Salt Lake Telegram | 1926-03-21 | Page 4 | Last Adventure of "Old Hickory"

Il I I I Last Adventure of Old Id Hickory l References to the frigate Constitution Constitution Old Ironsides s have been frequent In the American press of ot late A good deal has been written of the reconditioning it has re recently recently recently re- re received as a result of the wide nation-wide campaign among school schoolchildren schoolchildren children which had as its slogan the phrase Save the Constitution tion Various civic and patriotic organizations sponsored the plan having learned that the gallant and picturesque old craft was slowly but surely rotting away in an ob obscure obscure obscuro ob- ob corner of ot the Boston navy yard Their efforts and the success success suc sue cess which has rewarded them re recall recall recall re- re call the similar agitation which some odd forty-odd years ago swept tie the country following the publication publication publics publics- tion of Oliver Wendell Ve Holmes' Holmes known well poem dealing with the neglect of Old Id Ironsides The ob object object object ob- ob of the movement then as Inthe in inthe inthe the present case ease was the repair and preservation of the historic I vessel Only a few tew weeks ago the latest Save the Constitution drive culminated culminated culminated cul cul- cul- cul I in a ceremony of re christening together with the unveiling unveiling un un- un- un veiling of a commemorative tablet This most recent of ot th the countless II incidents which form the old ships ship's history Is of ot course pretty generally generally generally gener gener- ally known But probably far fewer ewer people noticed at about the same time a brief newspaper dispatch le le- counting the sale to an unknown purchaser of the Andrew Jackson figurehead that once f for r a short space had iad graced the bow of f Old Ironsides This relic of so many years past had stood for tor years ce- ce en e- e n neath ath a wooden shelter on the shore hore of ot Lake not far from Boston BOlSton An ancient pleasure resort now fallen Into decay Is lo located located lo- lo there and the figurehead was waa sold old to Its mysterious buyer buel by the heirs of the late owner of the place e. Henry Ford had previously offered for it to no avail Hence it is 15 to be be concluded that the present bid must have ha exceeded ex cx ex exceeded I that price The tall figure of carved wood Is about seven feet In height we are Informed and is represented as dressed in the costume of ot the earl early earls nineteenth century A deep crack runs around the throat And thereby thereby thereby there there- by hangs a a. tale for this it was learned Is the very reproduction of Old Hickory which In 1834 was disrespectfully beheaded Despite his fame as hero of 01 the battle of New Orleans and of various other encounters encounters' of the war of 1812 to tosa sa say nothing of ot his exalted position as president of the United States Jackson Jl vas was none none non too popular In Inthe the Massachusetts of those days das In n 1833 he had visited Boston at which time the Constitution was laid up In the Charlestown navy yard ard there for a general overhaul- overhaul Ing The commandant of ot the yard rard decided to pay him a subtle compliment compliment compliment com com- as he fondly thought by having baring his likeness placed on the I bow of Old Ir Ironsides Official permission was received at length and the work pro proceeded eded though thought amid protests from both oth critics and supporters of ot the president t the latter seeing apparently a certain Irreverence In the idea In the late spring of 1834 the figurehead was triumphantly set up ip p on on the frigates frigate's boW v. Hardly more than thana a month later however it met with misfortune A certain Captain Dewey reputed to be the daredevil daredevil daredevil dare devil of Bos Boston succeeded ded on the night of or July 1 in eluding the guard placed on board the ship and andIn andin In severing the head lead of ot the Jack Jack- Jackson Jackson Jackson son figure from its body Whereupon Whereupon Where Where- upon it commenced a a. a series of wanderings anC about the country in Deweys Dewey's possession which did not terminate until at last it was re returned returned returned re- re turned to Its rightful place on the shoulders of Old Image the latter having meanwhile been removed altogether from th the tho Con Con- The amazing Captain Dewe Dewey even took the h head ad to Washington and showed It to the president himself This audacious gesture one suspects sus sus- pacts must have rather appealed to Jackson If It that Is the maj majority major major- rity r- r ity of ot historians and biographers who have dealt with him him- are to be believed His various appearances In fiction too the material for which is presumably derived from authentic data all seem to credit him with a n. lively sense of humor as well as a flair a-flair flair of ot his own for In such a recent book for example as Bernard Marshalls Marshall's Old Hickory's Prisoner Prison Prison- er a stirring and graphic story for Cor men and boys dealin dealing with the war of 1813 1812 and in particular the siege of ot New Orleans this i is very much the case Andrew Jackson Is thoroughly humanized b by Mr Marshall and the Die several incidents in which he figures as an aD tant taut influence in the lire life of 01 Hush Hugh Delaroche the young pioneer hero present him vividly both in therole therole the therole role of 01 grim Intrepid commander and in that of humorous and understanding un- un friend