Evening star., 1939-05-14
Monuments
Mark Two
Graves
Last Anchorage of
Old Ship Should
Be Washington
By John CIagen Proctor.


That banner in the sky.
Beneath it rang the battle-shout,
And burst the cannon's roar;
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.
Oh! Better that her shattered hulk
Should sink beneath the wave;
Her thunders shook the mighty deep
And there should be her grave.
Nail to her mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail
And give her to the god of storms,
The lightning and the gale!'
Well, that was still the idea in
1905. when the Constitution was
considered unsuited for further
naval service or repair, and it was
actually recommended that she be
used as a target for some of the
ships of the North Atlantic Fleet and
be sunk by gunflre. However, due to
a storm of protests throughout the
Nation, Congress appropriated $10O.-
600 for her reconditioning. which
was done during the years 1867
Things looked still more gloomy
for the Constitution in 1925, and her
death was predicted and anticipated
bv the press and public, for by this
time she was thoroughly dangerous
and unseaWorthy. Congress was
again asked for assistance, but the
Government hesitated to expend an
estimated S65o000 for her rebuild
ing, lust as a relic 1t was then
that the school children and young
people of the country were appealed
to. with the result that sufficient
contributions we're made and the
boat again saved to posterity.
True, there is little, perhaps, left
of the original Constitution that
was constructed at Boston in 1897,
but there is a great deal of senti-
ment attached to the vessel just the
same, for it cannot help but revive
in the hearts of all true Americans
a sense of patriotism that is in
dispensable for the perpetuation of
this glorious Republic handed down
to us by our forefathers.
Fitting Climax.
And, since Washington is the Cap
ttal of the Nation, it does seem that
it would be fitting climax to the
celebration of the sesquicentennial
of that great document for which
this ship was named, to bring it
here and give it a final resting place
at the Navy Yard, or off Hains
Point, or some other equally suitable
place, where it could be viewed by
the nearly three million visitors who
come to this city annually. 1t is
true that this historic vessel was
built at Boston, Mass, but it is also
true that its construction was ordered
by the Government and built from
public funds collected from all the
people, and, naturally, Washington,
as the Capital, should be the Gus
todian and guardian of this famous
relic.
The Constitution was one of three
vessels launched by the Govern
ment in 1877, the other two being
the United States and the Constella-
ton. The Constitution was built at
Boston, the United States at Phila-
delphia and the Constellation at
Baltimore.
Launched in 1897.
The Constitution was launched
October 81, 1897; cost. S3O2,719; was
of 1876 tonnage, carried a. guns
and was manned by 400 men. She
was first reconstructed at Boston in
1888, and was rebuilt at the Phila-
delphia Navy Yard in 1871. Again,
she was partially reconstructed at
Boston in 1867, followed by
thorough reconditioning in 1927.
For period of "a years she was in
active service, until, finally, in 1882,
she was made receiving ship at
Portsmouth, N. H, and, in 1897, in
connection with the centennial of
her launching, she was towed from
this port to Boston.
According to the statistical His
tory of the Navy of the United
States" compiled by 1t. George F.
Emmons, U. S. N, the following
facts are cleaned regarding the
Constitution.
She was modelled by Joshua Hum
phreys and was built by George
Claghorne and Mr.. Hartley of Bos-
ton. Her log book of 1909 shows a
speed Of 1872 knots; going free
under top-gallant sails. Her length
was IT'S feet, beam 43 feet s
inches, hold IA feet inches, ballast
140 to 7 tons, water $4,000 gallons
and provisions months.
Her first commander seems to
have been Capt. Samuel Nicholson,
his assignment being dated July 20.
1898 Next came that celebrated
naval officer, Commodore Isaac
Hull, then first lieutenant, the
Constitution at this time being the
flagship of Commodore Silas Talbot.
Later, it will be recalled, Com
modore Hull fought the most famous
battle in which the Constitution
was ever engaged. when on August
10, 1872. she fought and destroyed
the British frigate Guerriere. Of
this celebrated engagement, Dawson
says:
Story of Battle.
"On the 10Th of August, 1912,
the Constitution, commanded by
Capt. Isaac Hull, was cruising in
latitude Al AZ N, longitude 55o 49,
w; when, at 2 in the afternoon
sail was made, bearing east-south-
east, and to leeward, but her char
acter could not be made out
"All sail was instantly made, in
chase, and so rapidly did the Con-
stitution come up with her, that at
3 o'clock it was plainly seen that
she was a ship on the starboard
tack, under easy sail, close hauled;
and at $50 she was seen to be
frigate, little doubt being enter
tanned that she was an enemy.
THE Constitution continued on
her course until she had come with
in three miles of the stranger, when
Capt Hull ordered the light sails to
be taken in. the courses hauled up,
and the ship prepared for action.