The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-07-29
BLOWING UP OF A SHIP OF THE
LINE

We have rarely seen more graphic sketch,
than the following account of the blowing up
of large Turkish ship of the line off Sco, by
Greek frc-ship under the command Of the
brave Canaris =
"Thc Turkish fleet was lying quietly and
unsuspectingly at anchor off Scio, on fine
night, in the month Of June the hour was
waxing very late the coffee-shop on board
had ceased to give out the chi5ocques and
cups; the Turks were reposing huddled to-
gether like sheep, on the decks; the Cap
tain Pacha had retired to his splendid cab
in, his officers had followed his example ;
no regular watch being ever kept on board
Turkish man of war. |, and few Greek
lads, still fingered on the upper deck, and,
for want of better amusement were watch
ing the progress of dark sail, which we
saw emerge from the Spalmadore Islands,
and bear down the channel in our direction.
She came silly on, approaching US nearer
and nearer, and we kept gazing at her,
without, however, experimenting any thing
until we saw another sail in sight and per-
ceived that the vessel we had first made
out was hauling up in such manner as
would soon bring her right alongside of our
lofty three decker. then ventuled to go
L
GERS. This gentleman cursed me for dis
turbing him and called me fool, and after
speaking disresDectfnlly of the mother that
bore ME, grumhled out that they must be
merchant vessels from Smyrna, turned on
his other side, and fell again to sleep. Still
the suspicious ship came on nearer and
nearer; | spoke to some of the men, who
replied much in the same manner as the
officer had done, wondering what had got
into my head, to be running about breaking
peoples rest at such a time of the night
What more could do?
"When | again assembled the quarter
deck, the vessel was close astern-within
hail. She was a large brig, AS black as
Satan, hut not soul could | see on board
except the man at the helm. OF my own
/ accord, cried out TO him TO hold off; or
he would be split TO pieces against us. No
answer was returned, but favored 10y a gen
tie breeze, on came the brig, silent and
somhrc as the grave. Whilst fixing my
eyes inteutly on these incomprehensibe
proceedings, saw the helmsman leave his
/ post, having secured his tiller hard-a- port
7 the next instant | heard a noise like that
made by the manning of oars-then | saw
"a boat drop astern from under the lee of the
| hrig-and ere | could again draw breath
the brig struck violently against our side,
to which (by means ! could not then con-
ceive,) she became at once attached like a
crab, or the many armed polypus. Before
one third of the slumberlng Turks were
aroused, before dozen OF them bad seized
their spikes and spars to detach their dan,
gerous neighbor-she exploded A dis
! charge-a tire-a shock, like the mighty
eruption of some vast volcano, roared from
her dark narrow bosom, and quickly she
was scattered in minute fragments, high in
the astonished but placid heavens, wide
over the sea, and among our decks and rig
ging, destroyed herself in the act of des-
troying, though we could see the hands
that had directed and impelled the move
ments of the dreadful engine, pulling fast
away in the boat. They might have taken
it more cooIly, fol- the Turks had other
matters TO think Of, than pursuing them
the flames were running like lightning
along our rigging, and had seized on sc
many parts at once, that the confused crew
knew not where to direct their attention.
THE Captain Pacha rushed upon decf
: like man who had heard the sound of the
last trumpet; he did not, however, lost
much time in heating his forehead and tear
, ing his beard he proceeded with grea
firmnoss Of mind to give judicions orders