The Coolidge examiner., 1934-09-28

Jackson was made for the Constitution after
Dewey had decapitated him and that II Is this
replica which now stands on the academy
grounds The head which Dewey carried away
according 10 this version did not turn Up. de-
spite the rewards thst were offered for t. until
many years later ard this original which sold
few years ago FOR $4,000. Is now In the pos
session Of private collector.
The Andrew Jackson hgurehead. whether the
original a replica. Is not the only famous one
al the Naval academy In Annapolis Even richer
In tradition is that OF a Sowing Indian chief.
tnin-"Old Tecumseh." the God OF 25"-whlch
stands In front OF Bancroft hall. This ngurehead
originally graced the bow OF q shlp-of-the-line,
the Delaware, buili in the navy yard at Norfolk
Va. In 1917 and was supposed TO be a likeness OF
Tamanend the most famous OF chiefs OF the
Delaware Indians. tile also known as Tam
many and as such became the patron god OF the
New York political soclety)
A, the beginning OF the Civil war the Della
ware was out Of commission al the Norfolk navy
yard When the navy yard was destroyed In
1861 she vas scuttled and burned. but after the
close OF the war what remained OF her hulk was
sold 70 wreckers. who raised and broke her up
for copper 10 1868 CT and the ngurehead was sent
to the Naval academy. where after occupying
several sites anally In 1909 was placed on a
pedestal facing Bancroft hall.
Gradually the tradition OF ~TRmanends' mys
terious power Of Impartlng knowledge was estab-
lshed Also by this time be had been renamed
''Tecumseh" by the nlddles and had become the
God OF %" tthe passing mark at the academy.
Later his powers were increased and be was
charged with gaining victories for the navy
teams As the regiment OF mIdshlpmen departs
FOR the big games each platoon gives a left
handed salute" to him that the Navy may win
that day. Another ceremony is centered around
'Tecumseh." When the anal examinations are
concluded the graduating class gathers before
him 10 read Its class history and pay final hom-
age 10 his steadfast aid.
In more recent years the rayages OF time were
threatening "Old Tecumseh" so a movement
sponsored by the class OF 1891. was put under
way 10 replace the wooden figure with an exact
replica in bronze This was done about five years
ago but even though the midshipmen now toss
their pennies before a bronze "Old Tecumseh"
they pass Bancroft hall and invoke his aid in
the imminent quiz, the original wooden figure
head is still carefully preserved at Annapolis
IL has distinguished company in one OF Gre
clan design which once graced the British ship
Macedonian until that vessel was captured by
Stephen Decatur, while In command OF the
U. s. s. United States during the War OF 1872.
one OF bust OF Benjamin Franklin, which
adorned the L. s. S Franklin, launched In 1915,
and another. taken from the Spanish Don An
tonia de Unoa. destroyed by Dewey at the battle
OF Manila Bar. Dewey's flagship at that battle
the Olympia had an interesting hgurehead. II
was bronze winged goddess Of victory holding
aloft eagle. and IL was designed by the IA
nous sculptor. Augustus Saint Gaudens
The Buffalo IN - Historical society has a
notable collection Of ships igureheads, one Of
the most famous being bust only 10 inches
high. II is smiling woman. wearing coronet
and Is supposed TO be portrait bust OF Queen
Caroline OF England, since II was the fgurehead
OF the steamer. the Caroline, which was built
In the early pert Of the Nineteenth century Dur
ing the Upper Canadian rebellion Of 1897 the
Caroline was said TO have been In the service
of the rebels and one night she was towed from
her moorings in the Niagara river, set on fire
and set adrift. The charred timbers of the ship
foa,ed over Niagara falls, and were dashed to
pieces on the rocks. But by some strange qulrk
OF fate the smiling face OF Queen Caroline sur
vived the perils of both fire and water and was
found comparatively uninjured in the lower
Niagara river near Lewiston.
G BY western Newspaper Union.