Maritime record MWX4772 - Constitution

USA's preserved capital warship (at Boston, Mass.) stranded beneath Ballard Point on 17 January 1879, but was safely hauled off by a flotilla of three powerful tugs.

The USS CONSTITUTION was returning home with a cargo of exhibits from the Paris Exhibition of 1878, when she was blown onto Ballard Point by a north-easterly gale. The frigate was saved by a calming in the weather and was hauled off by three tugs - COMMODORE, ALEXANDER and MALTA (1)

<1> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, no 34 in strandings database (Digital archive). SWX8707.

<2> Cumming, E, The Dorset shipwreck and maritime incident directory, 23/24 (Monograph). SDO16406.

'Edinburgh Evening News, Saturday, 18/1/1879 – “The American frigate Constitution went ashore early yesterday morning at Bollard Point, near Old Harry Rock, off Swanage. Minute guns were fired, and telegrams asking for assistance were dispatched to Poole, Portsmouth and Weymouth. Several tugs arrived, and by their combined efforts the frigate was got off the sands, and was then towed to Portsmouth Harbour. The Constitution is a large ship, and had on board from 260 to 300 persons and goods from the Paris exhibition.” See also Western Daily Press, Saturday, 18/1/1879 which mentions ships that went to help; S.S. Telegraph (Poole), S.S. Lightning (Cowes), Steam Tug, Malta (Portsmouth), and Commodore (Weymouth)…’

Record last edited

Feb 24 2020 11:35AM