Show f Historic Relic R of Old DId Navy Navy w l y r ri r j i 1 t it r t t. t f ft i- i i 7 tt S iS i. i t. t r- r i 11 o P Yo r y J J r fi J w i a H. j 4 V g t t AF VI 1 l' l x l'- l' J VALLEJO Cal The CaL The moving of theold the theold I old Independence from the spot where it had b been en anchored for the tho last twenty years marks the last cruise that this grand old warrior will ever make mak Having lIa been lying too close to the entrance to the new dry Iry dock that is isn n nc paring completion tho the war vessel was moved in iii order that it should not interfere in with ships that will be docked in in the near future i The Independence is tho the oldest American Amer ican war vessel preserving preserving its ori original l timbers and md tho the last Jast of the battleships of the line that sailed the seas almost a century ago ngo The name Independence Was was wu first borne born by a 3 sloop belonging belon ing t to td the colonial navy This vessel was destroyed in the Delaware in 1777 to prevent nt its capture by the British Keel Kc 1 Laid in 1813 ISla The Th present Independence was tho the oi oZ the gun four gun battleships battleships battle ships built for service against the fleets of Great Britain in the second war with that country Its keel was wasl l laid id in the tho year 1812 and it vas was launched in 1814 In January of tho the following year it sailed on its maiden cruise for the Mediterranean sea bearing bear bear- in ing the flag of Commodore Bainbridge e. e The Independence sailed in company frigates United St States and aud Congress the tho sloop of war Erie Eric the brigs briJs Boxer Boxer Firefly Sara Sara- Saranac GIbraltar Gibraltar Gi GI- GI DEC nae and arid several smaller craft At was found the squadron of Commodore Decatur consisting of the fri frigates ates es Guerriere Macedonian and Constellation C tion Th The joining of these two squadrons the tho first formidable fleet ever eyer gathered in iri foreign waters by the United States and coming comin so BO soon after hostilities with England was a subject of considerable consid consid- erable- erable cha chagrin in to the British officers Tho latter had circulated the report that th t the Americans were not able nub aHI to build ships of the tho line ine and the lordly proportions of the Independence were sufficient contradiction V War r had been declared against Algeria Algeria Al Al- geria and the Independence took part with the other vessels of the American i navy in block blockading dip the tho ports of ot that power and bringing br the war to a a. successful suc sue close The only ve vessels sels left of ot this great fl fleet ct are th thi tM Independence and Constellation Con Con- which is being used as a recruiting ie- ie ship s ip at Newport R. R I. I I I I I p 1 I I 1 S I S I I I I II I I Ii i JOHN B MILION LIO j cw J TH 4 Upon the return o of the Independence from foreign waters it acted as guard guard- ship to Boston harbor until 1819 In 1836 it was was reduced from three decks to two carrying four fifty guns and sailed for Europe as the flagship of with George Geor oDal Dal las Ins who was waR the minister to Russia from fh tho Unit United d States on nn board On this trip iff all records for or speed were broken between New York and Cron Cron- stadt In 18 with Commodore Shubrick in command the Independence sailed for the Pacific coast and after spending spend I in jug ing three years in Pacific waters and and participating in the capture of Guaymas and the warship returned to tho the Atlantic co coast st and later sailed forthe for forthe forthe the Mediterranean as tho the flagship ship of the United States squadron In 1854 the Independence was refitted refitted re- re fitted in the tho New York navy yard hud nd again sent to the tho Pacific coast for the thelast thelast thelast last time and andas was as made to San Sait Francisco bay lying off otT Third street In 1858 the Independence was converted into referring a a- rt e jn ship for the United States navy at Marc Mare island The present commander of this relic of what warships were a hundred years ago is Captain John D. D Milton who sailed the seas for four forty years and bears the reputation of being the most popular officer that has ever been stationed stationed stationed sta sta- on the the- theold old warrior |