The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-09-06
Vol. III.

tago mist. A favorable moment had now arrived.
'Putyou helm down!' shouted Bakey from
the quarterback.
| In moment the broadside of his vessel began
to show its teeth TO the enemy, and soon the stran-
ger received his former double shotted salute with
interest
Haul up the mainsail!' Numbered the deck
trumpet.
| The order had hardly died away, before the
heavy sail hung in festoons upon the main yard
The fire of the Wasp now became dreadful-every
shot told; and feeling that any risk was safer than
the one he was then running, the Captain of the
British cruizer, at forty minutes past three, ran
the Wasp aboard on the starboard quarter, his lar
board coming foul The English commander now
uttered the magic command Boarders awayr
and placing himself at the head of his crew, endea-
vored to carry the deck of his antagonist. Three
times in succession the attempt was made, and
three times the Americans drove the assailants
back with great slaughter. At the third rush, the
gallant captain of the enemy fell from the Wasp's
mizen rigging, while in the act of hourishing his
sword-two bullets had pierced his brain, and he
was dead ere he touched the deck. At forty -four
minutes past three, Captain Bakely gave the order
to board 10 turn. The American seamen now star
ted en- maSse-bounding over the hammock net
tings of the enemy like living torrent; and in
minute, amid the cashing of cutlasses, the sharp
reports of boardng-pistols, the groans of the dy-
ing and the yes of the wounded, were master of
the foe. AS the sword of the dying Manners was
laid upon the capstan, the flag of Britain dropt
suddenly upon the bloody deck of the Reindeer;
and ere the spectator could mark the movement,
the banner of freedom Aoated triumphantly in its
place,
The Reindeer was an Is gun sloop of war, and
had complement of l18 souls She had 25 killed
and AZ wounded, while the Wasphad but killed
and % wounded.
After burning his shattered prize, the victorious
Blakely shaped his course for L'Orient, where he
arrived on the slh of July, with his ensign waving
above the tattered flag of England, and his vessels
crowded with prisoners of war.
On the eth of August, having undergone a
thorough repair the Wasp dropped down to the
outer anchorage, and departed from the shores of
France Having made few prizes, she stood fur
ther out to sea, and the morning Of the first OF
September, found herself in the midst of fleet OF
merchantmen, under convoy of the Armada seven
ty-lour.
With his accustomed skill and gaantry, Capt
Blakely now beat to quarters, and dashed in amid
the unsuspecting fleet. A vessel loaded with guns
and military stores was soon captured, while the
boarding officer was busily engaged with another,
the seventy-four came down upon the wind and
stopped the havoc with her heavy thunder.
Evening now crept in long and dusky shadows
along the silent waters, and the lookout man from
his airy height watched with eager eyes the hori-
zon around. The cry of Sail onnow reused the
officers from their evening meal. Busy feet ech-
oed along the cleared decks, and the shot rack re-
ceived further supply ofiron messengers of death,
while the active powder-boy stood with spare
cartridge in his eathern passing box beside his gun.
-Four sails now hove in sight, but the nearest one
seeming most like a nan-of war, and the Wasp ran
down to ospeak to her,
Attwenty minutes past nine the chase was on
her lee bow within hail. A heavy eighteen now
hurled its deat-dealing shot into the enemy's br-
de-port, and swept his deck fore and aft. The
shot was promptly returned by the chase; when
Blakey passed under his lee fearful lest he might
escape, the wind blowing high and the Wasp going
ten knots. Having reached the desired position
the gallant little Wasp poured in broadside which
ratified the enemy's spars and rigging about his
ears, and convinced him of the true character of
the stranger. 1t was now nine O'Clock at night
Darkness rested upon the ocean, save when ilumi-
ned by the bright flashes of musquetry; and the
heavy roar of cannon died away amid the din of
the swelling waves Furious was the fire of the
Wasp, and warm was the return made by the ene-
my. Itwas almost impossible to tell the officers
from the men amid the smoke and darkness of the
hour; and the seamen slipped upon the bloody
decks as they ran out the long eighteens. The
wind howled mournfully through the rigging-the
vessel plunged heavily along the agltated deep. As
they came upon the top Of corresponding waves,
the practised gunners fired, and when they rose
again beheld the damage they had done.
For one hour this terrible conflict was kept up
with unmitigated ferceness. AT ten the enemy's
fire ceased, and Captain Blakely, leaning over the
quarter, hailed them in a voice louder than the
roaring ocean, Have you surrendered!' No hu-
man voice replied-but few long eighteens thun-
dered back the emphatic No! A fresh broadside
was now poured into the enemy, and as the fire
was not returned, Blakely hailed second tine
Have you struckp A faint Aye aye, now came
over the waters, and boat was at once lowered to
take possession ofthe prize. As the cutter touch
ed the wave, the lookout man cried Sail o close
aboardp The smoke having blown away, another
vessel was seen nearing the Wasp. The cutter
was therefore run up to davits, and the crew sent
to theirguns
The Wasp was soon in readiness to receive the
second antagonist; but two more sails heaying IN
sight astern, the conquerer was forced to leave his
shattered prize. Thehelm Of the Wasp was, there
fore, put up, and the ship ran of free in order I'd