Newark post., 1910-07-27
Rear Admiral
Charles Stewart

men The one represents him n the
prime of manhood, the features aqui-
line and clean cut, the brow high and
broad. the well formed head covered
with an abundance OF hair brushed to
the sides. The figure is that OF 1.-the
strong, fearless son OF the sea. The
second is the portrait OF man in old
age with scarcely any points OF Ike
ness to the other Portliness has taken
the place of the well knit muscular
captain, and partial badness has al
tered the shape of his head. The face,
too, is massive, making it bear a strik-
ing resemblance to the broad features
of Daniel Webster Stewart was
born in Philadelphia on July 2Sth, 1888.
Selecting the Navy as his profession
he arose by degrees until in the war
with the Barbary States he ranked as
Lieutenant Cunmandant, and hence
was the second in command to COM
modore Truxtun. He commanded the
brig Siren, 10, that acted as an escort
TO the. little Ketch in which Decatur
and his brave band sailed into the har-
Dor of Trpoli to destroy the frigate
Philadelphia The success of Decatur
won captaincy, thus placing himself
above Stewart. During the greater
part of the war OF 1872 Stewart had
to be content with shore duty, while
some of his more fortunate brother
officers were winning their laurels on
the high seas. But his time was to
come, Meanwhile he was not idle.
Naval experts speak in the highest
praise of his defense OF the Constel-
lation. which was driven back by a
large force OF the enemy, and anchored
off Norfolk, Feeling certain that the
British would make every effort to
take the Constellation. he exercised
his genius to Illustrate their purpose.
He closed the ports of the old frigate.
moored hir in the middle of the
stream and surrounded her with sew
eral gunboats we'll equinped with can
nonades to give the enemy warm re-
cepton III case they appeared in small
boats to attack Day and night a
ceaseless vigilance was kent, with the
result that the British never caught
the Americans off guard, until the land
fortitcations were completed, and the
constellation was placed under the
shelter OF their guns. Shortly after this
event he was transferred TO the Con-
stituton. and set out on a cruise in
the winter OF 1874 Once again. on
December 18th. 1874, he put out to
sea, sailing for Lisbon. On February
goth, 1873. the lookout caught sight
of two ships that were taken to be
enemies, since they could not answer
the "rivate signals Of the Constitution
With all sails set the Constitution bore
down on the ships that at first sought
to escape, but finding themselves be-
ing overhau'ed, hoisted the British
colors. and united to join battle with
the American. At o'clock in the
evening the Constitution began to
exchange broadsides with one of the
enemy When the fire of the enemy
slackened. Stewart gave the command
to sease firing, thus permitting the
smoke to blow away 1t was well that
this order was given; for when the
Constitution emerged from the clouds
OF smoke the second ship of the enemy
was observed sneakine across the
bows Of the Constitution to rake her
The master hand from the quarter
deck taking in the situation at a glance
shouted through the trumpet, and the
danger was averted THUS the battle
continued, the Constitution advancing,
backing and tacking, always spouting
flre. her shots ripping up the panks
on the British ships, sending great
clouds OF splinters in every direction,
until at 10 o'clock at night the enemy
lowered their colors. They proved to
be the Cyane "a and the Levant 49,
In the long and severe action the
Constitution lost 3 killed and II wound
ed, while the British lost about 40 kill
ed and wounded. With two ships
wheeling about him, Stewart never
once permitted them to rake the Con-
stitution, which is considered re-
markable feat OF seamanship. On the
10th OF March he carried his two prizes
into Port Praya, where a new and un-
expected danger awaited him. The
uext day the first lieutenant OF the
Constitution made out the sails of a
large ship putting into the harbor. He
reported his discovery to Captain
Stewart, who, suspecting her to be an
lndiaman. ordered all hands to be
ready to go out and take her. But in
lew minutes two other large ships
were seen, whereupon the Constitu-
ton cut her cables and slipped out of
the harbor, followed by the two prizes.
Had it not been for the British pris
CuerS on shore ubo 6raJ ,r,,,. . -.