The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22
BOSTON ASKS FOR
"OLD RONS|DfS'
Wants Famous Frigate to Rest
Near Shipyard Where II
Was Launched
First Great Warship of United
States a Dwarf Beside
Steel Bulwarks

famous battle with the English frigate
/ Guerriere in 1912, is not large ship
as compared with warships of today,
but in its own day 1t was large for a
frigate and no warship that ever foated
has had so large a place in the hearts
and minds of Americans.
| This fine old ship has even been
4 cherished with affectionate regard in
Boston.s and with good reason. 1t was
| in Boston that 1t was built. and the
spot from which IL was launched bears
to this day the name Constitution
wharf. IT was from Boston it sailed
when 1t Joined the Mediterranean fleet
as the flagship OF Commodore Preble
in the war against the Tripolitan pi-
rates. sa
| The dey Of AIsiers had been appeAsed
! by the present OF the fine $4,000 frig-
ate Crescent, built, at Portsmouth
which carried him the additional gift
OF. rs barrels filed with silver dollars
The dey of Tripoli had the efrrontery
to demand similar treatment In re-
sponse ships were sent to try the per-
suasive effect of powder and shot, and
the intolerable exactions and piracies
of. the deys of the barbary states were
ended.
Then came the war of 1912 and the
Constitution, making q marvellous es-
cape after so hours chase by a Brit
ish fleet off the New Jersey coast. slip
ped into it's home port. Boston.
| In few days it sailed with its YAM
kee crew. and presently met the Brit
ish frigate Guerriere off the coast OF
Nova Scotia and sent it to the bottom
of the sea- and before the months end
electrified the nation by sailing into
Boston with news of the victory and the
British crew as prisoners.
In October the ship sailed again from
. -
Hull in command of 1t, and ibefore the
close OF the year its guns had destroyed
another British gfrfgate, the Java, near
Bahia. Brazil. then IL came back to the
home port, Boston, for a thorough over
hauling. 80 2
VICTORIES STIR CONGRESS
These two brilliant victories in the
| year 1912 kindled new interest in the
navy as the nations best defense, and
congress promptly authorized the build
ing of four ships of the line and six
frigates.. None of these, however. was
ready for sea before the return Of
peace
The last day in the year 1913 it
sailed again from Boston. and three
months later returned from a cruise,
in which the most stirring event was
a marrow escape. when nearing land.
from two British frigates. They had
learned. to sail in pairs when looking
for American warships. j. =
For more thsn eight months II was
detained in Boston harbor by strict
blockade, but in December the rigors OF
this blockade were lightened and the
| frigate slipped out to sea again with
| Captain Stewart in command. In Feb
! ruary 1t fell In with two British war
ships, the Cyane and the Levant, near
Madeira, and by an exercise Of consum-
mate skill and seamanship captured
both. and after that handily escaped
from superior force of the enemy.
The war closed. and the brave old
ship was laid up for extensive repairs
IS SHIP OF RENOwN
In 1891 it sailed again from Boston
| as flagship of the Mediterranean squad
| ron, and wherever the frigate went 1t
was ship of renown.
In Boston. in 1893, 1t was the first
ship to enter the great stone drydock
then just completed, and there was so
| thoroughly overhauied as to be made
practically built anew 1t was just
after this that the Jackson figure
head was placed upon 1t by order of
| Captain Elliot, commandant of the
yard, and little later decapitated by
4 Shipmaster Dewey. r.rs s4s
! Some may say that. IT has been so
many times repaired and renewed that
there,fs not enough OF It's original
wood left TO make a toothpick of. but
1saH know better. t-t-
+ Ine1s47s or 1s4s Old Ironsides was ex-
tensi~efy repaired in the naval drydock
at Charlestewn- Large patches OF
plankiug were stripped of. and ribs
I here and there laid bare. The frames
/ or some of thema-were black as ebony
! by the action Of sea water on iron fast
enings and the tannin of the oak But
| >,
/ oughly sound. There Is without doubt
enough efi, the original wood left in it
TO make good It's Identity ~
During the last year 1t has been
I again, overhauled, rented with new
/ masts. spars, rigging and armament
The aim has been to restore as nearly
as possible, In spars. cordage and
| equipment the ship as 1t was a century
ago. Now what shall be done with it?
TO PREsERyE OLD SHIP
Take sit to Annapolis as an object les
son and On Inspiration for the middies
! of the: naval academy, says the naval
| department. That's not so bad as the
| departments proposition in 1890 to
break the vessel up for Junk. when the
| spirited verses. OF a young fellow In
Harvard law schook afterward DR..
lOliver Wendell Holmes. saved IL. 1t Is
| not SO bad as the rather recent sug-
gestion of a secretary of the navy to
sail the frigate out to sea as a target
for our battleshfps
But 1t is far from the best DISPOSE
ton of this historic ship. It has been
suggested that 1t be: moored in the
Charles river basin. just above the
great dam now building and below the
new West Boston bridge. There could
hardly be filter place. Half million
! people could easily gather to see IT.
should there. be occasion.
The one thing needed, besides per-
mission OF the government. is a fund
for its care and upkeep. What nobler
undertaking could there be for the Sons
and the Daughters OF the American
Revolution. the Colonial Danes and
other patriotic societies? II they would
take UP the matter In good earnest
! and relieve the government of the care
and expense. there II little doubt the
dear old ship might spend a serene old
age within sight Of it's birthplace
New Haven Palladium.