The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-03-02
The Last Victory of
Famous "Old Ironsides''

Just 100 years ago. on February 20.
1915, the United States frigate Com
sfitution, better known as --OId Iron
sides. won the last victory OF hen.
triupphal career. The most famous
and successful of all the early vessels
of the American navy was then COM
nanded by Capt. Charles Stewart, who,
while the American people were ce1e-
brating the conclusion OF peace be-
tween the United States and Great
BratainS was then sailing Off the Ma
deiras islands. all unaware that the
conflict was over. On the 10th of
February the British sloops-of-vaa
Cyane and Levant, commanded by
Capt Falcon and Capt. Douglass ap-
preached the island where "OId Iron
sides was lying in wait for her prey
The battle was swift and decisive, and
at It's conclusion Capt. Stewart was
master of the situation, and both
British vessels were in his possessi on.
Upon learning of the conclusion OF
peace Capt. Stewart gave up his prizes
The battle off the Madeira islands
marked the conclusion of the warlike
career Of ftOld Ironsides," and the fri
gate was hopelessly out of date before
Uncle Sam again had need of her SER
built in Boston in 1798.and carried an
armament of 50 long 24-pounders and
20 32-pounders carronades.
The Constitution was first COM
nanded by Capt. Isaac Hull, who an.
tered the navy as lieutenant in 1898
and was assigned to the command of
"Old Ironsidess . then fresh from the
builders In 1911 he boldly and sue
cessfully resisted search of his yes
sci by British frigates. Soon after war
was declared in 1912 the Constitution
had q running fight with five British
vessels, which lasted three days, In an
almost dead calm. This was a most
remarkable exhibition of searnanshifs
and won high praise from the foe.
In the following August Capt. Hull
won the most brilliant naval victory
OF the war when the Constitution
fought and conquered the Guerrero,
one of the five vessels by which slls
had previously been pursued. Later
in the war the Constitution defeated
and captured the Java and the Picton.
Capt. Charles Stewart, who succeed
ed Hull in the command of the Con-
Etftution and who was her commander
in the battle of q, century ago, was born
in Philadelphia Like Hull, he com
menced his career as cabin-boy on
packet, and before he had attained his
majority he was a fulI-dedger skipper
He enlisted in the United States navy
in 1898, the same year as Hull, who
had also been q merchant captain be :.
fore ne became g. fighting man. Stew
art was given the rank of lieutenant
and,again like Hull, fought the French
privateers in 1900. With Hull he took
part In the war with the Barbary
States and his valor was recognized by
Congress-
stewart was captain when the sec
ond war between the United States and
England. DTOA6 out AI10i Ills AkAL1nR
qualities in that conflict won for him
the sobriquet Of cold Ironsides,' thus
sharing the popular name of his ship
Capt. Stewart broke all records for
long service as an officer of the United
States navy, for he remained in the
employ Uncle Sam for II years,
from Il 9S until his death in 1869, at
the age OF 81, when he held the rank
of rear admiral.
After the battle af Madeira the Con-
stitution had long period of idleness,
but was later used for time as a
school ship and a receiving ship. In
1880 it was proposed that she be dis
nantled and sold, but popular indig-
nation, reflected in the poem 'fOld
Ironsides.s' by oliver Wendell Holmes
forced the naval authorities to re-
consider their decision.