Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-28
FOREIGN.
GREAT FIRE HAVANA,

g. XXI EsToN, req. i9-By The brig Miles
Standish, Capt Talbot, arrived Yesterday from
Havana. in the short passage offs days we receiy-
| Ell the Didri0 de la HdJdna, TO the 18Th and :,
Price Current of the 9th inst
we learn from Capt. Talbot, that on the IN in
slant, large fire occurred at Havaua, outside of
| the gates, which consumed about COO houses: if
was stated that IL lives were lost
On sunday, the 10th, heavy cannona,!inr was
heard oil Havana, and Spanish frigate sailed inn
iaediately, with but part other sails bent On the
18TH INST. outside OF the harbor, Captain T. passed
the same trigate bound in, with disnasted b-i@
In tow-shortly afterwards, passed several snars
with the rigging attached 10 them
The Havana Market continued very dull; prices
DESPERATE NAVAL BATTLE. co.
fe0Tud'Y l9.-By the schooner Lilly, CAPTAIN
Sawyer, arrived this day, from Key West, we
iearn mat the disnastled Brig, in tow of Spanish
irigate, going into Havana, ON the 18th instant.
seen BY Captain Talbot of the Miles Sfdndisi and
whicn we announced this morning was the Mex-
icah brigoi War Guerrero, late David IL Porter
from Capt Sawyer, and letters we have seen
from Key West, VIC gather the following partucu-
lars. tN
pn the 18th instant, information was received If
! hey west from Havana, that the Guerrero had
on che 9th, fallen i'll with and captured, after
short engagement, two Spanisl, Guinea,nan Brios
when she manned. On Sunday the 10th she
lei IN with two Spanish man of war Brios tbe
Marie and Maria ATnalia, Of IS guns and $50
men, the other Of 10 guns and 1870 men both of
"hicb she beat; they succeeded, however, in
making their escape into Mariel. The Guerrero
mounted y guns, and had a crew of 1876 mon In
inns engagement, she suffered much in her spars
ana rigging, and Il supposed tlie Spanish, loss
was very heavy The firing in this action, was
heard In Havana, when the Frigate Lealtad, of "a
guns and 500 Iuen, Immediately put TO sea. She
is said TO be remarkable fast sai!er and the Brir
being III very crippled state was soon oyertaI,e6
oy !ne ,rtigSte, when desperate fight ensued,
winch lasted two hours and twenty minutes one
hour and quarter Of which time, the two vessels
were within speaking distance. During the en-
sageiheht, the c0!ors oil the Guerrero were twice
shot away and replaced. The two previous en-
gaGeinents and this long and close fight, exhaust
ed the whole OF the powder and shot of the q
when, as consequence, she ceased firing and be-
ing SO crippled in Spars and rigging Capt Porter
determined to strike his colors The Frigate sun
posing they were again shot away, continued her
hire, and it after the Brig. had surrendered
Capt Porter was killed, by grape shot noss;no-
through his body f'o
Thus fell Capt David H. Porter, after as GALLANT
battle as history records. Such conduct deserv
ca better late We cannot avoid feeling pride
oil countryn recording gallant an exploit perform
Ell by an American, although he was engaged il,
foreign service, at war with a nation with whom
we are at peace.
We learn that the Guerrero lost 10 men killed
the number OF wounded not known The loss of
thc Spaniard IS said TO be near 200 men, and the
fngate very much cut in her hull and rieginor
Captain d: II. Porter was the nephew ofthe' Com
niodore. The latter had son on board the Guer
rerO
Lieut.. Thompson, Surgeon Foreman. and voune
Porter son OF the Commodore, were put on board
a guard ship at Havana.
public funeral was preparing at Havana. for
caPi D. II Porter. AT Key West, the Herman.
MeSican brig fired minute guns sc.
letter from Key West states, ssfbe Herroan -
now in port, and is determined to give the Casill9
Frlgate trial. She was in sight Yesterday. Cant
Hawkins IS gallant ofIicer-and does not vbnt
i9r men. Should thay take US, it will not be for
the want of ammunition"
Lilly left Key West. '''