Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-29


Iva at q blow" lBuRNs.
The glories of beautiful oriental sunset
were falling over the wide Ganges, aud lending
softer tint to the dark foliage of the junses along
its shores. -tcuching here and there the dim tow.
er Of some heather temple with finger OF gold:
and, above, painting the sky with coloring
richer than that of the golden heaven of Mahom-
ct. The British fleet as it lay with its dark bat
teries frowins upon ike walls of Mayapore, aud
still reel king with the smoke of its artillery, was
motioness as the CLASSY surface upon which it
rested, each mast and spar casting its distinct
and tdpering shadow far away to the eastward.
Give" SAIL Admiral Watson, as he with
drew the glass trcm his eyes, through which he
had been surveying the fortress and battered
walls of Mayapore, these blacks scoundrels
are still busy and numerous. Our artillery has
shaken their walls somewhat, but so long as they
receive M considerable, 'orporeal injury. they
viii hold out against ia. And seq they are swarm
i'm like bees upon y0udrr emlnence."
Aud we are likely tofeel their stings." said
Colonel Give, as a shower Of musket balls
swept past them. aud four of the ships company
ie at their feet. What shall be done, Admi
rail-
Before reply could be made, sailor by the
name If Strahan, staggered forward and con-
fron,rd the officers.
why, Colonel, I'll you what's to be done.
Take a dozen on US, and board 'em. Dbl my
ewes i couldn't do it myself "
In ordinary cases such an address from com
mon sailor would have been replied to by round
dozen of iashcs from boatswain's mate; but the
the oddity of the pruposal-the queer took and
tone Of the drunken seamen, forced smile Ip0n
the weather-beaten severity Of the hdmrafs
coupteoance, as he ordered the fellow back to his
post
Whether the Admiral took the lint from the
sailors advice. or otherwise, we know not; but
he &C tuai!y ordered preparations to be made Tor
stormng the encmy's works Col. Give. at the
head Of some hundred soldiers. landed below
the town under cover Of thu darkness, with or
ders to remain quiet until day break, and then
make vigorous attack upon the fortress
About ten O'Clock that evening, solitary fig,
ure, in the garb of British tar. the circun-
.rya;ions OF whose motion, gave evidence that ar
rack punch had by no means improved the a"k-
ardness Of his sea lugs-was seen working ms
way towards the enemy's fnrtlhcauons. veerlnS
now to the right aud then to the left, like boat
rowing against shifting winds and eddies. IL
was none other than Strahan himself. evidently
TOO much elated by the influence OF gros to rea-
son cooly upon any thing. lusensible OF fear,
but with no definite purpose IN his mnd, he stag
gered EDWARDS unit, he found himself directly
under the walls Of Bousee Fort: strong fortih-
cation. defending the Mayapore. Strahan. after
vainIy endeavoring to press onward, ard Their eby
bringing his head several times IN rough conta ct
With the wall. looked upward, and began to real.
ze his situation. The all at this point had been
great, expossd TO the cannon Of the British fleet
and hue breach had been land open just before
the ,pot where Snahan standing. partially
revealed bv the lamps and torches which flashed
a wild light from the interior of the fortress The
drunken sailor looked at il with as much coo-
ness as his inebriation would admit OF. Burns
says somewhere in his O'Shanter:
"wi' twopenny fear no evil.
"Wi'u >qurtsugh We fec, the devil :"
and the conduct of Strahan certainly verified his
assertion. BestOwing hearty curse upon his
Admiral for landlubbcr aud coward, he clam
bered up the breach and mounted upm the bas-
ton. Several dark-,isasrd in6dels. rendered
,i,i more hi,lsous BY the yrime Of gunpowdrr,
who were sitting quietly upon the platform,
sprans upon their feet at tie startling appartion
OF Strahan. Dischargins MS PTS tol al the near.
est OF his enemies, who rolled back With a fatal
woand upon the platform, the sailor Anurished his
cu,Iass, aud shouted In a tone which thrilled Nay
apore. aud reached even the campof his com
rades:
..Hurrah! The place is mine"
The startled garrison returned the shout and
srrany cuntusedy to arms. Strahan gave three
cheers. and put himself upon the defensive At
that instant half dozen OF Strahan'S shipmates,
who had also s,rayed from the camp. hearing the
outcry, and reco snizing the voice oi one OF their
sellows,Eprang upon the breach. and repes'ed the
cheering hurra. The whole BRUSH camp was by
| this time in motion,-the orders Of Col. Give
were disresarded-al discipline was forgotten,
and officers and men rushed promiscuously to the
attack the scaled the breach-and bayonet
and rutlass did bloody work among the inidels
Of. the garrison 10 ten minutes all was over
and British salute from the guns Of Bougee
Fort, told the astonished Admiral that Mayapore
was his own.
The next morning, Strahan. the hero Of the af-
fair, was brought before Admiral Watson. The
admiral was stern, dark yisaged man, Sc