Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-11-10
SAWED Off ITS. ITS HEAD ID
Storm a Wooden Statue OF An
Il drew Jackson Raised.
ON Al FAMOUS OLD FRlGAT|E

A Bold Boston Sea Captain Mutilated
the Constitutions Fisurehead and
Then Went to Washington and Defisd
the Authorities. NJ gE$# 5..y
The tigurehead which was placed on
the frigate Constitution is now at the
Naval academy In Annapolis. 1t Is q
figure OF Andrew jackson. and con-
nected with it is a curious incident.
Il The original figurehead OF the Con-
stitution Il was figure of Hercules.
This was destroyed by q cannon ball
at Tripoli. and then figure Of Nep-
tune was erected. This also came to
grief, and at the time the vessel was
rebuilt there was no figurehead ex-
cept a billet n ri
AT the time the new ship was finish 4
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 adj
miraF OF President Andrew jackson. u u
u The president had lately been in Bos-
ton and had been most Hospitality re-
ceived, and Captain Elliott conceived
the idea Of placing q figure OF the
president at the Prov Of the Constitu-
ton. believing that it would give the
people OF Boston much pleasure. The
navy department gave him permission,
ana SO wooden figure OF Did Hick-3
ory' was put in position on the ship.
This act raised; storm Of dissent
In the Hub, and Captain Elliott was
threatened with 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 uncomfortable. I'D
On a dark night in July the deck of
the ship was invaded, and, although q
sentry was close at hand, the head of
jackson was sawed of and taken
away. III New England was delirious,
and for a time the perpetrator Of the
act was unknown to the public.
Six months later one Samuel w.
Dewey. a Boston sea captain, took the
discovered head in bag to the secre-
tary of the navy at Washington and
asowed himself as the criminal. That
official was amazed at the mans an-
dacity and asked him if he did moi
| know that he would be severely pun.
ished Dewey calmly replied that be
had considered the matter and had as
certained that the legal penalty waf
slight and could not be applied unit
he was convicted By a jury In Essex
county, Mass. III III s5 5.5
's..And if you think a jury IN thai
county" he added, "Will punish a mar
/ for cutting of the head Of Andrew
jackson you are welcome to try IT, u
The secretary went to the White
! House for instruct while Dewe.
4 was detained General jackson laugh
ed heartily at the whole incident ant
forbade the mans arrest. Before thi
4 Captain Elliott had provided ney
head for the figure, and the woodei
statue Of Jackson that is now ct An
4 napolis was at the Prov Of the vesse
4 for forty years. HI
Captain Elliott's last voyage on ta
/ Constitution was from the Mediterra
/ mean to Hampton Roads Id 1888 Her
he was removed from command bt
cause Of charges Of severity to tn
men and OF having iIicumbered tll
berth deck Of the ship on the horne
d ward voyage with jackasses for tn
Improvement OF the breed in the Uni
n ed States. The Constitution finall
Il went out OF commission for actiy
service at Portsmouth, n. a., after
career OF nearly Fifty eight years Ia q
s service. In 1860 she was tranaferre
DO Annapolis for the use of the mil
ghipmen. # 81 lss
When the civil war began her pos
lion there was deemed unsafe. and 81
was sent TO the New York navy var,
In 1865 she was returned to Annap
Ills, where she remained until 1871
when she WIS taken to Philadelphi
where she was again rebuilt In Isl
\ she was used t0 transport exhibits
i France for the Paris exposition {,
Il 1878, and her career at sea final
ended in 1881. The centennial OF b
!, launching was celebrated at Boston
1897, where she vas bull limo
Sun.
Il .Q