The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-11-03
SAWED OFF ITS HEAD .
Storm a Wooden Statue of An
drew Jackson Raised.
ON A FAMOUS OLD FRIGATE.
A Bold Boston Sea Captain Mutiiated
the Constitutions Fisurehead and
Then Went to Washington and Defied
the Authorities.


the Authorities.
The figurehead which was placed on
the frigate Constitution is now at
Naval academy in Annapolis. 1t il
figure of Andrew Jackson, and con-
nected with it is q curious incident
The original fgurehead of the Con
stitution was 4 figure of Hercules
This was destroyed by a cannon ball
at Tripoli, and then Il figure of Nep-
tune was erected. This also came To-
grief. and at the time the vessel was
rebuilt there was no rgurehead ex-
cept a billet.
At the time the new ship was finish
ed Captain Jesse Duncan Elliott of
Hagerstown. Md. who had distinguish
ed himself in the battle of Lake Erie.
was in command at the Boston navy
yard. Captain Elliott was an enthu-
siastic Democrat and an ardent ad-
mirer of President Andrew Jackson.
The president had lately been i'll Bos-
ton and had been most hospitality re
ceived and Captain Elliott conceived
the idea of placing figure of the
president at the PROV of the Constitu-
ton, believing that il would give the
people OF Boston much pleasure. The
navy department gave him permission,
and so Il wooden figure of "Old Hick-
ory' was put in position on the ship.
This act raised a storm of dissent
in the Hub, and Captain Elliott was
threatened with a coat of tar and
feathers. The excitement was intense,
and the language was virulent Hand
bills denouncing the act, denouncing
the president and Elliott were circulat
ed in the streets, and the newspapers
took up the cry, and in this day and
generation the partisan violence and
vituperation which ragged In New Eng
| land are inconceivable.
On dark night in July the deck o
the ship was invaded. and. although ;
| sentry was close at hand. the head o
| Jackson was sawed off and takei
away. New England was delirious
and for a time the perpetrator Of tn
act was unknown TO the public.
Six months later one Samuel W
| Dewey, a Boston sea captain, took tn
discovered head in a bag to the secre
avowed himself as the criminal. Tha
official was amazed at the mans at
dacity and asked him if he did No
| know tat he would be severely pur
| ished. Dewey calmly replied that b
had considered the matter and had as
certained that the legal penalty wa
slight and could not be applied unit
he was convicted by jury in Esse
county, Mass.
county" he added. will punish a ma
for cutting off the head of AndreN
Jackson you are welcome to try it
The secretary went to the Whit
| House for instruction, while Dewe
was detained. General Jackson laugh
ed heartily at the whole incident an
| forbade the mans arrest. Before thi
Captain Elliott had provided a neN
head for the figure, and the woode
statue of Jackson that is now at Ar
napolis was at the PROV of the vesst
for forty years.
Captain Elliott's last voyage on th
> Constitution was from the Mediterra
mean to Hampton Roads in 1888. Her
he was removed from command b'
cause of charges of severity to th
men and of having incumbered th
berth deck Of the ship on the hom'
ward voyage with jackasses for Ii
Improvement of the breed in the Uni
ed States. The Constitution finall
went out of commission for actiy
service at Portsmouth. n. H. after
! career of nearly 6fty-eight years in tt
service. In 1860 she was transferre
> to Annapolis for the use of the INIT
shipmen.
When the civil war began her pos
ton there was deemed unsafe. and 81
; was sent to the New York navy var
In 1865 she was returned to Annap
lis. where she remained until 1871
when she was taken to PHILADELPHIA
where she was again rebuilt. In IS
she was used to transport exhibits
, France for the Paris exposition
1873, and her career at sea final
ended in 1881. The centennial Of b.
launching was celebrated at Boston
1897, where she was built.-Baltimo
: Sun