Evening star., 1925-08-16

one hundred and thirteen years ago
next Wednesday, the United States
IrlSste Constitution sought out the
Srltlsh frigatP Guerriere, off the New
england coast, and by sHillful sea
1nanship and excellent strategy. show
ed the keeneSs OF the American fight
ers. newly born, against an old navy.
'Nhen considered by the world as in
Nlncible. The Constitution made the
Brlt1sher strike her Colors. Today this
historical old vessel is rotting away
al the Boston Navy Yard. where she
, stands not only as a monument to
that great victory. hut the spirit and
heroism of the early Navy. To pre-
serve her as a monument for pos
terity the Navy is conducting a cam
paign to raise a fund of $500, 900. with
which TO renovate her.
Rear Admiral Louis L. de StpiCuer
commandant of the first naval dis
trict is in charge of the campaign
and special appeal Tor contributions
- being made among school children.
nut, Of course. il is not limited to
them. a small contribution from each
school child will make successful the
work to preserve this historic ship.
Fought Tripoli Pirates.
Receiving her baptism of fire in
Tripoli at the time America made that
she returned TO the States. At Anna
polls, at the outbreak of the war, she
went outside the capes, and after five
days. encountered the British fleet.
She ran before them. firing all the
while, and by skillful navigation dur
ing which her crew, in small boats
towed the vessel during the calms.
ana by putting out anchors at dis
tances ahead, pulled her along, her
captain, Isaac Hull, Outdistanced the
BrltlShers, and went TO Boston for re.
INirs and stores. With memories of
the running fight and confident of his
ability TO lick them if not Outnumber-
ed, and TO escape if uutnumbered,
%apt. Hull again went out on the
coast, up to the Bay of F'undy and
along the Nova Scotia coast, where an
American brig was reCaptured. Stand
ing south, information was received
from an American priHateer that there
was British man-o'War further
south. lie went after il, and found the
Guerriere at o'clock on the after
noon of August 10 1912.
The Constitution had Il crew of 456
and threw a broadside OF 700 pounds
and the Guerriere had a72 men. with
broadSide of $50 pounds. Confident
Of victory. the Guerrere waited
As the distance closed the Guerricre
filled her topsail and opened fire with
a broadside from her starboard bat
terry. She Immediately swung around
with her stern to the enemy and fired
her other broadSide. Only two of these
dots were hits. the remainder pass
ing over or falling short of the Con
stltution, which then opened fire with
her bow chaSerS. The action con.
tlnued in this fashion for nearly an
hour. the Guerriere Zigzagging across
the bow of the Constitution and firing
first one broadside and then the
other, while the American slowly
closed the distance, firing only with
her forward guns and occasionally
yawtnS to avoid being raked.
Decided TO Close In.
But little damage was suffered on
either side during this long-range fir
ing. and at O'Clock Capt. Hull de-
cided it was time to bring matters TO
a head. He set his main top gallant
sail and let fall the foresail, while the
Guerriere stopped ZigZa gginG and ran
off on d parallel course with the wind
lmOst aStern.
Five minutes later Hull had ranged
ahead until he had the Guerriere
nearly abeam 10 starboard where he
fired his entire broadside at half pis-
tol shot" This method of indicating
occurs frequently in accounts of old
fights and must he taken only as i
very rough approximation of the range,
The distance the old horse pistols
could shoot was about 100 yards. so
that half pistol shot may be con
sidered as about so yards. At this
range furious Cannonade began on
both sides, after Is minutes Of which
the Guerriere's mizzenmast fell over
the starboard side, where it acted as
drag and caused her head to swing
to starboard. Capt. Hull was quick
to avail himself Of the advantage in
speed this gave him. As he drew