The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-08-05


is the 115th anniversary of Old IRON
sides greatest victory, the day when
she fought the terrific engagement
with the English frigate Guerrero off
the coast Of Nova Scotia, and "in one
half hour raised the United States to
the rank Of a first-class power" In
all the brilliant record of this wonder
full old warship there Is no incident
more thrilling than the story of her
duel with the proud ship which bore
On her sails in letters red.
Words of warning, words of dread:
"A1l who meet me have a care!
I am England's Guerrero"
On August 2, 1872, the Constitution,
commanded by Capt. Isaac Hull, sailed
from Boston in the hope of falling in
with some Of the British war vessels
which were supposed to be lying in
wait for American shipping along the
Atlantic coast from Nantucket to Hall
fax. Hull was especially anxious to
meet the Guerrero, commanded by
Capt. James Richard Dacres, who had
sent word to American commanders
that his ship was mot the Little Belt
Ca reference to the dispute between
the two nations over who had been
the aggressor in the engagement in
which the American ship, President,
almost destroyed the British ship, Lit
tie Belt, before war had been de-
clared).
After cruising about in northern wa
tiers for more than a week, during
which time he overhauled several
small fry of British shipping, Hull,
still seeking big game, finally turned
Old Ironsides southwark. About two
o'clock on the afternoon of August
10 the lookout reported a sail on the
horizon, Hull Immediately gave chase
to the stranger and at half past three
discovered that it was a British frig-
ate. Sailing to within league to the
leeward of the enemy, Hull shortened
sail, cleared decks for action, hoisted
the American flag beat to quarters
and bore down on the enemy to bring
her to close combat.
Seeing this action the enemy ship
also prepared for action and when the
Englishman had hoisted three ensigns
Hull saw to his Joy that his adversary
was the one ship he had been seek
ing, the Guerrero. Captain Dacres
opened the engagement with broad
side of grapeshot, filled away and
sent in another broadside on the other
tack. On account of the distance which
separated the adversaries, however,
neither broadside took effect. For the
next hour the two vessels maneuvered
much in the manner of two boxers,
each trying to get in position to
rake the other with its gunfire and at
the same time avoid being raked.
Finally the Guerrero began to draw
off with the Constitution in close pur-
suit, trying to bring the fight to close
quarters. At last about six o'clock
in the evening the Englishman took
a position that indicated he was will
ing to engage in yard-arm to yard
arm fight and Hull closed in until the
bows of the Constitution doubled the
quarter of the Guerrero.
From the moment that the American
ship had begun to close in on the
enemy the fire of the English guns
had begun to strike Old Ironsides.
Lieutenant Morris, Hulls second In
command, became impatient and, go
ing to his commander, asked permits
sion to open fire. "Not yet" was Hulfs
quiet response. Nearer and nearer the
two warships drew together and again
Morris repeated his request only to
receive the same quiet "Not yet"