THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610040295
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Olde Towne Journal
SOURCE: Alan Flanders
LENGTH: 107 lines
Because of the writings of a Norfolk ship carpenter, and the dedication and generosity of the Norfolk County Historical Society, America's most famous ship, the USS Constitution, is receiving acclaim during the 150th anniversary celebration of her voyage around the world.
On Sept. 26, 1846, the USS Constitution - ``Old Ironsides'' - made her way into Boston Harbor. Then only 49 years old, she had just finished the longest and most arduous voyage of her career.
Having left Gosport on April 12, 1844, Constitution's crew of approximately 450 officers and men had sailed 52,279 miles in 495 days at sea. When her complement finally was mustered to hear the well wishes of the captain, John ``Madjack'' Percival, one of her crew was particularly proud of the way the venerable ship performed.
Older than the rest, with a shock of gray hair and a long gray, drooping mustache, ship's carpenter Henry George Thomas of Norfolk would have stood out from the crowd anyway. But their arrival back in the United States must have been a particularly special one for him because it was his duty to maintain the entire structure of the 204-foot-long, 2,200-ton frigate from billet head to taffrail, literally from stem to stern, including the three masts above and the ship's holds to the keel below.
Because of his efforts, the nation's most beloved warship did indeed perform well, so Thomas had reason to be especially proud, but his face must have shown some pain. During the trip he injured himself and was diagnosed with a severe hernia. That day, standing on deck with the rest of the crew, he knew better than anyone that this would be his last voyage.
Stored among his belongings in his sea chest was a handwritten log and personal journal detailing the entire voyage from its beginnings on the Elizabeth River to its culmination in Boston Harbor.
About the size of a normal family album, Thomas must have spent most of his free time copying the deck log for longitude and latitude citations. Adding the weather and sea states, he also took time to give a full account of what happened to ship and crew, including their adventures in more than 30 foreign ports. Fortunately for naval historians, Thomas took care in describing their arrivals in ports that had either seldom or never been visited by a U.S. Navy warship. For a ship's carpenter, his prose is something to behold.
In part describing Saint Augustine Bay, Madagascar, which never before had been surveyed by a U.S. ship before Constitution's arrival, Thomas wrote in October, 1844 that ``the superficies of this island contain two hundred million acres of land, watered on all sides by streams and large rivers.
``The forests contain a prodigious variety of the most beautiful trees, such as palm ebony, etc. Dye woods, bamboo of enormous size, orange and lemon, timber fit for masts and constructing ships are no less common. There are doubtless few countries in the world where navigators can find in greater abundance, and at less expense, refreshments of every kind.''
In addition to describing the natural beauties of the landfalls they made, Thomas also took time to make political and military notes that must have proved valuable to the Navy Department during a period when the United States was just emerging as a global power.
Exploring the harbor of Mozambique, he wrote later in October 1844 that the harbor was protected by a Portuguese fort, which was ``capable of mounting 300 guns, and commands the harbor and coast of Africa.'' He added that ``immense quantities of slaves are said to be exported annually to Brazil from this island. They are brought from the interior of Africa and sold by their own countrymen to the traders in this inhuman traffic.''
Arriving at the island of Nos Bey, which today is marked as Nosy-be island and located on the extreme northwest coast of the Malagasy Republic, Thomas wrote in November 1844 that the Constitution was the first ``American man-of-war to have ever visited Nos Bey, and the natives were very curious.'' Noting that Nos Bey was still in possession of the French, he added that the French ``have built a fort upon it and stationed a garrison of soldiers from the Isle de Bourbon. Thomas closed this part by adding that ``the French were very un-cooperative in securing our supplies. ... We made record that it was very evident that the French are trying in all their power to take over the islands.''
Like any sailor, any time, there were special moments of homesickness, which were reflected by Thomas on Christmas Day 1844:
``There have been some special liberties extended to the men and prayers are quiet thoughts turned toward home and Gosport this special day. The carpentry shop has made a goodly assortment of ornaments to rig below. Captain Percival has given permission for a grog to be served the men with extra rations for the crew.'' But then on a more somber note he added, ``The joy and thoughts towards Virginia that this day was certain to bring are now overshadowed by a growing number of our sick.''
Whether it was chasing pirates off Sumatra, landing America's first military in Cochin China (Vietnam) to free a French bishop, exploring for the first time a southern island of Japan or engaging the Mexicans in war off California, Constitution's 1844-1846 voyage around the world as told by ship's carpenter Henry George Thomas is a 19th century masterpiece.
As luck would have it, Thomas's sea chest survived him well into the 20th century as his journal became the inherited possession of former Portsmouth florist Ruth Kevill Richards. Because of her interest in seeing her great-great-grandfather's writing preserved, she allowed it to be edited into a manuscript, which subsequently was published as ``Around the World in Old Ironsides'' by the historical society.
Just in time to mark the 150th anniversary of the voyage, Thomas' writings have become a centerpiece of the celebration. As for the original log/journal, it now rests in the Constitution museum in Boston for all visitors to see. Adjacent to the ship he loved, the Gosport ship carpenter's writings have at last come home from the sea.
For those interested in purchasing a copy of ``Around the World in Old Ironsides,'' contact the Norfolk County Historical Society, at the main branch of Chesapeake Public Library, Great Bridge (298 Cedar Road, phone: 436-8300). ILLUSTRATION: Photos
The USS Constitution will be lauded during the 150th anniversary
celebration of her 1846 voyage around the world. Henry George
Thomas, left, the ship's carpenter, recounts the voyage in his
journal. by CNB