The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-09-28

having his image adorn the ship named for that
document and some of the sailors around Boston
declared that placing an efigy of a landsman on
the old frigate was an insult to her. Despite all
the objections, the Jackson fgurehead was put
In place But that didn't end the matter.
One dark, rainy night sailor from Cape Cod
named Samuel Dewey (whose grandson was des-
tined for future fame as the Hero Of Manila
Bay") rowed out to where the Constitution was
riding at anchor between two other ships Scram-
bling up over her bow, he set to work to saw
off the head Of the offending fgurehead But,
because he was In hurry and the light was so
poor, he made his cut just beneath "Old Hick-
ory's" nose and not at the neck as he had
planned. But he succeeded in making his escape
with the head and the Wings were jubilant while
the Democrats in turn raised a terrible uproar
over the outrage" that had been perpetrated.
Dewey next went to Washington where, after
exhibiting it to the leading Wings, he carried it
tied up in a cloth to the Navy department where
he sought interview with Mahlon Dickerson,
secretary of the navy Then according to a con-
temporary account, he was admitted to Dicker-
sons Office with the following result:
"Have 1 the honor Of addressing the secretary
of the navy? asked the chunky sailor.
you have, and as ! very busy, will
thank you to be BRIEF" answered the secretary.
"Mr. Secretary, am the man who removed
the fgurehead, and I have brought it here to
restore IT, SAID captain Dewey.
You are the man who had the audacity to
disfgure old Ironsides?" asked the secretary,
In angry tone
YES sir; took the responsibility"
"TI have you arrested" said the secretary,
reaching out for the bell to summon a messen-
ger.
stop, Mr.. Secretary" answered the resolute
sailor. you, lawyer, know that there is
statute against defacing ship of war, and
oil do &c 70 for o1A
that in the county where the offense was COM
mitted. If you desire 1t, will go back to Mid
dlesex county, Massachusetts, and stand my
trial"
"You are right" said the secretary after a
moments reflection; land now tell me how you
took away the head"
Dewey told the story, and Dickerson asked
him to wait until he had stepped over to the
White House and showed the head to 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 he. 1.-The fellow did right. Give him
a kick and my compliments and tell him to saw
1t off again"
When the Wings came into power later, Dewey
is said to have been rewarded with the appoint
ment of postmastership in small Virginia
town and to the end of his days he enjoyed the
distinction Of having been 'the man who cut of
Old Hickory's head" To add to that distinction
he had printed on his visiting cards picture of
a hand-saw under which were the words: II
came; saw; conquered"
The subsequent history Of the Jackson figure
head is shrouded with mystery According TO
one account the head was restored and fastened
on with unusually large bolt to prevent a
repetition of Dewey's feat This figure it is said,
graced the ship for 40 years and had narrow
escape from another Outrage" at the beginning
of the Civil war. Southern sympathizers planned
to seize It a sort of mascot for their cause,
but were foied by Gen. Benjamin F. Butler
who marched the Eighth Massachusetts, regiment
to Annapolis and had "Od Ironsides" 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 at Annapolis and is pre-
served there today
Another story is that a new fgurehead Of
Jackson was made for the Constitution after
Dewey had decapitated him and that it is this
replica which now stands on the academy
grounds. The head which Dewey carried away
according to this version, did not turn I'D de-
spite the rewards that were offered for it. until
many years later and this original which sold a
few years ago for $4,000, is now in the pos
session of private collector.
After the Jackson efigy had been removed,
"Old Ironsides" bore a golden eagle fgurehead
with widespread wings and this was succeeded
by q Strengthening dragon with its head