The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-05-18
MAY 18, 1926

tHe Sd'Hc way, HeSc IaRbotS anu OuntlleS
filled the deck, and communicated with
trough of fine gunpowder which extended
along under the deck, from the hold into the
cabin, and into this was inserted match,
that might be fred by person in the cabin,
that would have time to escape through
door cut in the side of the vessel into a whale |
boat that was lashed to the 'quarter" of the
sloop. Besides these combustibles, there
were in each vessel 10 or 13 barrels of pitch,
and very great number of yards of canvass,
cut in strips about foot in width, covering
the yards and rigging, and extended down to
the decks, all of which had been dipped in
spirits of turpentine. Every thing had been
so prepared that a moment was sufficient tu
put the whole into full blaze.
The fire ships started frCm the creek a.
bout dark, with Saith wind and favorable
tide. The night was cloudy and dark, with
occasionally little rain.-Bass had nine
men attached to his vessel, of whom he
stationed in the whale boat. one acted as
pilot, while he stationed himself with a
match in the cabin to fire the materials.
Besides the two British frigates. there
were bomb ketch and two tenders in COM
pany, and moored near them. They were
anchored in line about north and south;
| first the Phenix of a. guns; next the Rose of
| 81 guns; then the bomb ketch, and above
that lay the tenders. AS the night was dark,
and the fire ships kept near the middle of
the river, they were not aware that they
were near the British vessels, until they
heard Immediately on their left, the bells of
| the vessels, and the cry of tails well" from
their several decks. 1t was at II o'clock, and
| little did those who were slumbering there
| imagine the destruction that hung over them.
4. Il 1.
masts, so that the Americans did not per-
ceive till that sound, how near they had APP
I.proached, nor could they distinguish the sit
uaton of the vessels enough to ascertain
their size, or which Of them were the fri
gates.
Bass was considerable distance in ad
vance of Thomas, and on hearing the cry
Of the sentinels. Immediately bore down upon
the line of the British feet. He was already
very near the bomb ketch before he was dis
covered bv the enemy, who Immediately be-
gan a severe cannonade upon his vessel,
which damaged her rigging and mast, and
some Of the shot entered the hull. But he
was now under so rapid "head-way" that
he had no opportunity. even if he had been
inclined, to have rctreated. As soon As he
saw himself near enough to the vessel to-
wards which he was steering, to be sure that
she could not escape. he gave orders for his
men to take to the boat, and touching the
match, he leaped into the whale boat and
''cast off" from his ship. Her direction had
been too sure. The graphing irons upon
the howsprit, wards, Scc, became interlocked
with the rigging Of the bomb ketch, and
they we're both almostimmediatelv in blaze.
The panic-struck crew of the kctch were
seen poaring from the quarters of that ship
in the utmost agony of CONSERVATION The
fire of the burning vessels lighted up the
surrounding scenery with horrid glare OF
splentour. The first one that reached the
deck of the ketch from the cabin, was her
commander, who was struck dead by fall
ing spar. He was followed by two women,
and one or more children, whose cries were
heard amidst the dim Of battle that now rag
ed, and the imprecations of the crew, many
of whom threw themselves overheard and
perished, while those who remained on
board, retreated to the point most distant
from the flames, but soon sunk down into
them, bewildered and exhausted. Capt.
Thomas had not been so fortunate, he was SO
far in the rear that the light of the flames
from Bass's ship showed his position to the
enemy, and partially prepared them to meet
his attack. Not, however. daunted by being
discovered, he Immediately bore down upon
the Phenix, and became grappled with her.
He then applied his match to his combustl-
bles, but in such a way that he became en-
tangled in his own fire, and was obliged to
lean overheard to escape from the flames,
but not being able to preach the boat he per-
ished in the river. He also lost five men,
:; while Bass escaped without the loss of one.
Although on fire in several places, the Phe-
nix escaped from destruction. by cutting her
rigging and slipping her cables, with the loss
Of but few lives. Of the crew of the ketch,
few escaped. Nearly seventy men, besides
some women and children, we're the victims
of this merciless attack. We can scarcely
conceive a scene more terrible than the one
we have attempted to describe, or one SO cal
culated to awaken fear in the hearts of those
engaged in it, The hour of the night. the
uncertainty of success, the almost certainty
of destruction, would be enough to awaken
n panic in the stoutcst heart; while the aw-
ful destruction that awaited the victims OF
success would stagger the resolution OF the
bravest: The darkness of the hour, the
uncarthly light that cleaned upon the wild
scenery around, the roar of artillery, and
the groans of those pershng i'll tortures' at
which humanity shudders, must have made
it a scene unrivalled in subimity and terror.
Yet the feelings Of that day were OF KIND
to delight in such an exhibition of vengeance
upon the foes to our country. 1t was
| x,,l,;ch hundreds and we NAV