The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-16
Domestic.
FROM THE PoRr FoLIo-of his month
AMERICAN CALAMITY.
INe flash ana Ibr E,oi5r

Ihe Wash ana Ihe Froisc
IKE Y. States sioop Of war the Wasp,
commanded by captain Jacob Jones was
crniztag III long. So w end TAT. $40 X. the
trace OF vessels passing from Bermuda 20
iahtaX, when, on Saturday, the i7th of
Octo2er, about eleven o'clock, in clear
moonlight evening, she found herself near
hve strange sail, steering eastward. As
some or them seemed to ne ships Of war, it
was thought better to get farther from them.
ne wasp, therefore, hauled her wind, and
having rea ched few miles TO w;ndwart
so as to escape or fight as the occasion Wight
require, followed the strange sail through
the night. At daybreak on Sunday morn
ihg' captain Jones found that they were SIX
large merchant ships. under convoy of a
sioop OF war, which proved to be the Froic,
captain Whinyates, from Honduras 10 Eng
&hc' with convoy, strongly armed and
manned, having all forty or fifty men, and
Two OF them mounting sixteen guns each.
he determined, however, to attack them,
* as there was heavy swell of The sea. &
inc weather boisterous, got down his top
s@"aht yardS, close-reefed the topsails, and
prepared for action. About eleven O'clock,
inc tne froiic showed Spanish colours and the
wasp, immediately, displayed the Ameri-
can ensign and pendant. At thirty two
minutes past eleven, the Wasp came down
20 wlndward, on her larboard side, with
In ABOUT sixty yards, and hailed The
enemy hauled down the Spanish colours,
noisted the British ensign, and opened a
hfe of cannon and musketry. This the
wasp instantly returned and, Coming
nearer TO the enemy, the action became
cicse, and without intermissinn. In four or
hVe minutes the maintopmast of the Wasp
was shot away, and, falling down with the
naintOpsail yard across the larboard fore
and foretopsail braces, rendered her head
yards unmanageable during the rest of the
action. In two or three minutes more her
sair ahd mazln-topgallant sail were shot
away. Still she continued a ciosg and con
ssant ere. The sea was so rough that the
imuzzies of ihe Wasp's guns were FREQUENT
~ IN tae water. The Americans, there
tore, fired as tie ship's side was going down.
so that their Shot went either or the enemies
deck or below it, while the English fred as
the vessel rose, and thus her balls chief
touched the rigging, or were thrown awav
ne Wasp now shot ahead Of the Fyolic.
rakcd her. and then resumed her position
ON her iarboard bow. Her Are was now OBJ
NolSiy attended with such success and thai
OF the ErolC 50 siackened, that caut. Jores
aid not wish TO board her, lest the rough-
ness on the sea might cndsnger DO n Ve,ssls.
out, IN The course of u few minutes more o
very brace CT the Wasp was shot away. and
her rigging So much torn to pieces, that he
was afraid that his nasts. being unsupDort
cd, you'd 90 by the board, and the rrolic bc
able toescapc lie thought, therefore. TIE
best chance Of securing her was 60 boqrd.
and decide the contest at one. With shis
we" he wore hip, and, running down upon
'he enemy, the vessels struck each other
.he Wasp's side rubbing aloag the Frolc's
bow So that her iibboom came in between
nc man and mizen rigsing Of tie Wasp
directly over th- heads of cabtain Jones an
the hrst lieutenant, Mr.. Biadle, WHO were
nc that moment standing together resr tie
cAps'&n. The FroliC lag S. fair fj. r..f;ul.
that thcy decided not C. board unt;i the,
had given closing broadsde. Whilst tbev
we're loading for this, 81 near were the
two vessels, that the rammers Of the Wasp
we've pushed against the Froic's sides. and
TWO oi her CONS went through The bow ports
o. the Froiic, and swept the whole Length OF
her deck " this moment, Jack L1nc.
"oh" LnDG IL q natiUe Of .Vc-g5r,11q
F"t6, az NraJi seq. ne mp0liyr. 7yt,h
great fIcasHTe, Tie name II fhi4 brove Inner.
ie0H a"ea"0n, as q frOoE, fhut coasHicnons
- guTrL rf.. Il . d.