The Southern journal., 1846-03-07

height watched with eager eyes the
horizon around.
The cry of "Sail, Or now reused
the officers from their evening meal.
Busy feet echoed along the cleared
decks, and the shot rack received a
farther supply of the iron messengers
Of death, while the active powder boy
stood by with spare cartridge in his
leathern passing box beside his gun.
-Four sail now hove in sight, but the
nearest one seeming like man.ofwar
the Wasp ran down 10 speak her.
AT twenty minutes past nine the
chase was on her lee bow within hail.
A heavy eighteen now hurled its death
dealing shot into the enemy's bride
port, and swept his deck fore and aft.
The shot was promptly returned by
the chase; when Blakely passing un-
der his lee, fearful that he might es-
cape, the wind blowing high, and the
Wasp going ten knots. Having
reached the right 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 stran.
ger. 1t was now nine o'clock at night.
Darkness rested upon the ocean, save
when illumined by the bright flashes
ofmusquctry; 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 re-
turn made by the enemy. 1t was a.
most impossible to tell the officer. from
the men, amid the smoke and dark
ness of the hour; and the seamen Slip
ped upon the bloody decks as they
run out their long eighteens. The
wind howled n'ournfally through the
rigging-the vessels plunged heavily
along the agitated deep. As they
came upon the top Of corresponding
waves, the practlsed gunners fired,
and when they rose again discovered
the damage they had done.
For one hour this terrible conflict
was kept up with unmitigated fierce.
ness. At ten the enemy's fire ceased,
and Capt. Blakely, leaning over the
quarter, hailed them in a voice louder
than the roaring ocean
"Have you surrendered?"
No human voice replied-but few
long eighteens thundered back the
emphatic "No!"
A fresh broadside was now poured
into the enemy, and as the fire was
not returned, Blakely hailed second
time
"Have you struck?"
A faint "Aye, ave." now came over
the waters, and boat was at once
lowered to take possession of the prize.
AS the cutter touched the wave, the
lookout man cried:
s'Sail O! close aboard!'
The smoke having blown away, an.
other vessel was seen nearing the
Wasp. The cutter was therefore run
up to the davits and the crew sent IA.
gain to the guns.
The Wasp was soon in readiness to
receive hersecond antagonist; bu! two
more sails heaving in sight astern. the
conqueror was forced to leave his
prize.
The helm Of the Wasp was there.
fore put up and the ship ran off free,
in order to repair her rigging and to
draw the nearest vessel of the enemy
from its consorts.
The second stranger continued her
chase Of the Wasp until he got quite
near, when she shot across her stern,
gave her parting broadside, and beat
up towards his consort, whose signal
guns of distress now echoed in melan-
cholly murmurs along the midnight
deep.
The Wasp left her prize in such
haste, as to be ignorant Of her name
and force. When the sra pives I'm its