The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-03

France. Having made few prizes, she stood
farther out to sea, and on the morning Of the
first Of September, found herself in the midst of
a feet Of merchantmen, under convoy of the Ar
manda sevenfy-four. 4egfs eE se4aa4ae
With his accustomed skill and gallantry Capt
Blakely now beat to quarters, ind dashed in among
the unsuspecting fleet. vessel loaded with
guns and military stores was soon captured, and
while the boarding officer was busily engaged
with another, tho seventy -foslr came down apon
the wind and stopped the havoc with her heavy
thunder. fs a.s 8s..,ft .Na
Evening now crept in long and dusky sha-
dows along the silent waters. and the look k.out
iman from his airy height W atched with eager
] The cry of "Sail OBJ now reused the officers
from their evening meal. Busy feet echoed
alopg the cleared decks, and the shot rack re-
ceived farther supply of the jron messengers Of
dealh, while the active powder, boy stood with a
spare caiyidge in his leathern assing box beside
! his gun. -Four sail now hove in sight. but the
nearest ore seeming like a man of war, the Wasp
| ran down 4, speak her. sa g~'ts+-a
! AT twenty minutes past nine the chase was on
her lee bow va thin hail. A h eavy eighteen now
hurled its deah' dealing shot into the enemy IS
bride port, and swept his deck fore and aft
n The shot was pro- nptly returned by the chase;
when Blakely passing under his lee. fearful lest
he might escape. the wind blowing high. and
tile Wasp going ten knotA Having reached the
right position, the gallant title Wasp poured IN
a broadside which ratified the enemy0s spars and
rigging about his ears, aud con yinced him OF the
true character Of the stranger. II was now nine
| o'clock at night Darkness rested upon the
ocean. save when illumined by the brigIn' Hashes
of musketry; and the.heavy roar Of cam, N died
away amid the din, ot.the swelling waves, fp-
rious was the fire Of the Wasp, and warm was
the return made By the enemy.-- It was alh nost
impossible to tell the officers from the men, an nd
smoke and darkness Of the hour; and the Sc Z
men slipped upon the bloody decks-as they rui
out their long eighteens. The wind h6wled
inournfully- through the rigging-the vessels
plunged heavily along the agitated deep. As
they came upon the top Of corresponding waves,
| the prac:ised gunners fired, and when they.rose
again discovered the damage they had done. !.
For one hour this terrible conflict was kept up
4 with unmitigsted fierceness Al ten the enemy's
/ fire ceased, and Captain Blakely, leaning over
the quarter, hailed them in voice louder than
the roaring ocean-- -
Have you svTrendeled e. n
| No human voice replied--butSa few long
eighteens thundered back the emphatic mo"
"a fresh broadside was now poured into the en-
envy, and as the fire was not returned Blahely
hailed second time E
"Have you struck 2"
faint sAye, ave." now came over the wa
tiers, and boat was at once lowered to take pos
session of the prize. As the cutter touched the
wave, the lookout man cried:
''Sail O! close aboard !"
The smoke having blown away, another YES
sci was seen nearing the'WasP. The cutter was
therefore run up to the davits, and the crew sent
| again to the guns.
The Wasp was soon in readiness to receive
the second antagonist but two more sails heav-
ing in sight astern, the conqueror was forced to
leave his prize.
The helm of the Wasp was therefore put up
and the ship ran off free, in oroer to repair her
rigging and to draw the nearest vessel OF the en-
emy from its consors.
| The second stranger continued her chase of the
Wasp until he got quite near, when she shot
| across her stern, gave her a parting broadslde,
and beat up towards his consort, whose signal
guns of distress now echoed in melancholy mur-
murs along the midnight deep.
The Wasp left her prize in such haste, as TO
be ignorant of her name and force. When the SEA
gives ND its dead, and the crew of the little Av-
on and the little band of Blakely, shall muster
together at the final judgement then, and then
only, shall the conqueror know his vanquished
foe. :,
The Wasp was soon lost amidst the darkness
of the night, while the Castillian, the vessel
that came to the assistance of the enemy, and
her consorts, hovered around the wreck of the I
prize, and endcavored to save the crew.
i As the morning watch was called the Avon !
gave a sudden roll to leeward, then settling I
swiftly by the stern, she sank, with gurglng
sound, while her dead men f1oated in ghastly and
bloody forms upon the sea. With heavy hearts
the English cruisers lowered their ensigns at
hall mast, and left the ocean tomb of their sis
ter, firing minute guns to the memory of the
brave. s.w,a.E.. ~ @
Having repaired damages which were princi-
pally in spars and rigging, the Wasp continued
her cruise TO the westward, and on the 18th Sep
| teniber, all in with and took the Three Brothers.
After sc,t,ling 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 the Wsstern Islands an armed brig hove in
sight Crmding on all sail the gallant Blake
" fred shit across her bow, and received her
descending fag as token Of submissions: The
vessel proved to be the Atlanta of eight guns.
and nineteen men. Midshipman Geisenger, now
post captain in the service, was put on board Of
her. and the rrize master, and his crew were the
last Americans, who behed the Wasp and hei
gallant crew, aud lived to!tel the tale. r.
| On the 9th Of October following. the Sweds shj