Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-05
United States, 1901 Sixteenth
street. Washington, ID. {.

There's big job ahead of the
young American naval officer who
commands the L. s. 5. Stewart il
he equals the record of the man in
whose honor his ship is named,
The L. 5. :. Stewart is a destroy
er, and much is going to be expected
of destroyers in the winning of This
war. for it is largely up to the de-
stroyers to protect the transports ana
supply ships that are carrying men
aud supplies abroad, the merchant
ships that must keep the allies sup
piled with food, and make it possible
for the commerce of the world TO
keep moving.
Americans have a right to expect
just as brave deeds in this war, just
as great victories, as in the past.
and every war in the past has pro-
duced its heroes.
But this concerns the L. S. S.
Stewart and the man for whom she
was named.
The Stewart is a sister ship of the
Preble and the proud record in the
name she bears has been written
indclibly into the history of Ameri-
can naval warfare.
Charles Stewart came into this
world while the colonies were fight
ing for their freedom and within
twenty years was an officer of the
new nations navy battling for free
dom OF seas.
In 1898 he was appointed a iieu-
tenant, and years later in command
of the schooner Experiment, he cap
tured two French schooners and Il
priVateer.
Fought Barbary CorSairs
This training of the youthful
Stewart for war proved of great val
ne. as is shown in his later exploits
When Commodore Preble sailed to
the Mediterranean to end the piracy
of the Barbary Corsairs. young Stew
art was a member of the expedition
and had an important part in the
fighting. He was selected by Deca-
tur to help in the daring exploit of
burning the Philadelphia and was
active througout the Mediterranean
campaign.
But is was in the war of 1872.
when the famous ship Constitution
affectionately called old Ironsides,
won her laurels in a number of
famous battles, that Charles Stewart,
then captain, fought and vanquisned
two British ships and added further
glory to the record of the Constitu-
ton.
In the latter part of 1914 the Con-
stitution arrived in Boston for n
thorough overhauling after her bat
tie with the Java. on December IS
she sailed under command of Cap
tain Stewart. and on February goth
of the following year, while cruising
IN the neighborhood of Madeira, two
sales were sighted. The nearest
-, fv.,r to
guns, Captain Gordon Thomas Fal-
con: the other the sloop of war Le-
want u guns. Captain the Honor
able George Douglas.
The Constitution bore down upon
the enemy and opened fire at five
O'Clock in the afternoon but the shot
fell short. The two British ships
Ulied to get windward of the Con-
stitution. with the intention of ds-
laying the action until after dark {,
when they hoped to cripple the Am
erican ship.
Remarkable Battle
Failing in this. the British ships
formed in line. the Levant ahea d
and the Constitution at six o'clock
opened the battle with a shot be-
tween the two. Then, with broad
sides. began one of the most remark
able battles in history, battle in
which one ship vanquished two and
never once during the entire engage
ment exposed herself to the raking