Frigate

The 1854 warship Constellation is set to go back in the water today, with food and festivities marking the end of 19 months in dry dock at Fort McHenry Shipyard.Sporting a tight new hull and a dapper new black, white and green paint job, the Civil War relic is expected to float off its blocks at 9: 15 a.m., three hours after pumps start moving Patapsco River water into the graving dock.It will float nearby while reconstruction is completed and will return to the Inner Harbor next summer."She is structurally sound.

TWO SHIPS CALLING:Two foreign visitors to the port -- one a modern navy ship and the other an elegant sailing ship -- will be open to visitors in the next week.The first one is a contemporary Brazilian naval-training vessel. The Brasil, a 430-foot frigate, will be open for free public tours from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. today, tomorrow and Sunday at the Inner Harbor's West Wall. The frigate is used to train Brazil's future naval officers, who receive instruction in navigation, armament, communication, operations and supply services.

WASHINGTON -- Attempts to collect potentially millions of dollars in damages for the deaths or injuries of U.S. seamen when a Navy frigate was hit by Iraqi missiles six years ago faltered in the Supreme Court yesterday, but lawyers vowed to try other legal moves.Without comment, the court turned aside an appeal to reopen a lawsuit that ended in lower courts after the Navy protested that military secrets might come out if the case went to trial.The frigate USS Stark, one of the Navy's most advanced combat vessels, had heavy crew losses when an Iraqi jet fighter fired two Exocet missiles while the Stark was patrolling in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987.

Anne Arundel: Annapolis Man may have been hit-and-run victim Annapolis police said yesterday that they are investigating a hit-and-run accident that may have led to the death of an Annapolis man. Stanley Watkins, 50, was walking eastbound on Bay Ridge Road about 8:30 p.m. Oct. 11 when he was struck by a car. At the scene, Watkins was able to tell police that a red or maroon sport utility vehicle or car hit him and kept going. Watkins was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center with injuries that weren't considered life-threatening, police said.

BOATS FOR SALEThe 41st annual Chesapeake Bay Boat Show will be harboring dreams and a whole lot of the latest hardware -- from six-figure luxury craft to little niceties -- at the Baltimore Convention Center starting tomorrow.A promotional gimmick sets the tone at 1 p.m. tomorrow -- promoter Henry Brehm will walk across the Inner Harbor in the vicinity of Harborplace, using flotation devices attached to his feet. The Convention Center's doors open at 11 a.m. tomorrow.Other attractions include a fully restored 1964 Amphicar, which can function as transportation on land or water.

John Rodgers, born near Havre de Grace to a family of prominent sailors, died on Aug. 1, 1838. He entered the U.S. Navy when it was organized in 1798. In 1811, Rodgers, in command of the President, was ordered to cruise off the U.S. coast to stop the impressment of American sailors by the British frigate Guerriere. He encountered a British ship, which he apparently took to be the Guerriere, and gave chase. Accounts of what happened vary, but a battle took place, and the British ship, the Little Belt, was defeated and cut to bits.

Constellation berths at Academy In 1879, The Sun reported that the USS Constellation arrived in Annapolis on Aug. 29 as a training ship for the U.S. Naval Academy. The 179-foot ship had been commissioned in 1855 to patrol the West African coast for slave trader ships. Now the Constellation was anchored in the Severn River and had a berth for Rear Adm. George B. Balch, the academy superintendent. He had sailed with the storied vessel for 10 days to examine its workings. Midshipmen learned the ropes on it until 1893.

150 years ago in The SunApril 1: Tippett's Centrifugal Steam Washing Machine -- The inventor of this ingenious piece of machinery yesterday drew up his carriage in front of our office and after getting the steam up commenced exhibiting the work of the apparatus to quite a large concourse of citizens. It looked as if clean clothes could be ground out of it with considerable rapidity.100 years ago in The SunApril 1: The rumor was spread yesterday that the committee having the selection in charge had decided upon the lot at the corner of Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue on one side and Maryland Avenue and Oliver Street on the other as a site for the new armory for the Fifth Regiment.

On Friday, September 17, 2004, CHARLES "GENE" KENNEDY, age 23, of Pequea, PA formerly of Glen Burnie, MD. He went to the Little League World Series in 1994 with the Maryland Orioles. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his friends; son of Debra L. Kennedy; brother of Christian T. Kennedy; grandson of Thomas Harry and Patricia A. Lilly Kennedy of Ocean Pines, MD; nephew of Michael P. Kennedy of Baltimore, MD. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the SHIVERY FUNERAL HOME, 111 Elizabeth St., Christina PA on Friday evening 7 to 8:30 P.M. On Saturday visitation will be held at Penn Hill Friends Meeting House, Rte 272, Peach Bottom, PA from 11 to 12 noon, immediately followed by Funeral Services.