The Coolidge examiner., 1934-09-28

the old frigaie was Al Insult 10 her. Despite all
the objections. the Jackson hgurehead vas put
In place. But that ddnt end the matter.
One dark. rainy nlghi sailor from Cape Cod
named Samuel Dewey twhosc grandson vas des.
tined for future fame the Hero OF Manila
Bay~l rowed out 70 where the Constitution was
rsdsng az anchor betweep two other ships. Scram-
bling up over her bow. be set 10 work 10 saw
or the head OF the offending hgurchead- But
because be was 10 q hurry and the light wAs 50
poor. he made bis cut just beneath -old Hick-
orys" and not At the neck be bad
planned But be succeeded 10 making bis escape
with the head and the whigs were iubliant while
the Democrats In turn raised n terrible uproar
over tho outrage" that had been perpetrated.
Dewey next went 10 Washington where after
exhibiting II 10 the leading whlgs. he carried Il
tied up In a cloth 10 the Navy department where
he sought an interview with Eahion Dlckersou,
secretary OF the navy. Then according to a con.
temporary account. he was admitted 70 Dlcker-
sons Office. with the following result:
Have the honor OF addressing the secretary
OF the navyy asked the chunky sailor.
-You have. and as I very busy. ! viii
thank you to be brief" answered the secretary.
~Mr. Secretary. am the man who removed
the hgurehead. and have brought II here TO
restore e." said Captain Dewey.
You are the man who had the aIdaclty 10
dlshgure old IronsdesT" asked the secretary,
In an angry tone.
Yes. sir: | took the responsibility"
"IIl have you arrested !" said the secretary,
reaching out for the bell to summon messen-
ger
stop. Mr. Secretary" answered the resolute
sailor. You. as a lawyer. know that there Is
no statute against defacing a ship OF war. and
all you can do Is TO sue me for trespass and
-.
mtted. II you desire II. | will 20 back to Mid.
dlesex county. Massachusetts,. and stand my
trial.
You are right" said the secretary. after a
moments reflection: "and now tell me how you
took away the head"
Dewey told the story. and Dlckerson asked
him to wait until he had stepped over TO the
White House and showed the head 10 the Presi.
dent
When President Jackson heard the story and
saw the head he burst into loud laughter
why. that is the most internal image ever
saw" said be. The fellow did right. Give him
kick and my compliments and tell him 10 saw
II of again"
When the Wings came into power later. Dewey
is said 10 have been rewarded with the appoint
ment OF a postmastership In n small Virginia
town and TO the end OF his days he enjoyed the
distinction OF having been ''the man who cut OF
Old Hickorys head" To add 10 that distinction
he had printed his visiting cards picture OF
a hand-saw under which were the words: Il
came; | saw; conquered"
The subsequent history Of the Jackson figure
head is shrouded with mystery. According "a
one account, the head was restored and fastened
on with an unusually large bolt TO prevent a
repetition Of Dewey's feat. This figure, 1t is said
graced the ship for 40 years and had narrow
escape from another Outrage" ar the beginning
OF the Civil war. Southern sympathizers planned
to seize II as sort Of mascot for their cause
but were foiled by Gen. Benjamin F. Butler
who marched the Eighth Massachusetts, regiment
TO Annapolis and had "Old Ironsdes" towed
down Chesapeake bay TO the protection Of the
guns at Fortress Monroe After the Civil war
the fgurehead was presented TO the United
States Naval academy ar Annapolis and is pre-
served there today.
Another story is that a new fgurehead OF