Old Ironsides

ARMY & NAVY

A happy, happy man was U. S. Circuit Judge Curtis Dwight Wilbur one day last week as he stood on the dock of the Charlestown (Mass.) Navy Yard and watched the 134-year-old frigate Constitution go back into naval service for the fourth time. The occasion was a belated climax to his career as Secretary of the Navy (1924-29). Frankly a sentimentalist, one of his outstanding deeds in office was sponsoring the collection of thousands of pennies from thousands of school children to pay for the reconstruction of this black, chunky relic. Now he had crossed the country from California to participate in the ceremony of recommissioning, to make a speech linking the Constitution's record with international peace.

Built on President Washington's orders, the old frigate was first launched not far from where a naval battery of 21 guns boomed out a salute last week. Paul Revere supplied her original sheathing and brass work. Today there remains only 15% of the vessel that fought the Barbary pirates, defeated the Guerriere in 1812, earned the name of "Old Ironsides" from the way her planking withstood shot. When the Navy prepared to junk her in 1830, Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote his "Ay, Tear Her Tattered Ensign Down," caused her to be commissioned a second time in 1833. Her third reconstruction came in 1871.

Last week's fourth commissioning was spectacular. Naval officers in dress uniform brightened the crowd of 600 special guests on the pier. From the quarter-deck Rear Admiral Louis McCoy Nulton read official orders putting the Constitution into active service. The colors and jack were hoisted, the first watch set. Command of the vessel was turned over to Commander Louis J. Gulliver.

Next day Skipper Gulliver set out from Boston on his travels to exhibit the Constitution in 18 Atlantic ports this summer. Thousands watched in silence as the old frigate was towed away by the mine sweeper Grebe, her brand-new sails tightly furled. Her crew of 60 was too small to handle her under her own canvas (Captain Isaac Hull had 450 men when he beat the Guerriere). Her first port was Portsmouth, N. H. but at Gloucester she had to be towed in because of fog.

A great nautical pother has been stirred in the Press because Old Ironsides was not sailed. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Ernest Lee Jahncke made trouble for himself by publicly doubting whether the present-day Navy could muster a crew capable of handling a square-rigger. Old sailors' homes fairly thundered with indignant denials. Mr. Jahncke later explained that the Constitution had an exhibition schedule to keep, could not risk delays under canvas. He proposed that she be turned over later to Annapolis midship men for training purposes.

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