New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-15
NAVAL COMBAT OFF HAVANA
FRANCE AND PRUSSIA AT SEA
NARRATIVE OF THE ENCOUNTER
FRENCH sTEAM-DRUM PUNCTURED

FREN4H STEAN1sOkkUIX
We have been favored by Mr.. J. Viosca,
who on Saturday evening arrived from
Havana on the steamship Cuba, with a
graphic account Of the naval combat that
took place last Wednesday, a fow miles of
the harbOr Of Havana, between the French
three-masted gunboat Bouvet and the Prus-
sian gunboat Meteor, also three master.
The Bouvet had been lying for some time
within the harbor of Havana, when on
Monday, the seventh instant, the Meteor ar
rived and came a. anchor Some communi-
cation. originating with the Prussisn COM
mander, took place between the hostile YES
sells, resulting in an ARRANGE ment for q
battle as soon as the vessels could get into
neutral waters.
One thing with another, the antagonists
were an equal match; for although the guns
of the Prussian vessel were of a newer and
more improved construction than those of
the French ship, the former had but sixty
four men, while the latter had a crew Of
eighty. Besides, when the action had COM
menced, the French ship handled better
than the Prussian vessel. According to the
best information that could be obtained, the
armament Of the Bouvet consisted Of one
sixty-pounder and two thirty pound car
ronades: the Meteor with an eighty FOUNDER
and two thirty-pounders; 20 that the bat
terry of the Prnssian vessel threw twenty
pounds weight at each discharge.
The Bouvet left the harbor Of Havana on
Tuesday morning, the eighth instant. AZ
ter delay of tventy-fOur hours, in compli-
ance with the neutrality laws, the Meteor
followed, leaving the harbor on Tuesday
morning, and steaming out some nine miles.
where the Bouvet was awaiting her. The
Meteor was followed out of the harbor by
the Spanish man-of-war, fernando Cortez,
and Spanish gunbOat the Spanish Vessels
being present to prevent any infraction Of
the neutrality laws, or to render assistance
If the issue Of the fight called for it. The
Cortez carried out the Captain General Of
the island, DeR0das, with his staff, and
others of the island officials, including
several of the medical staff, these last tor
the purpose Of rendering such assistance as
might be required after the fight had ended.
Meantime, as the vessels we're mapeuver-
ing preparatory to the engagement, an inn
mense number Of spectators had assembled
at every point on shore where sight OF the
coming combat could be obtained The
towers of the Moro and the roofs Of such
houses as commanded q view of the scene
of the battle were al covered with people.
There was very little breeze, and the sea
was smooth.
A little after two o'clock, the vessels har-
ing made every preparation for the combat,
the fight was commenced by the Bouvet,
who emptied her guns. The firing was an
swcred by the Meteor, and continued for
sometime by both vessels, without prOduc-
ing any effect on either. Then the French
vessel put on steam and made direct toward
her antagonist, evidently with the intention
to grapple or board. As she came in con-
tact with the Meteor the mizzen-mast Of the
! latter fell. For some unexplained reason
the Bcuvet did uot succeed in the attempt
to grapple with the Pruss;an vessel, but
sheered off and the firing on both sides re-
| commenced. A second time the BOuvet
| made toward the Meteor, head on; and this
| time the remaining two masts of the Me-
| teor went by the board. The fortune of the
| fight seemed to be in favor of the French
! vessel; but the Prtlssian, by skillful shot
| from his eighty FOUNDER, restored the
balance of the fight, for his shot pcne-
| trated the steam-drun Of the Bouvet, the
| effect of which was to scald three Of the
crew so badly that they died almest i'm
yerely hurt. The French vessel at once
bent on her sails, but her foretop mast had
fallen, and she was otherwise disabled
| while the Prussian was prevented, for a
| time, from maneuvering, as the hamper o.
her fallen masts had got ebtangled with hel
wheel BY this time both vessels had drifted
inside of the line of neutrality, and gnr
| from the fernando Cortez warned them moi
to continue the fight in waters under thu
being in condition to proceed sea
ward and recommence the fight
the French vessel headed for the port Of
| Havana, and as soon as the Meteor could
! disentangle her steering apparatus she fol
| lowed. Thus the combat terminated with
out indication Of superiority on either side
| the losses and disablements being about
| equal with both; the loss Of the Prussiar
| vessels masts being counterpoise to the
| disablement of the French vessels steam
| drum The Meteor had three men killed
and three wounded by the shot from the
Bouvet, while the only casualties on board
| of the French ship arose from the effects O.
| the steam when the stean-drum was rup
tured by the Prussian eighty-pound shot
! On the return of the vessels to the port o.
Havana, the wounded Of each were con
veyed to the hospital, and both ships
began to make repairs. 1t is rumored
that second naval duel viii take place
| again between the antagonists in shOr1
time, when they both hope to bring the
! contest to decisive issue. At presen
nothing can be said except that it was {
most gallant fight, and that the officers anG
crews of each ship did their duty bravely
and to the credit of their respective flags.
The fight and the attendant circumstances
| causes a great excitement at Havana, o
| the same kind and degree that peryadet
| this community during the celebrated race
| betHeen the Lee and the Natchez.
THE MOREHoUsE CoNsERvATIyE.-ColOne
j. T. Dawes, editor Of this widely circulated