The Southern journal., 1846-03-07
MONTICELLO, MISSISSIPPI, MARCH 7, 1916


conqueror know his vanqushed foe.
The Wasp was soon lost amidst the
darkness Of the night, while the Cas-
lillian, the vessel that came to the as
sstance Of the enemy, and the con-
sorts hovered around the wreck of the
prize, and endeavored to save the
crew.
As the morning watch was called,
the Avon gave a sudden roll to lee.
ward, then settling swiftly by the stern
she sank, with gurgling sound, while
her dead men foated in CHASTITY and
bloody forms upon the sea. With
heavy hearts the English cruisers
lowered their ensigns at half mast,
and left the ocean tomb of their sister.
firing minute guns to the memory Of
the brave.
Having repaired damages, which
were principally in spars and rigging,
the Wasp continued her cruise TO the
westward, and on the 18th Of Septem-
ber, fell in with and captured the
Three Brothers. After scuttling her,
she over-hauled and took the brig
Bacchus. This vessel she soon sent
to final resting place in cold water.
As she neared the Western Islands an
armed brig hove in sight. Crowding
on all sail, the gallant Blakely fired
ii shot across her bow, and received
her descending flag as token of sub
mission. The vessel proved to be the
Atlanta of eight guns and nineteen n
men. Midshipman Geisinger, now a
post captain in the service, was put on
board of her, and the prize master,
and his crew were the last Americans
who beheld the Wasp and her gallant
crew, and lived to tell the tale.
| On the 9th Of October following,
the Swedish brig Adomis, from Rio,
bound to Falmouth, was boarded by
the Wasp in latitude Is deg. IS min.
North longitude 80 deg. 10 min.
West, and two passengers, Lieut.. Nc"
Knight, and masters mate, Lyman,
late Of the gallant Essex, were taken
from her. The Swede then pursued
his course, while the American cruiser
continued to the southwark under ca.
sy sail. AT 4, P. NJ, her topsails dip.
ped in the Southern Ocean; and when
the sun set she was seen no more.
OF the final end of the Wasp ru-
NOR has been busy with her thousand
tongues. At one time she was said
to have been lost upon the desolate
coast of Africa, while her seamen bat
tied with the Arabs of the desert, then
she was said to have been sunk in a
gale off the Spanish shore after an ac-
ton with an English frigate. At one
time she was supposed to have been
lost in the wild ocean alone. At ano.
ther blown up by the accidental ig-
milton ofher magazines. History be-
ing silent upon the subject, the pen of
Imagination musttrace her last mo,
ments. y.
1t was an awful night in the South
Atlantic-the waves leapt in mighty
masses, like spectre knights in dusky
armor. Loud rolled the thunder OF
heaven, and around the horizon the
lightning like the tongues of thous-
and adders forked in air, or wreathed
around the magazines of hail, that
reared their pale blue bodies upon
the bosom ofthe storm. The wind
swept in one unbroken howl, and the
din of the dashing waters completed
the dreadful music of the eleme ntal
war.
Not a sail was to be seen. Ii seem
ed as though man had left the ocean
in its majesty to his God, while the
clouds and darkness, the whirlwind
and the water spout, the lightning and
the deepmouthed thunder gave ter
rife evidence Of the presence of the
Creator! But, bark! A cannon faint
ly echoes! see pale sepulchral light
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