The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-08-16

~, one nunured years ago. ZAP
H tain Isaac Hull, one of Ameri-
a cas- greatest naval command
ers, won a wager Of hat from
Captain James Richard Dacres or the
British navy In addition TO the hat,
the Englishman lost the first action
between frgates in the war OF 1872,
and his country suffered a blow to its
pride and prestige from which 1t was
long in recovering. A few days later
the Constitution, one OF the vessels
which the British commanders had
sneeringly called the "fir-built Yankee
frigates flying a piece OF striped Bunt-
ing at their mast-heads," appeared OF
Boston lighthouse gaily decked with
flags and proudly passed up the har-
Dor to tell of the capture and destruc-
ton of the Guerriere.
Only a month before this momen-
tous engagement Captain Hull had
had an exciting experience with the
Guerriere and her consorts, the Bevi.
dere and Eeolus. These three vessels
pursued the Constitution for more
than 66 hours and Captain Hull es-
capped only by indomitable persever-
ance and most skillful seamanship,
putting into Boston for supplies.
Early in August the Constitution
started out again on a hunt for the
enemy, and on August 10 a sail was
sighted that proved TO be a British
frlgate which, from her maneuvers.
was evidently desirous Of engaging.
When the vessels were three mhes
apart Captain Hull sent down his
royal yards, reefed his topsails and
sent the crew TO quarters. This crew
was remarkably disciplined and drill
ed at the guns, and more than that,
scarcely a man of them but had
score 10 settle with the English. On
the bare backs of most OF them were
the scars made by the lashes of the
brutal English press gangs, and many
were descendants of American sailors
who had suffered martyrdom in the
British prison ships during the Revo-
luton. Hull himself kept in mind the
fact that his father died in pest ship
from the cruel treatment he had re-
ceived.
Hull Wanted the Hat.
Soon after 4 o'clock the two fri.
gates exchanged Intellectual broad
sides while maneuvering for position
and constantly drawing closer. About
6 o'clock Hull, becoming impatient
ordered tie Constitution to be steered
directly for the enemy and rapidIv
closed upon his port quarter. By the
orders of Hull the Americans now
ceased firing and made all prepara.
tions for an effective broadsde. reload.
ing the guns carefully with round shot
and grape and training them upon the
British ship. The Englshmen were
TO be seen working their guns stead.
lily, and their frequent cheers were
plainly heard. What followed is thus
told by Edgar S. Maclay in hls~.iIis.
tory of the Navy
"As yet no order had come from Tho
quarterback of the American frigate
and perfect quiet prevailed along ber
decks as the men stood by their guns
nearly all of them barefooted and
many stripped to the waist, ever and
anon casting inquiring glances AT tbeir
officers At this moment p che,
struck the Constitutions bulvarl,s :
and threw innumerable splinters over
the first division Of the gun dact
wounding several men. Observing
the effect Of this shot. the Englisbmen
gave three cheers but still the Amor.
lean frigate remained silent. Firs,
Lieutenant Morris now approached
the quarterback. where Captain upIi
was coolly pacing back and forth. and
said: The enemy has opened hre
and killed two OF our men Shall u,e
return g.? Not yet, sir, was IN,
response from the quarterback am
the men saw their mutllated shin
mates hurried below 10 the surgeon,
table. while they stood silently n
their guns IN momentary expectation
OF meeting a similar fate. Nothin,
but the perfect discipline In the Amer
icaD frigate restrained the impatienc,
OF the gun crews and prevented then
from returning the Englishman's can
nonading Three times Ljeutsnap