Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-05-23
New series-No. lss

$3.50 "e'ShNhts thut ~ was their in
tent to run US down and pour in :
broadsidc. Studding sails, spankers
ana stay sails, were spreading in all
paris of her wide extending rigging.
ana IN few minutes every boom, mast
anu s'ay, was clothed in its respective
ROBE OF howfng canvass, yet for nearly
an nour' during which she had gained
faPiuiy upon us, we continued our
course without adding sail TO those with
which we had cleared the harbor. Our
commander, who had hitherto s,oo1
silently regarding the advancing yes.
sci, turned to the seamcn with the
usual premonitory command Of "si.
ience:' IN an instant, the murmured
hum which arose from the ships deck.
was hushcd and each ear sharpcncd
to catch the following order:--
clear away the long tom." J.
"Ay, sy, sir" shouted dozen Of
the seamen, and in few moments the
gun was prepared for discharging, and
the men stood awaiting his further or
ders; when she had approached so near
that her bob STAYS and land wards werc
seen distinctly relieved from the DARK
and massive hull, mon were observed
clambering the shrouds, crowdinp for
ward and stationing themselves in the
starboard chains, for tho purpose Of
viewing and admiring the saucy Yans
kee, who cvinccd no disposition to run
away or come to close quarters; still
she swept onward, and in few min.
utes the letters Of her name grew lepi-
bly, detached from the fore netting. and
the swelling notes of sRule BRITANNIA
rose upon our hearing; yet our CON-
mander stood motionlcss, attentively
surveying the noble Briton as she rap..
idly advanced, dashing proudly aside
the white spray that gathered around
her bow; not word was spoken ON
board of our ship, and cvery eve WINS
bent on the Englishman with absorbing
interest: 1t was the most exciting mo.
ment OF my life; | fairly held my breath
with the thrilling, indcscribable feeling
that was awakened in my mind.
"Stand by the weather braces,'.
shouted our commander: md the roneS
were disengaged from their respectiys
elects; again an interval Of silence sue.
ceeded as the captain again turned his
gaze on the ship in chase.
"Wear ships" shouted he at the ton
OF his voice, and the long yards Of our
vessel were swung around, until hcr,
bow veered gracefully to the wind
ward--thls manGuvre was scarcely
executed when volume Of smoke
issued from the bows Of tho ship in chase
and the loud report Of cannon rang
upon the breeze; in an instant every
eye was thrown aloft to discover IL
their fire had proved efectual, but all
above remained untouched; the ball
had passed US harmless by.
"keep her at that" exclaimed our
captain TO the man at The wheel. ma
our topsails were thrown back and the.
vessel lay motionless in the winds eve.
then glancing his eye along the gun.
he pointed It to suit his aim; the pn.
ming was fired--and the crack.of ouy
cannon reverberated on the ears with
its wonted stunning effect.
"Huzza!" shouted our seancn, a.
the mizen top of the Briton flew in
splInfors, and the top gallant and royal
mast fell over the stern, dragging a..
long with it the proud banner Of Eng.
land. For moment | stood recard
ing the famed vessel with a glow Of
delight which can be better imagined
than described; national pride, and the.
exciting thrill Of triumph, swept thro'
my veins, and / felt that could not
breath another than as an Americans.
| turned toward the commander: hF
still gazed at the vessel astern, while
his eye was lighted with fierce triJ
umph and his lips curled with a grim
though not unpleasant smile.
"Thus," said he, addressing me.
"shall Paul Jones ever do homage to-
the pemons Of British TYRANNY and OPP
preston" Then suffering the excite.
ment of hiscountenan e-so vanish, he
gave the loud command OF "fll away!"
our vessel then swung round on her
course, the sails we're again filled, and
again she bounded forward through
the or. en- waters of the Atlantic, stri.s
king up the well known air of "Yany
kee Doodle"
"Set the studding sails, and crowd
on all sail" exclaimed the commands
ant, the light booms were speedily run
ont from the extremity of the yards
and in few hours our antagonist and
those of the ships of the squadron were
lost in the rotundities of the ocean.
An expedition sailed about fortnight
since from New Orleans to Liberia, with
ahauf rna hundraa and E6u aunivFaUfS.