Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1907-11-29
Sawed of It's Head.

Aho iB uAOuCuu "nOh "hN HihSGu I'll
the frIgate Constitution is now at the
Naval academy in Annapolis. 1t is a
figure OF Andrew jackson, and con-
nected with it is a curious incident.
The original fgurshaad Of the. Con.
stitution was a figure OF Hercules. This
was destro!e ed by a cannon ball at
Tripoli, and hen a figure OF Neptune
was erected. This also came to grief,
and at the time the vessel WA rebuilt
Their was no tigurehead except a billet
At the time the new ship was finished
Captain jesse Duncan Elliott OF Hagers-
town, Md. who had distinR uished him
self in the battle OF Lake Erie, was in
command Mt the Boston navy yard.
Captain Elliott was an enthueiastic
democrat and an ardent admirer OF
President Andrew jackson.
The president had lately been in Bos-
ton and had been most Hospitality re-
ceived, and Captain Elliott conceived
the idea Of placing a figure q the presi-
dent at the prov OF the Constitution
believing that it would give the people
Of Boston much pleasure. The navy
department gave him permission, and
40 a wooden figure Of sod Hickory" was
put in position on the ship.
This act raised storm Of dissent in
the Hob, and Captain Elliott was
threatened with n Goa Of tar and
leather. The excitement was intense,
aud the language was virulent. Hand
bills dCnouncInR the act, denouncIng
the president AID Elliott we're clrculat-
ed in the streets, and the newspapers
too up the cry, and IN this day and
generation the partisan violence and
vituperation which ragged in Now Eng
land are inconceiyable.
On a dark night in July the deck OF
the chip vas invaded, and, although II
sentry was close at hand, the head OF
Jackson was sawed off and Ia eli away.
New England was drlirioup, and Tor a
time the perpeirator OF the ACT was un-
known to the public.
Six months later one Samuel w.
Dewey, a Boston sea captain, took the
discovered head in Il bag to the secre.
tary OF the navy ut Washington and
avowed himself az tho criminal. That
official WIS amazed ut tho mans uudacity
and asked him II he did not know that
he would be severely punished. Dewey
calmly replied that he had considered
the matter and had ascertained that the
legal penalty was eight and could moi
be applied until he WIS convicted by G
jury in ESSEX county, Muss.
"And u you think n jury in thai
county" no added, "wlll punish Il mnu
tor cutting of the head Of Andrew Jack
son >on are welcome TO try it,"
rho secretary went TO tho White
House Tor instruction, while Dewey was
detained. General jackson laughed
heartily at the whole incident and toi.
babe the mans arrest. Bsiore this Cup,
tain Elliott had provided a new head
for the figure, and the wooden statue o.
Jackson that is nov at Annapolis was al
the PROV OF the vessel Tor forty ears.
Captain Elliott'a last voyage on The
Constitution wa from the Mediterra
mean To Hampton Roads 10 1893. Here
no was removed from command because
OF charges Of severity to the men and OF
having incumbered The berth deck OF
tho ship on the homeward voyage with
jackasses Tor the Improvement OF the
breed Ia the United Statee. The Con-
~stitution finally went ont Of commission
Tor active service at Portsmouth,, N. H.,
after n career ~ nearly 6tij eight ycars
in the service. In TO che was tranf-
terrod 10 Annapolis for the uso OF the
nidshipmen.
When the civil war begnL her position
there was deemed unsafe, and che wao
sent TO the New York navy yard. In
1868 she was returned 70 Annapolip,
where che remained until 1871, when
she was taken 10 Philadelphia, where
she was again rebuilt. in 1873 she was
used TO transport exhibits TO France Tor
the Paris exposition OF 1870, and her
career Ht sea finally ended In 1881. The
Of her launching wa ce,-
at Boston IN 1897, where che
was bullt..-Baltimoro Sun.