The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-01-30

Immediately broke her alliance with
this country and on May 10, 1897,
formally declared her right to capture
American ships and hang American
seamen. The shipyards became busy
again.
The first American frigate of the
new navy was the Inflated United
States, built at Philadelphia and
launched on July 10, 1897. The sec
ond, the Constellation, was built by
David Stoddert in Baltimore and slid
down the ways on September 7, 1897.
The Constitution was launched at
Boston two weeks later
The Constellation was the first of
the big frigates to put to sea, spread
ing sails for her maiden coastal patrol
voyage to Florida in June, 1898. In
August, the Constellation and the
Baltimore conveyed 60 cargo ships
past the Havana blockade into north
ern American ports, fighting off at
tacks throughout the three weeks
voyage.
During the next six months she had
several brushes with the enemy. Then
on February 8, 1899, near Nevis in
the Leeward Islands, 220 miles south
east of Porto Rico, the Constellation
battered the giant L'Insurgente into
helplessness. The whole world sat up
at this amazing victory and Ameri-
cans began singing:
"On board the Constellation from
Baltimore we came;
We had a bold commander and Trux-
tun was his name;
Our ship she mounted forty guns,
And on the main so swiftly runs,
To prove to France Columbia's sons
Are brave Yankee boys"
Her second big encounter was with
the French frigate La Vengeance,
nearly twice her size. This time both
ships were beaten almost into insen-
sibility but again the yankee Race
Horse" won.
Peace was declared on September
30, 1900, and a short-sighted Con-
gress reduced the Navy. Somehow the
Constellation was spared.
American merchantmen again went
searching for trade and again the
Barbary pirates began picking them
up. President Jefferson promptly but
secretly ordered a squadron to the
Mediterranean. When the Tripolitans
arrogantly declared war upon this
country in May, 1901, they got chased
out of the Atlantic, off the Mediter-
ranean trade routes, right into their
own harbors and blockaded there
The Constellation shared this task.
On July %, 1902, she defeated fleet
Of II gunboats, destroying two, then
followed up this victory by capturing
small Tripolitan zebec.
Repairs and rest at Washington
were her lot for few years. Then at
the approach of the War of 1872 she
was made ready for active service.
But the British blockaded her in
Hampton Roads. When they came in
to get her she promptly sank three
enemy vessels, captured 43 men and
killed or wounded 80 more.
In the years following she served
on every naval station in the world,
the Atlantic and the Pacific, the Med
iterranean and the Gulf; off South
America, Europe and Africa. She
stood her ground against sail and
steam alike until after the Civil War.
For five years the frigate was sta
toned as receiving ship at Norfolk
and Philadelphia, then went to An
napolis as training ship where she re-
manned "A years. In 1914 she was
moved to Newport, Rhode Island, but
visited Baltimore for the Star-Span-
gled Banner Centennial that same
year.
A great many tears have been shed
over her aged condition by Rhode
Islanders who regard her as a superb
tourists attraction. New Englanders
secured the Constitution for her home
port, Boston, yet they deny the Con-
stellation to her home port, Balti-
more.
They became immensely solicitous
when an expert salvage company ex-
amined her and estimated that it
would cost only $4,000 to bring her
by inland waters down to Baltimore