Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-04


friends in Boston are correctly in
| formed of the situation when chased
by the British squadron off New
York, and that they are good enough
to give him more credit for having
| escaped than he ought to claim,
takes this opportunity of requesting
them to transfer their good wishes
to Lieutenant Morris and the other
brave officers and crew under his
command, for their very great ex-
ertions and prompt attentions to
his orders while the enemy were in
chase. Captain Hull has great
| pleasure in saying that, notwith-
| standing the length of the chase,
and the officers and crew being de-
prived of sleep and allowed but little
| refreshment during the time, not a
murmur was heard to escape them"
Thus did Captain Isaac Hull
modestly disclaim personal merit.
| and generously give credit to his
subordinates after one of the most
| exciting and most clever examples
of naval strategy on record.
Because of this and other deeds
of this naval officer of a century
ago, the government named one of
it's destroyer flotilla in his honor.
In the reports that are published
from time to time of naval engage
| ments of the World War il is
probable that the name Hull again
will be emblazoned in the front
page headlines.
The little destroyer Hull is equip
, ped with two 3-inch so caliber rapid
fire guns, six 6-pounder rapid fire
guns, and two1S-inch torpedo tubes.
She carries three officers and seven
ty-two men, and makes zS.4 knots.
The man for whom she was named
has left her traditions that through
out the years maintained the Amer
lean navy at the highest standard.
Commander at 10
Isaac Hull was born In Connecticut
in 1775, the son of an officer of the
Revolutionary army who died
aboard British prison ship. In
March, 1898 he entered the navy as
lieutenant, and first came into
prominence when, in command of
the Sally, he sailed into the harhor
of Porte Platte, Hayti, in broad day
light, captured the fort, spiked the
guns, and succeeded in getting away
/ with French letter of maruue.
In 1904 he served as master on
! the Argus. and in the expedition to
Tripoh under Commodore Preble
distinguished himself at the storm
ing of Tripoli and the reduction of
Deccan. Two years later he was
commissioned captain, and in 1911
went to command of the Constitu-
4
Constitution returned to the United
states, on the return trip outdistanc-
ing fleet of British ships he feared
could cause him trouble.
On July 5. 1912, Captain Hull in
| command of the Constitution, was
ordered from Annapolis to New
York. On the way he encountered
a formidable English squadron con-
sisting of four frigates, line-of-
battle ship, brig and a schooner,
command of Commodore Broke.
In dead calm the squadron gave
chase. The only way headway
could be made was by towing. and
the enemy attached all their boats
to two of the frigates and sue
ceeded in gaining enough on the
Constitution to bring their bow guns
to bear upon her.
The chase continued in this wav
for two days. the frigates firing with
their bow guns and the Constitution
replying with her stern chasers. The
third day light breeze enabled the
Constitution to escape.
ABOUT month later, tired of wait
ing for orders, Captain Hull set sail
from Boston and on August 18th fell
In with the British Frigate Guer-
riere, 49 guns, Captain Dacres,
The Guerriere fired her starboard
broaGside at long range and imme-
diately wore around and let go her
port broadside. Captain Hull used
only his bow guns as he could bring
them to bear, his plan being to wait
until quite close before beginning
serious action. For almost an hoIIr
TINS KIND of engagement was con-
tlnued the Constitution avoiding a
raking fire.
The Battle
t1Eally Hull set his light sails and
headed straight for the epenv and
met her on the windward side. AS
the Constitution drew SLOWLY ahead
she opened with her forward rnrr
1t was hard work to re tram the ro.
mai1der of the gun crews. for MI
vera anxious for ths fray. FinaIIv
the order came and the guns roared
In ten minutes the Guerriere's miz-
zenmast went by the board. Next
went tie mainmast. Before a half
hour had passed the splendid Brit
ish ship had been reduced to a dis.
mantled hulk.
The following day, the engage
ment having been ended as dark-
ness -ell, it was found that the
Guerrero was so badly damaged
she could not be saved. Captain
Dacres and his crew were taken
acoard the Constitution, and the
Guerrero was scuttled and set afire
The superiority of the Constitu-
ton in gunnery and Haneuvering
was shown in the casualty lists. The
Constitution had but fourteen killed