The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-17 00:00:00

The Sea Fight near Heligoland,

The subjoined description of this naval action,
written by an officer of the Preussischer Adler, will
be found to be a more detailed narrative of the
event than has hitherto appeared It appears that
on the 6th instant the allied squadron was on the
look-out for the Danes, and having heard that they
were still before the Elbe, sail was mad© in that
direction. The Schwarzenberg got aground on this
day, and remained firm for a short time. About 4
a.m. on Saturday, the 7th inst., a large vessel was
seen steering for the north. The stranger was
chased by the squadron, all the vessels comprising
which were distanced by the Schwarzenberg, with
which none could keep up, although flames issued
from the chimney of the Adler, owing to the great
heat of the furnaces. The vessel was made out to be
the Aurora, sent out by the English Government to
maintain the neutrality of the water around Heli-
goland ; and about eleven o'clock the allies re-
turned in order of battle to their former cruising
ground. On Sunday the Prussian gunboats Blitz
and Basilisk were sent towards the Elbe and Weser
to gain information of the movements of the Danes,
and the Preussischer Adler was sent towards Heli-
goland with the same mission, while the frigates
sailed seawards with their fires banked up, and
their screws lifted. No news could be learned
from the island, although the governor was very
kind, and, hearing that the squadron was not over
well found in provisions, he sent a joint of roast
meat to the commander. In the afternoon the
vessels steered towards the Elbe, and in the evening
anchored inside the lightship, in order to wait fcr
the morning's tide on which to proceed to Cux-
haven. The proceedings of the eventful day,
Monday last, are thus described :

" Wind east, but nearly a calm ; weather fine, but
not so cold as on the preceding day. At 9.15 a,m.
we proceeded under steam, and had already neared
the innermost lightship, near Cuxhaven, when at
10.45 the admiral made signal to follow his move-
ments. A boat bearing the Austrian flag and a
small steamer from Cuxhaven had been alongside
his vessel for some time. It appeared that news had
been received, for we turned about and steered sea-
wards. As it was anticipated that the Danes
would soon be met with the necessary pre-
liminary preparations were made, and at 12,45,
when the outer lightship of the Elbe had been
passed, it was announced that three frigates, appa-
Were in sight to the eastward of
rently Danish,
Heligoland. These vessels were then apparently
about 15 miles distant—so far off, indeed, that their
hulls were not visible, nor could their flags be made
out. Another frigate, which lay under Heligoland,
in a north-westerly direction, caused some anxiety,
as it could not be made out whether she was the
Aurora or a Danish vessel. About one o'clock the
drums beat to quarters, when we steered northwards
in line of battle, following this order—Schwarren-
berg, Radetzky, Adler, Basilisk, Blitz. The Danes
now approached us, steering southwards. As both
lines neared, and when the first Danish vessel was
about 2,000 yards distant, the Schwarzenberg fired
the first shot, which was quickly replied to by the
Danes, and a general cannonade began. This was
about two o'clock. In a moment nothing was to be
seen butflashes and smoke, and the fire of the bombs
crashing in the air, while the pieces struck near
the vessels and ploughed up the water all around.
After about an hour and a half the Danish vessels
steered a more westerly course, and thus obtained
the mastery over the Elbe ; then steered northward,
and we to the south, so that both squadrons
were eventually in the same line as at the com•
menzement of the action, but in reversed order,
The Schwarzenberg and Radetzky then approached
600 yards nearer to the Danish vessels, a move-
ment which might have been very critical, con-
sidering the brief time during which the crew had
been in training. About 2.45 the fore/east of the
Schwarzenberg was suddenly seen to be in flames.
The fire first broke out at the end of the fore-top-
sail, and soon the whole of the rigging of the fore-
mast was in flames, while smoke curled upwards
from the fore-deck. It was clear that we had got
into a terrible position. The Schwarzenberg now
steamed to leeward in order to keep the smoke and
flames to the fore-part of the vessel, and it possible
to save the ship. The red glare which was visible
in various parts,:and spread more and more, offered
a fearful but briiliant sight even in the clear and
golden sunlight, and there was no cessation to the
cannonade. The rest of the squadron soon followed
in the direction of the Heligoland ; and about four
o'clock, the fight having lasted two hours, the last
shot was fired, and all was still as death. Some
minutes afterwards the entire of the burning Pre.
top fell, and inflicted terrible injuries on t'4o crew.
About 5.15 we lay at anchor behind
Dune, and
to the eastward. The Schwa-.
Lemberg was now
obliged to steam about, and
as to keep the wind on ratveays so to manoeuvre
+:ee side or at the stern. All
the boats were Ben% towards her with pumps and
r...rgeons repaired on board of her and
hose, and our s
the Radetzl.q to render help, and they afterwards
gave uP, a terrible description of the scene they wit-
neF,ded on board. The lower part of the Schwar-
zenburg's mast burned till ten at night, as on ac-
count of the great height the fire could not be ex-

tinguished, and it was only at this time that they
succeeded in cutting it away and getting it over-
board. Early in the morning the entire squadron
was again under steam, and at half-past four we
came to anchor at Cuxhaven. The Schwarzenberg
looks more like a wreck than anything else,
for her bowsprit and rigging hang and float around
her. She has 31 killed, 44 badly wounded, and
about 50 slightly. The RAdetzky has five killed,
eight badly wounded, and some with less serious in-
juries. We have no losses, which is to be ac-
counted for chiefly by the fact that the Danes kept
up a well-directed concentrated fire fore and aft on
the Austrians, and it was only as they steered north-
wards that we, with the gunboats, received their
entire broadside. The gunboats had the luck to
manceuvre in a calm sea. They behaved very well,
and made good practice with their rifled guns."
Great numbers of R oun de d were subsequently
conveyed to Altcna in the Adler.

On the 14th instant 150 Austrian seamen passed
through Prussia from Vienna on their way to rein-
force the crews of the Schwarzenberg and Radotzky,

CORNWALL, May 13.—Two or three rather itn,.
portant Whitsun cattle fairs have been held in the
county during the week, and censiderable business has been
transacted. At Bodmin, on Wednesday, the second and
principal day of the fair, there was a. good supply of cattle
of all descriptions, and nearly all the animals changed
owners. Fat cattle averaged from 60s to 63s per cwt ; store
cattle, 40a to 425; cows and calves, 555; steers, £lO to £l6
each ; oxen, £3O to £3l per pair. Callington Fair on Thurs-
day was not largely supplied, but the quality of nearly all
stock was good, and prices ranged as at Bc,drain on the
previous day. The pastures in Cornwall are in capital
condition.

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