The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-10-06

After four years in European duty
the Constitution was relieved from
duty by the frigate Cyane, the log
book records "in a dOwnpour of rain"
After an Wneventful trip Of Al days
she arrived off Sandy Hook. This was
before the days of clipper ships and
fast steamers. 1t took longer to sail
across the Atlantic than to 90 to
New Zealand today,
During the civil war the Constitu-
tion was used as a training ship at
Annapolis.
She was again pressed into service
in July, 1877, when Congress author
lied the President to supply trans
portation for goods sent by American
citizens to the Universal Exposition at
Paris, 1878.
After a successful trip under the
command Of Capt. c. Badger to
France, made in 50 days, she was
ordered back in 1879 from Havre
with a cargo. She went aground off
the French coast and it took five
tugs TO pun her into deep water
again.
She Comes to Boston.
AT the hundredth anniversary of
her launching the secretary OF the
navy ordered her taken TO Boston. she
was brought back to the city and to
the harbor where she first kissed salt
water.
Amidst cheers of thousands she
was tied up at the Charlestown navy
yard, where a great demonstration
was held Mt the Old South Meeting
House in honor of the occasion.
After the war of 1912, with no rec.
ord of the disappearance of the orig
mal fgurehead that Ornamented the
bow of the Constitution, an idea was
conceived by an admrer of Andrew
Jackson, then President of the Unit.
ed States, that it would be a graceful
compliment to the chief executive to
have his statue placed on the bow OF
the frigate.
The new tigurehead portrayed Jack
son holding scroll on which was
inscribed "The Union, It must he pre-.
served" No sooner had the sculptor
l.. -. Beecher, begun his work than
the enemies of President Jackson be.
gan to fight the plan.
The Wings Of Boston scattered
handbills over the city bearing, in
large letters, the headline, "Freemen
Awake" They prayed the people to
take action against this wooden God
this image of a tyrant," ana "For
Gods sake, TO save the ship from
the foul disgrace"
The sculptor was offered large
sums of money to allow the figure.
head to he stolen, but he would not
consent The matter caused such ex-
citement in Boston that it was neces-
sary to berth the Constitution be-
tween the Columbus and the indie
pendence, and to station guards on
each ship to protect the obnoxious
statue.
captain from Cape Cod named Sam
uel Dewey, on a wager of 500, stole
into the navy yard one stormy night,
climbed up the anchor chain, unOb-
served, sawed off the head of the
Jackson statue, placed it in a gunny
sack and made his escape.
The next morning when the decap-
itation was discovered there was a
tremendous uproar. Dewey later went
to Washington, where he exhibited
the head to many Of the leading Wings.
Finally it was carried TO the navy de-
partment and offered to Mahon Dick
crson, the secretary Of the navy, to
whom Dewey told his story.
The secretary was furious and
threatened arrest. He went to the
White House with Dewey taking the
head wrapped in n bandanna hand
kerchief Andrew Jackson, when he
heard the story, saw the head and
burst into uncomfortable laughter.
"Why this is the most Internal gray
en- image ever saw Tho fellow did
perfectly right; tell him To- saw it off
If It ever appears again. declared the
President.
After the Washington incident
Dewey was made postmaster In Vir
ginin MS reward for his exploit. The
statue was found Just p years after
It's mysterious disappearance on the
grounds Of Jonathan Bowers at Wit
lOwdale near Lowell.