Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-07
HISTORIC 0LDFR|GATE
C0NsTELLATIONIs safe
After Desperate battle with Gale,
Vessel Is Towed TO Norfolk
Navy Yard.
IT'S RESCUE REMARKABLE FEAT

IFS RESCUE REMARKABLE FEAT
Cape Charles Lightship, which
Breaks Loose in Storm, Iss,An.
cliored OF Virginia beach, Men
Risking Their Lives to Reach Her.
; NORFOLK. VA, December s.--with
two anchors gone. but otherwise APP
perently unintured, the historic old
frigate CONSULTATIONS which .came near
being driven sshotc offs Ocean View
yesterday during q severe northeast
gale. was towed TO tho Norfolk Navy
Yard this afternoon by tho tugs On
tario, Hercules and Massasoit.
There were twenty men on. board
the Constellation. which was In COM
mand of Boatswain Arthur 3, Smith.
Tho Ontario, which had the. veSsel In
tow when she ran into the. storm. was
commanded by Boatswain Sanstrun,
Boatswain Smith and his crow were
Inclined to minimize the danger In
which thsy were placed, but naval Of
without damage remarkable feat
The Constellation broke away from
the Ontario mt 8 o'clock yesterday
morning. She was then Off tho Thfmble
Shoals light. Tho wind was blowing
nifty miles an hour. and the seas were
very high. Tho tow line, parted; by
tho force OF this gale, became ehtanR-
led in the propeller OF the Ontario. and
she was forced to call for aSsistance.
The army tug Refow, which WAS
first to reach the Ontario and .Constsi-
.lation, also fouled the tow Life.
The Constellation. In endeavotirig to
save herself from being driven ashore,
lost two anchors. Boatswain Smith
said when the vessel finally anchored
she had twenty four feet OF wnter
under her.
The Cape Charles iightship, which
broke away from It's mornings last
night. was anchored within half mile
OF the shore at Virginia Beach early
to-day. This revenue cutter Itascs,
which went to her assistance, was I'm
able to reach her because Of high seas
and dangerous shoals. Life savers
were unable to launch lifoboats on ao-
count OF tho surf.
The lighthouse tender Orchid reached
the impnrilled lightsh!p this afternoon
and three men, in a small boat, fihked
their lives to get a limo to Her. They
aux ce sded, and the lightship was taken
In tow.
An unknown man. suffering only the
pains OF hunger. was cast on tho beach
between Lynnhaven and Ocean View
this morning. when a scow. which
broke away from tho tug Tortnentor
during Saturday morning on Cape
Henry. came ashore.
Tho Tormentor lost two scowB but
managed to recover one and earno into
the Lynnhaven roads for shelter. Tho
lono man on board tho scow spent .thir-
ty hours at sea In setsaty- mile gale
with no means OF helping himself. Tho
scow is only slightly damas.i and may
be floated.
Lifesavers al Virginia Beach have
received reports thnt on unknown
schooner IL ashore on tho NORTH Caro-
INA coast near Poynters Hill life-
svlhB station.
MOST ANCIENT vEsSEI, - t;s4
NOW IN PRAGTICALsUSE
WASHINGTON. December s.GThe
frigate Constellation, most ancient OF
vessels in use BIZ the navy, had been
on exhibition ut the washington Navy
Yard for month and was being towed
back to Newport, n II whore aha
serves as a training ship for recruits
when she went adrift In Chesapeake
Bay last night. 1f:s
ono of three sister ships built for tho
navy during the administration of
Washington. In 1877. the Constellation
teal use. The United States was
stricken from the list years ago. The
more famous Constitution. doomed to a
like end. was saved by DR. Oliver Wen
dell Holiness poem "Oid 1ronsid es. and
has been in houored retirement at. the
Boston Navy-Yard.
The Constellation was built in Bal
timore, and was towed to that city for
participation In tho "Star-Spangled
Banner centennial celebration ;last
September. On her way to Baltimore
the ship stopped at Norfolk, where
guns and spars were installed givo
her the appearance she had In the old
days when she took part in the war
with Tripoli. in 1902, and struck ter
ror to the British in 1872.
Iytetr Ralftrrora cnpcluded
Secretary Daniels. In response to ur-
gent requests. ordered the old frigate
to Washington. In the capital. where
she lay Mt the navy-yard dock, she was
visited by thousands. Among others
were scores Of veteran naval officers
who served aboard her during their
rise from midshipmen to commodores
and admirals. Rear-Admiral Victor
Blue, chief OF the bureau OF naviga-
ton. as midshipman made his first
cruise on the old ship thirty years ago.
Captain Thomas Truxtun was the
first commander OF the Constellation.
and her roll Of officers has included
many Of the great heroes OF the Amer
lean Navy.
VESSEL IS IN DISTRESS;
BELIEVED TO BE WARSHIP
NORFOLK, VA. December 6.AThe
revenue cutter Itasca Is speeding to-
wards North Beach, Md, to- assist an
unknown vessel, said to be man.of-
war; In distress. The Itasca was pro-
ceeding to the assistance OF an un-
orho ~ n ,s1,r ia