Part 18 (2/2)

It was a fortunate day for our nation when the plans of Mr.

Humphreys, a s.h.i.+pbuilder of Philadelphia, were accepted. He was directed by Congress to prepare the models of six war s.h.i.+ps, to be built in different towns on the coast.

The design of the Const.i.tution was sent to Boston, and her keel was laid in Hartt's Naval Yard, near what is now Const.i.tution Wharf. The ideas of Mr. Humphreys were carried out to the letter. The new frigate was to have better guns, greater speed, greater cruising capacity,--in fact, was to be a little better {171} in every respect than the British and the French s.h.i.+ps of the same rating.

The Const.i.tution was called a forty-four-gun frigate, although she actually carried thirty twenty-four-pounders on her main deck, and twenty-two thirty-two-pounders on her spar deck. She had one gun deck instead of two, and her cannon were heavier than were usually carried on foreign war s.h.i.+ps of her own cla.s.s. She was twenty feet longer and about five feet broader than {172} the far-famed thirty-eight-gun British frigates. In comparison with a modern war s.h.i.+p, she was less than one half as long as the armed cruiser New York, and not far from the size of one of our gunboats.

The British naval officers made much sport of these new s.h.i.+ps; but after ”Old Ironsides” had destroyed two fine British frigates, and had outsailed a large British fleet, they went to work and made over some of their line of battle s.h.i.+ps into large frigates.

The Const.i.tution was built of the best material, and with unusual care. A Boston s.h.i.+pwright was sent South to select live oak, red cedar, and hard pine. Paul Revere, who made the famous midnight ride to Concord, received nearly four thousand dollars for the copper which he furnished for the new frigate.

From the laying of the keel to the final equipment, the Const.i.tution was kept in the s.h.i.+pyard fully three years. Her live oak timbers, having had two years to season, were hard as iron.

After many delays, the stanch s.h.i.+p was set afloat at midday, October 21, 1797, ”before a numerous and brilliant collection of citizens.”

In 1803, a fleet was sent to the north of Africa, to force the pirates of the Barbary coast to respect the persons and the property of American citizens. Commodore Preble was made commander, with the Const.i.tution as his flags.h.i.+p. He had under him the Philadelphia, a fine new frigate, and five smaller war s.h.i.+ps.

{173} Preble was a remarkable man, and his ”schoolboy captains,” as he called them, all under twenty-five years of age, were also remarkable men.

For two years or more, there was plenty of stubborn fighting. Within forty days, five attacks were made on the forts and the war s.h.i.+ps of Tripoli. In three of these attacks, the Const.i.tution took part; and once, while supporting the fleet, she silenced more than a hundred guns behind the forts of the pirate capital.

Even from the first, the new frigate was lucky. She was never dismasted, or seriously injured, in battle or by weather. In all her service, not one commanding officer was ever lost, and few of her crew were ever killed.

On one occasion, six of our gunboats made a savage hand to hand attack on twenty-one Tripolitan gunboats, and drove them back into the harbor with great loss.

”There, Commodore Preble,” said young Decatur, as he came over the side of the Const.i.tution, and walked joyfully up to his commander on the quarter-deck, ”I have brought you out three of the gunboats.”

Preble had a kind heart, but a very quick temper. Like a flash, he seized Decatur by the collar and shook him, shouting, ”Aye, sir, why did you not bring me out more?” and walked into his cabin.

The stern old fighter was over his temper in a moment. He sent for his young officer, and made ample amends for bad temper and hasty words. Ever afterwards these two great men were the best of friends.

{174} During the war of 1812, ”the war for free trade and sailors'

rights,” the Const.i.tution won her chief honors. The story of her remarkable escape from a British squadron has been often told.

It was at daybreak about the middle of July, 1812, off the New Jersey coast. Not a breath ruffled the ocean. Captain Isaac Hull, every inch of him a sailor, was in command. A British fleet of five frigates and some smaller vessels, which had been sighted the day before, had crept up during the night, and at daylight almost surrounded ”Old Ironsides.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: Isaac Hull]

Hull knew his s.h.i.+p and his men. Not for one moment did he think of giving up his vessel. Of course he could not fight his powerful foe with his single s.h.i.+p. He must get away. But how?

One of the British frigates, the Shannon, had furled her sails, and was being towed by all the boats of the fleet.

”This,” said Lieutenant Morris, ”seemed to decide our fate.”

A moment later, however, a puff of wind carried our frigate out of gunshot.

”How deep is the water?” shouts Captain Hull.

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