Life — May 26, 1898 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Constitution bears down upon the Grerritre. Constellation ), John Adaius (2), Hornet (18), Wasp (18), Argus (16), Siren (16), Enterprise (12), Ni (12), Viren (12), and Viper (10), In all, seventeen ships, while ¢ Britain bad over one thousand, and over seven times the armament of the whole American Navy was stationed from Halifax to the West Indies. ° * * “ps little navy of ours neither had the respect of Congress nor the conti- dence of public opinion, and when, war having been declared (June 18, 1512), Com- modore Rodgers put to sea in the President, accompanied by the United States, the Con- gress, the Hornet and the Argus, and had his unfortunate scrap with the Jziridera, more dissatisfaction than ever was expressed, The President sighted the Belvidera off Nau- tucket, and, drawing away from the rest of the fleet, chased that vessel unsu full, During the en, ment one of the Preadents guns burst, killing sixtee The Lelvidera escaped, and the Americ squadron continued on a long cruise, re- turning to port on August 29th, without accomplishing anything. This was a bad beginning, but the Constitution made up for utilus it later on, and she was not the only one to do it, CHASE OF THE “CONSTITUTION.” with a crew, sailed from the Chesapeake on July 1812, and on the lith began that famous se which showed Isaac Hull's great ability, Heading up along the coast, he sighted a British squadron, which attempted to close in ov him, For three days and nights the enemy were close in his wake, and every device to make a ship move through water was tried by Hull and im- mediately imitated by the British frigates. Among them was the » that the Constitution met later on under different conditions, The Constitution was towed by boats, kedged, and her sails soused with water, and thus inch by iach was contested, until finally, availing herself of a favorable squall, she slipped away from her pursuers. The British captains did not recover for many a long day from their surprise and chagrin over the manner in which the Con- stitution—which they had referred to as a “ fir-built Yankee frigate, flying a piece of striped bunting at her masthead”—finally got away from them. Constitution, new Guervie: THE ONSTITUTION AND 6 CAPTAIN HULL, after his escape from the British squadron, put into Boston, nd it began to look as if the imbecility of pugress would prevent him from going to sea again. He was instructed to wait orders, but this was not to his fancy. He wanted to meet Dacres, of the Guerrire. Dacres was also anxious to run acro: Hull. Before the war they had both met atan entertainment. In joking about the probability of a war, Hull said: “Well, Dacres, take good care of your ship if I ever run alongside of her when she is alone.” “Look here, Hull,” replied Dacres, “would you like to bet money on the out- come?” “No,” said Hull, “I don’t care to bet money, but Pil go a hat.” “Done!” said Dacres. Hull was therefore anxious to bring about a result, and taking matters into his own hands, he sailed out of Boston Harbor on August 2d, He cruised south of Cape Sable, then cast of Halifax, around Nova Scotia to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, taking a few prizes, and then south again. On comicbooks.com