New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-12-14
Neb 0rleans lailp Grsscslt
spirited Chase or = SLAYER Al zen.

The SLAYER bark Cora, arrived at New York last
Saturday evening in custody, having been cap
tured by the United States frigate Constellation,
off the west coast Of Africa. The Herald publishes
the following letter, giving account Of the chase
and capture
September 1ni5 Il. is6o $3.50
To he Editor Of ne HeradI-As / read in your
paper some time ago about the bark Cora will
now give You fhe first news Of her capture BY orr
irgate last night. We had smart chase, and the
bark held out well In spite Of our Shots Of which
We % not spare It was about seven bells yester-
Day evening tive were under our starb6ard tacks
and bound for Loando) when the lookout on the
starboard cathead sang out, z Sail, no W on our
weather bow, standing close hauled, with port
tacks aboard We at once hauled our wind and
when we got on her lee quarter we tackled and
stood after her, at the same time giving her thirty
two pound pill; but she paid no attention to tie
compliment, started neither tacks nor sheets, but
Kept on her course. After half hours chase il
seemed doubtful whether we were gaining any
and preparations were made to wet safl, and bend
new mainsail; but the breeze rather freshened,
and we could see plainly that we were gaining.
We then gave her couple more shots, but she
Kept on as though we wasn't worth mfnding. This
made our captain rather out of temper and orders
were given to take better aim and fire into her.
This was done efectually as her rigging afterwards
proved, which was cut away by our shots
1t was noW evident to those on board the bark,
that we were coming up with her ahand over fist III
LOT tuey now threW overheard all their spare
things. Spars, water casks, BOBBY hatch and lot
OF other stuff came across our bows, and we had
to sheer about to keep clear of them. Still the
bark kept on, and we close upon her. 1t was as
beautiful chase as ! ever saw and there were
many of who felt that she deserved to ret clear
for her gallant conduct. 1t was evident that those
on board were not afraid Of the smell Of powder
they then lowered down their quarter boat and
sent her adrft, thinking thereby fe deceive ns and
cause US to stop for the purpose Of picking ii 90
but our jolly captain was not caught 20 easily and
orders were given to let the boat pass and give
the bark another shot. That was the last shot fired
We were now within musket shot; still the bark
kept on 1t was evident to all that abe did not
intend to heave to 30 long her spars were stand
ing, and orders were given to load with she'll We
could plainly see the hands on board the bark, as
we were now within cables length from it,
Orders were given to fire the shell into her. The
gun was trained, the match blown and two seconds
more and she would have had it right into her
hull. But her sails came to the mast at last, and
OF course the firing was countermanded.
We were so close that we had barely time to
round to on her weather quarter and brace back
We sent two boats on board Of her. and she proved
the Cora, of which We had full description and
for which ne had been cruising about for some
length OF time.g As she lay under our lee she
looked like picture, and no other sailing craft
could have taken her, but the Constellation can
beat anything that is under SAIL As soon az our
boats reached the Cora our First Lieutenant from
her forecastle, hailed us that we had fat prize ~
and we gave three cheers. The sIaver,s officers
and crew were taken board and confined, and
the Cora was declared prize to the Constellation
believe that she had neither dag nor papers On
board when taken The chase lasted four hours
and half. She had seven hundred and five slaves
on board, which were shipped at Mango Grande
the night BEFORE and had only been Id the vessel
twenty -four hours when taken