The Plymouth pilot. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-24


fridge in his leather passing box beside
his gun Four sails now hove in sight.
but the nearest One seeming most like a
man -of-war, the Wasp ran down to spea !,
TO 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 passed under his Ice. fear
full lest he might escape: the wind blow
ing high and the Wasp going ten knots
Having reached the right position. the
gallant little Wasp poured in broad
side. wiich ratified the encmy's spars and
rigging about his ears, and convinced him
of the true character of the stranger
1t was nine O'Clock at night. Dark
ness rested upon the ocean. save when
illuminated by the brigh: flashes of mus
kerry; 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 from
the enemy. 1t was almost impossible
to tell the officers from the men, amid
the smoke and darkness of the hour; and
the seamen slipped on the bloody decks
as they ran out the long eiShteenS. The
wind howled mourafully through the
riggicg-the vessel plunged heavily
long the aoitated deep. AS they came
unon the top o. corresponding waves the
practlsed gunners lied, and when they
rose again discovered The damages they
had done.
For an hour this terrible conhict was
kept up with unmitigated fierceness. It
ten the enemy's fire ceased, and Captain
B!ahely leaning over the quarter. hailed
them in voice louder than the roaring
ocean
Have you surrenltredF
No human voice replied-but few
long eighteens thundered back the en-
phatetic No
A fresh broadSiIe was now poured in
- the enemy, and as the fire was not
returned Blake ly hailed second dime
Have you struck?
waters and the boat was at once lowered
to take possession Of the prize. As the
cutter touched the wave the look out
man cried
Sail o. close aboard!
The smoke having blown away. anoth
er vessel was seen approaching the
Wasp, The cutter was therefore run up
to the davits, and the crew sent again to
their guns.
The Wasp was soon in readiness to
receive the second antagonist; but two
more sails heaving in sight astern, the
conquerer was forced to leave his prize.
The helm of the Wasp was therefore
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 con-
sorts.
The second stranger continued her
chase Of the Wasp until he got quite near
when he shot across her stern. gave her /
parting broadside, and beat up towards
his consert. whose signal guns of distress |
now echoed in melancholy murmurs "a
long the mi ghty deep.
The Wasp left her prize in such haste,
as to be Ignorant of his name and force.
When the sea gives up its dead, and the /
crew of the Avon, and the little band Of
Blakely, shall muster together at the fl
nal judgments then, and then only, shall
the conqueror know its vanished foe.
The Wasp was soon lost amidst the
darkness of the night, whilst the Castil
liam, the vessel that came to the assist
ance of the enemy, and his ccnsorts,
hovered around the wreck of the prize, |
and endeavored to save the crew.
AS the morning watch was called, the |
Avon gave sudden roll to leeward, then !
settling swiftly by the stern, she sank |
with gurgling sound, while her dead
men foateJ i'll CHASTITY and bloody forms
upon the summer sea. With heavy |
hearts the English cruisers lowered their
ensigns at half mast, and left the ocean
tomb of her sister, firing minute guns in !
memory of their brave.
Having repaired the damages, which |
were principally in her spars and rigging
the Wasp continued her cruise TO the
westward. and on the 18th of September
fell in with, and took the Three Brothers
After scu Ting her, she OVERLAP auled and
took the brig Bacchus This vessel she !
soon sent to final resting place in the
oceans realms AS she neared the WeS- |
tern Is!rnds an armed brig hove in sight.
Crowding all sail, the gallant Blakely |
fired Ihot across her bows, and received
her descending flaS as token of submis-
sion. The vessel proved TO be the At
lanta, of eight guns and nineteen minute
men, Midshipmln Daniel Geisinger.
now a post-captain in the service, was
put OH board Of her as prize master.
and as the prize slowly parted from the
Ii ho..r 1.c o,.cl,inIr