The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-04-11

July. with his ensign waving above tn
tattered flag Of England, and his vesse
crowded with prisoners Of war
On the 9Th OF August, having under
gone thorough re- pair, the W Wasp drop
ped down to the outer anchorage, and de
parted for the shores Of France. Ilavins
made few prizes. she stood farther ou
to sea. and on the morning Of the first o
\ September, found herself in the midst of
t1set Of merchantmen, under convoy o
the Amanda. seventy-four.
With his accustomed skill and gallant
, ry, Capt. Blakely now beat to quarters
and dashed iii among The unsuspectine
fleet. A vessel loaded with guns ant
military stores. was soon captured, ano
while the boarding officer was busily en-
gagged with another, the seventy .fou
came down upon the wind and stopped
the havoc with her heavy thunder. Even
ing now erept in long and dusky shadows
along the silenA waters, and the lookout
man from his airy height. watched with
eager eyes the horizon around.
The cry Of Sail OF now reused the
officers from their evening meal. Busy
feet echoed along the cleared decks, and
the shot rack received farther supply o
the iron messengers Of death, while the
active powder boy stood with spare car.
fridge in his leathern passing box beside
his gun. Four sail now hove in sight,
out the nearest one seeming like mar
of-war, the w asp ran down to 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 Biakely. passing under his
lee. eartul lest he might escape. the wind
blowing high, aud the Wasp going ten
knots. Having reached the right position.
the gallant little Wasp poured in broad
side 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 al night Darkness
rested upon the ocean. save when ilu.
mined by the bright flashes OF musketry;
and The heavy roar OF cannon died away
amid the. din OF the swelling waves, Flu.
rious was the fire Of the Wasp, and warm
was the return made bv the enemy. Ii
was almost impossible to tell the officers
from the men. amid the smoke and dark.
ness Of the hour; and the ssamen slipped
upon the bloody decks as they ran out
their long eighteens, The wind howled
mourntully through the rigging; the ves-
sels plunged heavily along the agiia,sd
deep. As they came upon the top Of cor
responding waves. the prae,iced gunners
fired. and when they rose again discov.
ercd the damage they had done.
For one hour this terrible conflict was
kept up with unmitigated ferceness. At
ten the enemy 8 FIRE ceased, and Captain
Blakely, leaning over the quarter, hailed
them in avoice louder than the roaring
ocean
Have you surrendered!'
No hum an voice replied, but few long
eighteens Numbered back the emphatic
MOI
A fresh broadside was now poured into
the enemy, and as the fire was not re.
turned, Blakely hailed them second
time: 0sfgsi
'Have you struck?'
A fain;'Aye aye now came over the
waters, and boat was at once lowered
to take possession of the prize As the
Gutter touched the wave, the look. out. nan
cried: 1855
Sail O!close aboard!'
g The smoke having blown away, anoth.
er vessel was seen nearing the Wasp
The cutter was run upf to the dayits, and
the crew sent again to the guns.
The Wasp was soon in readiness to re-
ceive the second antagonist; but two more
sails heaving in sight astern, the conquer.
or was forced to leave his prize.
The helm of the Wasp was therefore
put up, and the vessel ran Of free, in or.
der to repair her rigging and to draw tho
vessel of the enemy from its consorts.
Fhe second stranger continued her
chase ofthe Wasp Until he got quite near,
when she got across her stern, gave her
parting bro adsIde, and beat up towards
his consort, whose signal guns of distress
now eoroed in nielanoholy murmurs along
the midnight deep. as
= Fhe Wasp left her prize in such haste
as TO be ignorant of her name and force.
When the sea gives up its dead, and the
Grew OF the little Avon and the little band |
OF Blakely, shall muster together at the
final Judgment, then, and then only, shall !
the oonqueror know his vanqushed foe.
The Wasp was soon lost amids, the
darkness Of the night, while the Castalian,
The vessel that came to the assistance Of
the enemy, and the consorts hoyered |
around the wreck of the prize, and endea-
vorsd to save the crew. 81
AZ the morning watch was called the