The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1859-06-22
(coYTNUED.)
CHAPTER ".


And carnage smiled upon the bloody dead.
s--'s~s-r- tLIRh
Springing from her couch, her cheek paled
with. .terror-hasty throwing on her garments
Fanny Hanchett rushed to the window, and
there %, fearful sight!-was Cockburn's dread
ed craft ranged in battle line be fore Havre-de
Grace The thunders of his booming cannon
resounded through the humid morning air.
while the fiery booms describing their terrific
arcs, descended in the midst of the devoted
town; bursting, scattering death aud desolaton
on every side, and the quivering ships rebound
ed at the powerful shock.
Well had O'Neal and Abrams watched their
trust. Often had their weary eyes turned and
gazed up the deserted street. expecting the
promised aid; but no pleasing sight Of the noun
ted rfemen fed their hopes; and then disap-
pointed would turn away over the waters and
fercely fash at the advancing foe. Day was
dawning. Near and nearer the piratical band
approached. Those who were quartered in the
old log house were aroused, and there at the
guns they stood awaiting the shock.
1t came. ..-..
Cockburn ranged his vessels in battle line and
anchored there. And then, like the raging tor
nado, accompanied by all the thunders of heav-
en-, the cowardly bombardment began and the
furious broadsides rained upon the town.
There, like noble stag at bay stood O'Neal
with match in hand, and flashing eye and low
erng front,-watching the effect OF that dread
full cannonade. Then in hoarse wild voice.
;Stand ast--to the guns-we have the bear
ing now fire." Isniting his own, with thun-
derng report, away the missile few to English
hearts.
Not so the rest;-by that first destructive
broadsid, their guns were dsmantled, and like
frightened rats the four or five unframed mill
ta-men took TO the sands, and fed through the
smoke.
rs"As expected, but did not hope" muttered
O'Neal through his clenched teeth, gazing
moment after their cowardly figures No
matter--ioe can yet fight; and dearly shall they
earn every inch of ground on which they tread"
"Ave!" returned the fisherman, swabbng the
smoking bore, ali we die - not alone-where's
our reinforcements?"
They can they must be here soon, or all is
lost. But we must work quick and well.'--
Then tearing acartridge from the case, he rams
home another charge-gIancing along the can
mons side, to make his aim more sure, sends
the whizzing ball carreening DER the waves
piercing "Brtans wooden walls" marks its
course with Britain's blood.
Boom--boom, and the rockets speed high
and wildly over thcm-crashing down upon the
buildings like ram Of fire, while the scatter
ing grape sweeps the street; and then the un-
earthly shout would raise from fendish throats
meet for he'll
Boom! answers back the lone gun Of Ameri
ca; and well does it tell on Cockburn's bloody
deck. Dearly are they paying for their ex-
pected plunder.
"See! they are disembarking. Qnick-with
the powder now!" exclaimed ONeal, pointing
his blackened finger toward the fleet.
"7here's but one charge hfr' gaSpcd Abrams
hopelessly. "Let us wait until they land; then
club our guns, and rush upon them, 6sht--we
can only die"
"No, no! My God. no! but one left. Hurry
to the house-get MORE while give them this
one" ..,..
And Abrams sped away.
But the flying grape shot sped faster, anc
pierced his side; he fell--and with his failure
went the last lingering hope of tlavre de Grace
True, Cockburne finding his men dropping
around him like falling leaves Of Autumn, b,
the destructive fire Of o'Neal's "long twelve,
gave orders to land his force and storm th'
town. And as tn boats are being lowered
way, O'Neal stands grim and blackened at his
post, with match in hand 0, he seemed some
thing more than human then, like one Of tn
fabled heroes Of old, his heavy locks streamec
back from his keen grey eye, interposing hi
noble breast to save the fated town The gu
is already poised TO do its work. See him stoo
forward, while his eve blazes along the sights
see that bright gleam that lumes for momen
his powder blackened face. Then whiring tn
fred match around his head, he shouts "CoIum
bia,"-brings it crushing on the gun. With
concusson that shook he earth the charge spec
true to its aim; strickipg the Admirals boat
10 the bows raking her "fore and aft, and tn,
Bay is strewn with the fragments Of the boat
and the dead and dying. They are soon pick
a. cd up by their comrades, and with quick stroke
the remainder near the shore.
"H' 1t was ONeal's last shot. The fSherma
stopped in his course by the life deStroyin
grape had not returned with ammunition. I
stay longer was useless-nay madness. The
suspending Abrams musket across his bacl
and shouldering his own, he marched slowl
from the battery; anon wheeling and deliver
g ing shot into the approaching column Slow
ly the enraged crews advanced up the stree
for there was iobbing, pilaging and burning
do. Like the bloody buccaneers of the SPANS
Main, as soon as house was gutted it was de
voted to the incendiary's torch; and as the a.
cending flames hissed around their homes, tf
u. piercing shrieks Of the women and the cries
the children rosessup to Heaven and pleade
. revenge before the Almighty Throne. Sue
was the scene that it would have moved Il
hearts Of any but Cockburn's piratical crew.
But the reader may ask where were the me
OF Iayrc-de Grace? But itmust be remcmbe