The Arkansas banner., 1843-10-28
MISC ELAN EOuS.
THE WASP AND FROLIC.

& 1911, Captain Jones was transferred by Secretary of the Navy, to the command 5he sloop of war the Wasp, mounting teen twenty-four pound earronades; and despatched, in the spring of 1912, with Dnuncations from our Government to its Etonaries at the Courts of St. Cloud and James. Before he returned from this bge, war had been declared by the United Rs against Great Britain. Captain Jones Jed his ship, with all possible despatch, repaired to sea on a cruise, in which he with no other luck than the capture of considerable prize.
 e sailed from the port of Philadelphia, on 18th of October, 1912, with gallant set Ffeers, and high-spirited and confident On the 18th of the same month, the ! p encountered a heavy gale, during which lost her jib-boom, and two valuable sea- On the following night, being bright bnlight, a seaman on the lookout, disco d five strange sail, steering eastWard.- if Wasp hauled to the windward, and kely watched the movements of these ves- lk until daylight next morning, being the ] when 1t was found that they were six e merchant vessels, under convoy of |, p of war. The former were well man. two of them mounting sixteen guns each withstanding the apparent disparity of ! P Captain Jones determined to hazard an K; and as the weather was boisterous, the swell of the sea unusually high, he Fed down the topgallant yards, closely Id the topsails, and prepared for action convoy sailed ahead, and lay to five or nlies distant, while the sloop of war, Spanish colors flying, remained under sail; the Wasp coming down to wind on her larboard side, within pistol shot, hyng the American ensign and pennant
 the enemy's being hailed, he hauled
 the Spanish flag, hoisted the British en- and opened broadside of cannon and fety. The fire was promptly returned le Wasp-the vessels gradually neared other, and each maintained the combat great animation--the English vessel
 with the most rapidity, but, as the re- proved, with no great precision. In minutes after the commencement of the n, the maintop-mast of the Wasp was away, and falling on the topsail yard, s the larboard fore and foretopsail s, caused the head yards to be unma- Rble during the continuance of the ac-
 In two or three minutes more, the and mizen topsail were shot away
 vessel continued in the position in h the action commenced, and maintained se and spirited fire. Capt. Jones direct ls officers not to fire except when the
 rolled downwards, so that the shot either poured on the enemy's deck, or It; while the English fired as soon as had loaded, without regard to the posi- pf their vessel, and thus their balls were
 thrown away, or passed through the ng. The Wasp now passed ahead of the y, raked her, and resumed her original lon. It was now obvious that the Wasp greatly the advantage in the combat, and aln Jones thought the contest might be ny decided by boarding, but hesitated, Z use the roughness of the sea might en- ef the safety of both vessels, if brought |lsact As, however, the braces and rig o' 'he Wasp were so injured by the shot enemy, that he was fearful his masts,
 unsupported, would go by the board, nat the enemy might escape, he, there determined at all hazards to board, and uecide the contest With this determi- ? he wore ship, and run athwart the
 DOW, so that the jib-boom came in seh m 1lle main and mizen rigging of the
 The enemy was in a position so in
 TOT a raklng broadside, that one was pay ordered. So closely in contact elie contendlng vessels, that, while load ias ;ds. ranmers ar m of the Wasp struck against 'ues ol 'ne opposing vessel, so that two
 guns ol the former entered through the ports of the latter, and swept the whole n of the deck.
 a''s luncture, a sprightly and gallant 'il' named Jack Lang, who had once impressed on board British man-of- jumped on gun with his cutlass, and a'ou' to leap on board the enemy, when a ii Jones ordered him back, wishing to 'aem ,ei closing broadside before board-
 HIS lmpetuosity, however, could not strained, and observing the ardor of the generally, Lieuts. Riddle and Booth gall N 'ea mem on, but to their great sur