The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-09
From Cooper'S NaUat History.
THE CHASE.
A THRILLING INCIDENT.

1
| In approaching nearer our own times the in
cdents of the late war with England, for the
| naval history of which more abundant materials
| exist, are narrated with great detail. Among
the earliest recorded by our author, is the
escape Of the Constitution, under commodore
| Isaac Hull, from flee of British ships in July,
1872. The story itself and the style of its mar
| rater, are both so spirited that we cannot deny
ourselves the satisfaction of laying it before our
| readers.
| Gas the day opened, three sails were discover
| ed on the starb0ard quarter of the Constitution
! all three more astsrn. This was the squadron
of Commodore Brooke, which had been g1adu-
ally closing in with the American frigate during
| the night, and was now just in gunshot. As the
ships slowly varied their position when the
mists We're entirely cleared away, the Constitu-
ton had two frigates on her lee quarter, and
ship ofthe line, two frigates, brig and schoon-
er astern. All the strangers had English colors
flying.
s'It now fell quite calm, and the Constitution
hoisted out her boats, and sent them ahead to
tow, and with a view to keep the ship out of the
reach of the enemy shot. At the same time,
she swept up one OF the Eaain deck guns to the
spar deck, and run it out aft, as stern chaser
getting long eighteen off the ferecastle, also
for similar purpose. Two more of the TWEEN
ty-fours below were run out of the cabin win
dows with the same object, though it was found
necessary to cut away some of the wood work
of the stern frame in order to make room.
E'By six o'clock the wind, which continued
very light and battling come out from the
northward of west, when the ships head was
got round to the southwark, and all the light
canvass that would draw was set. Soon after
the nearest frigate, the Shannon, opened with
her bow guns, and continued for about ten mi
nutes, but perceiving she could not reach the
Constitution, she ceased At half past six Capt
Hull sounded in twenty-six fathems, when find
ing that the enemy was likely to close, as he
was enabled to put the boats of two ships on one
and was also favored by little more air than
the Constitution, all the spare rope that could
be found and which was fit for the purpose, was
ed down into the cutters, bent on, and a
lge was run out, near half mile, and let 60
It a signal given the crew clapped on and walk
ed away with the ship. over-running and trip
ping the kedge, he came up with the end of
the line. While this was doing fresh lines and
another kedge, were carried ahead, and in this
manner, though out of sight of land the frigate
had glided away from her pursuers before they
discovered the manner in which it was DONE
1t was not long h0wcver, before the enemy re-
sorted to the same exped ent. At half past Sc
ven the Constitution had little air, when she
set her ensign and fired shot at the Shannon
the heaviest ship astern At eight it fell calm
again, and further recourse was had to the boats
and Hedges, the enemy's vessels having a light
air, and drawing ahead, towing, sweeping and
hedging. BY nine, the nearest frigate, the Shan
non, on which the English had put most of their
boats, were closing fast, and there was every
prospect notwithstanding the steadiness and ac-
tivity OF the CONSTITUTIONS people that the fri
gate Just mentioned would get near enough to
cripple her, when her capture by the rest of the
squadron would be inevitable At this trying
moment, the best spirit prevailed in the ship
Every thing was in order, and Capt. Hull was
not without hopes, even should he be forced into
action, of throwing the Shannon astern by his
fires, and of mantaing his distaneeifrom the other
vessels. 1t was known that the enemy could |
not tow very near, as 1T would be very easy to
sink his boats with the stern guns of TIE Const-
tuition, and not man in the latter vessel show
ed disposition to dependency Officers and men
relieved each other regularly at the duty, and
while the former threw themselves down on the
deck to catch short maps, the people slept at
their guns.
"This was one of the most critical moments
of the chase. The Shannon was last closing,
as has Just been stated, while the Gurriere was
about as near on the larboard quarter. An hour
promised to bring the struggle to an issue, when
suddenly at nine minutes past nine, light air
from the southwark struck the ship bringing her
to the windwars. The beautiful manner in
which this advantage was improved, excited add
miraton, even to the enemy. As the breeze was
seen coming, the ships sails were trimzed, and,
as soon as the ship was under command, she
was brought close up to the wind, on the lar
board tack; the boats were dropped in alongside
those that belonged to the davits were run up,
while the other We're just lifted clear of the wa
ter, by purchase on the spare spars, slowed OUT