The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-04-11
TALE OF THE SEA.
THE LAST CRUISE OF THE WASP.
BY ]. E pov

BY J. DOW.
The wind that rings along the wave,
The clear unshadowed sun,
Are torch aud trumpet to the brave,
| stot WHOSE last green wreath is won.
aaaa t.{..sI se8 HOLMES.
On a lovely evening in midsummer il
the year 1914, sloop of war appeared
: offthe chops Of the English channel, anc
stood in towards the shores OF Cornwall
The breeze from the ocean sighed through
the neatly fitted rigging OF the beligeran
stranger. and the faint ripple at the bow.
4 gave evidence that she was slowly gliding
ahead. The waves seemed to creep ir
long, unbroken swells before her, and ths
lingering glow OF sunset as ii glanced
through the valleys of the deep and rest
ed on theirsdark green summits, seemed
like the smile of the dying day upon the
! rolling prsiries OF Illinois. f
/ Hers sails from sky TO water swelled
i beautifully TO the rising shores of merry
England; her ports were shut in; ST.
lenee equal TO that of forsaken bark
Ireigned through her halls OF thunder
while q solitary battle lantern cleaned al
the door. The tread ofs,he orderly on
duty, alone gave evidence that the gal
liant vessel was not a spectre ship-ssome
tgalleon ireighted with the dead' Hour
after hour lazily rolled away The land
fnow began to grow more distinct, while
/ the haze Of morning settled deeper upon
| the shadowed water. sS - ss.sfs
Ala, A. NJ. bright fash appeared
where the shade Of the moonlt biAows
mingled together, and then one after an
other the cleaning sails of q ship hove in
sight.
BEAT tolqnariers!' Numbered the com.
manderlof the American vessel, for such
was the character of the stranger, and
then as quick as thought the silen cel of the
vessel was broken by the shrill notes Of
the fife, the ire ad of armed men, the tri-
cling up of ports. the railing ofsoannon
shot in the racks, and the running out Of
heavy ordnance. 9ss
The chase now showed English colors,
turned swiftly upon her heel, and ran up
the private signal OF the channel fleet.
Show them the stars!' cried the i'm.
mortal Blakely. 5.Forecastls there
AYE. aye, replied the masters m ate.
Are you all ready with the bow guni'
All ready. sir
- ssLafaquarter- -mss ster.'
Lufflt, sir, said the old self at the
helm.
Stand by forward-Fire!'
The sloop waved gracefully atthe com
mand Of the trumpet, and displayed her
ensign. which had been hidden, by the
mouniain Of canvas. that lowered before
II. heavy roar followed a volume of
FIRE and,woolly smoke from the American
vessels bows. and then sharp and
cracking sound from the chase, a though
. heavy body had fallen from a great
height upon a thin lattice otslaths. and
had passed through it, accompanied by al
cry Of agony. that echoed feariully over
the still waters. told but TOO plainly the
work oI death! had commenced.
They had teltthe sting of the Wasp,
cried the American captain as he scan
ned the chase through the night glass
Steady so,' answered the attentive gun
ner! And the gallant sloop was as silent
as before. 4ii ~,
Al fifteen minutes past one P. NJ, the
enemy bore down on the Wasp's we ath-
er quarter, answered her cannon Of eff |
ance, and stood galantly down to close.
When within sixty yards Of the American,
the chase fired q shifting gun from his top
gallant Iorecastle, and repeated the same
salute for several minutes -
This destructive FIRE. however, borne with
out murmur by the Wasp. which vessel
could not bring gun to bear on her an
tagonist. A favorable moment had now
arrived.
Put your helm DOWN. shouted Blakely
from the quarter deck. E.
In a moment the broadside OF this yes
sci beganto show its teeth upon the enc.
my, and soon the stranger received his
former ouble-shotted salute with interest.
Haul up the main sail!' thundered the
deck trumpet.
The order had scarcely died away, be-
fore the heavy sail hung in festoons upon
the main yard. Phe fire of the Wasp
now became dreadful every shot told;
and feeling that any risk was safer than
the one he was then running. the captain
Of the British cruiser. at forty minutes
past three, ran the Wasp aboard on the
starbosrd quarter, his larboard bow COM
ing ioul. The English commander now
uttered The magic commando Boarders I
away.' and placing himself at the headof
his Grew. endeavored to carry the deck OF
his antagonist. Three times in succession
lhe attempt was made. and three times the
Americans drove the assafan;s back with
great slaughter Al the third rush, the
gallant captain of the enemy fell from the
Wasp . mizzen rigging while in the act of
his sword 1.-TWO bullets had
pierced his brain. and he was dead ere be
ouohsd the deck. .s.s..s ss5,s .esifs "a
= Al forty,feurs minutes past three, Cap.
lain Blakely gave the order to board in
urn. The American seamen now started
IN masse, bounded over the hammock
nsitings Of the enemy like aliving torrent;
sadsin one minute, amid the clashing of
,uilasses. the sharp reports OF boarding]
,istolss the groaHs of the dying and the
9ells ofthe woundedswsre masters Of the
oe. Assths sword Of the dying Manners
vas laid upon tho capstan, the flag Of
Britain dropped suddenly upon the bloody
leck Of the Reindeer, and ore the specta.
or could mark the movement. the banner h
- f~~ n 49, =. Al.