Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-01
@Ortester 4ailg Spp
THE DAILY SPY.


The Exploit in Portland HarbOr.
The following vivid account of the pursuit
of the revenue cutter Caleb Gushing in Port
land harbor on Saturday, is taken from the
report in the Portland Argus -
When the cutter was first discovered she
was bearing S. S. L. from Portland light. The
Forest City was in hot pursuit, followed by
the tug Tiger. Another steamer was to be
seen IN the aim distance, supposed from Bath.
We were then about SIX miles from Portland
light, and seven miles from the cutter. A con.
sultation was held as to what course to DUR
sue, and it was determined to sail up and
speak the cutter, and see what were her in
tentlons All doubt as to that point was mt
once dIspelIed, for ere the consultation is end
ed she rounds to, a flash is seen, and the
sound OF the first gun comes booming overthe
waters. ''That means business" saws Cant
leighton, who, with Col. Mason and Others.
was watching her from the top of the pilot
house. "Hurra," says a private of the 9TH
Maine, who had evidently listened to the
same music before
''Steer for her. says Capt. Leighton to the
pilot, land we'll run her down or 20 to the
bottom"
1t was now evident that there was to be some
lively work, but every man was resolved to do
his duty. The bras piece was sh0tted and
those on board assigned their positions A
few seconds and another shot comes from the
cutter. Steadily we steam on, when bang
comes third shot. At this the Forest CITY
laid to and appeared to be waiting for us to
come up. Another gun from the cutter. as
we kept on, and this time the shot Is intended
for us. 1t is Il rlcOchet shot, and the ball
comes skipping along the water, directly to-
ward US, but falls short, and the men indulge
in tYh ii .
admit that the "shot is good one" This
was followed by another, with no better re-
suit, when the order was given to try our lar
board gun.
An interval Of silence, of the most intense
interest, when bang she went, and up jumped
one OF our SunnerS upon the carriage, slap
ping his hands with delight. The gun was
fired merely as an experiment. 1t was spen-
did line shot, however, and had we been near
er, it would have been likely to have done
mischief The Forest City now steamed IN.
and appeared to be wearing round to getastern
OF the cutter, but the movement it seemed was
only to get in position to hail her. We come
up alongside the Forest City, the Chesapeake
slackens her speed-we are now within range
and well directed shot from the cutter might
result disastrousy to both vessels. Why do
they not fire?
''Ship ahoyl" says Captain Leighton, and
then the answer comes back from the For
est City. "What course do you intend to
take?'
I'VE have not decided"
"Can't you attack one side while we attack
the other?"
''We think the best course is to run her
down, as she has superior armament
"Will you take the lead?"
"No; you had better go ahead we are not
prepared"
"All right" says Capt. Leighton, ''we shall
steer straight for her and run into her any
way can, and you can take what's left !"
Col. Mason then turned to the men and
said:
Snow, boys you have got to fight; let ev-
cry man keep cool and await orders, and we
will take the cutter"
Three cheers, loud, spontaneous, is the an
swer, and three more echo back frOm the deck
of the Forest City. STAND by your flag"
cried our men to those of the Forest City, and
three more cheers sounded across the water,
waited on the breeze to the ears of the rebels
on board the cutter, telling them palmer than
words of the patriotism and determination of
all on board our vessels.
The order is given to put on all steam land
run her dowh by striking her amidshipS, or
else run alongside and board. The cutter
was about two miles distant. She displayed
no colors. The brass field-pece on her bow
CLEANED like gold in the sunlight and her
deck appeared covered with armed men. Her
course was to the eastward. As we neared
her it was noticed that boat was being low
cred at her side, which, in another minute,
pushed off to meet us. Here the cutter again
fired at us, but the ball fell short. The eyes
of our men are now directed to the small boat
which is seen full of men and rowing towards
us.
1t is the opinion that her intention is to
board US, and preparations are accordingly
made to ''welcome them with bloody hands to
hospitable graves" The voice of Col. Mason
is heard, and ''stand ready, men," is the watch
word. The boat nears us she Is filled-bang,
and the grape come whistling forward aft and
over us, but no one is hit--the smoke clears
up, two more boats put off from the cutter,
filled with men-'they intend to board u.s.
stand ready, men"-no, they steer away from
us-see, smoke curlS up from the cutter amid
shps-"they have set her on fire; sink the
devilS!" "Hold!" says Capt Leighton who
sees a white handkerchief elevated in the small
boat. 'sThe first man that fires shall be shot;
| am not pirate, to fire flag of truce"
The boat is alongside, Lieut.. Davenport is
among them, and he is violently agtated as
we help pull him on board. He turns to us
and says, at is hard, after a man has been
taken a prisoner rOned, and his life threat
cned by pirates, to be shot at by his own
friends" The men, one by one (niheteen in
alb, come up the side, some of them with the
irons still on their wrists. Col. Mason orders
them below, and we move on towards the cut
ter, which is now in flames aft.
1t was about ii o'clock when the maya
zine exploded. The sight was one grand in
the extreme.
The New POSTAL REGULATIoNs.-After
July LIST the single rate of letter postage will