts, to smile grimly at the
STERN However. ANOTHER head was Sc
cured to the trunk With copper bolts SO
not wither 1t npr custom stale the UNI
shaken fortitudei with which Old Hickory
detied the breezes and the brine.
The Later Career.
For many years succeeding, the Consti-
tuition was actively engaged in cruising;
shortly before the civil war she was sta
OF the scholarships for midshfpmen; then
for season she crrnseu. partly as trans
port, partly as "a training ship for naval
apprentices. 3 Finally she was transferred
to the Portsmouth navy yard, and thence
she was taken to Boston, where, with many
her hundredth birthday was celebrated In
1897. ,as