Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-24
NO. $50.

eic DOW vi the DOab imam nc puIleu out uIS
pipe and tobacco, bag, flint and steel, and
calmly emitting volumes Of smoke. This
irritated Hnney. "Do you see that Turk
ish rascalp" he said with an oath. s.If he
cares SO deuced little at being saved from
Old Nick, I'll send him where he came
FROM" So saying he made a spring for
ward and tumbled the astonished Turk
overheard before any one could prevent
him. The man, however, swan to piece
of wreck, and was saved by boat from
the Albion. The crew of the Alcyone
picked up Turkish officer with shat
tered arm. When taken on board the AL
cyone he walked proudly down the cock
pit ladder, just as If all the ship belonged
to him, and made signs to the surgeon that
he wanted his arm taken off. That being
done the proud Turk threw himself over
board, and SWAN back to his own vessel
that was still fighting our frigate. He
climbed up the side with his one arm, but
in a few minutes the vessel blew up, and
the brave fellow probably perished with
the rest of his comrades.
Half an hour after had crept in at lower
deck port Of the Genoa, and had got back
to my gun, our good old Captain was
struck in the groin by q grape shot of about
four pounds weight. One of the lads who
carried him down happening to stumble
and hurt his wound the old man frowned
and hit the boy smart blow with his
knuckles, and said-''can't you carry me
easier, sir ?n The report that our Captain
was mortally wounded flew around the
deck like lightning and all the firing ceased
for about two minutes, every one looking
as if himself was struck. Then, as if by
one impulse, the whole crew at once yelled,
''our Captain is killed !" and our firing be-
gan thousand times hotter than ever.
The Turkish line -oi-battlc ship near us now
broke into blaze, but still the lower deck
and some of her main deck guns maintain
ed hot and Calling fire on our bow, and
presently she blew up with furious ex-
plosion, driving showers of iron, burning
wood and nails into our ports. A single
forty-two pound shot that came through
one of our ports at about this period of the
, engagement killed four men and wounded
two. This was the most murdcrous shot
the Turks sent at us but another heavy
one took us on the main deck, knocked
, away the whole side of a port, and cleared
the gun. A father and son were at this
spot; the father was killed, the son was
knocked down but not wounded. Nine of
the petty officers had wives on board, and
they were employed with the doctor and
his mates in the cockpit dressing the
wounds or serving water around to the
thirsty.
About half past five / had to go to the
after magazine for some tubes for the guns,
and not much liking the exposure | made
race for it. AS passed the main ladder,
found that a Mr. Rowe, q young mid
shipman, had just been wounded badly by
a splinter in the calf of the leg. He
stamped his boot, and said, ''Oh. damn it,
never mind it's nothing but Scratch"
and waved his sword to encourage the men.
; Two minutes after, when | passed with
the box of tubes, saw him mangled
corpse, his hand still grasping his sword.
A bell began to ring backwards, and there
was a cry of up there, boarders and fire.
men, snatched up my pistols and cutlass
where | had slowed them, and made for
the starboard quarter. When ] reached
the quarter deck, found that the ships
mainsail, which hung loose, had caught
fire, and that a midshipman and some sail
ors were on the yard cutting away the
canvas with their knives.
1t was now getting dark, and the bay
was lighted up with the glare
of the burning vessel; but the crescent
still flew at her mast heads and mizen
peaks. Even when she had half sunk the
red flag and yellow crescents foated on
the wrecks till they were level with the
water. The two large dismasted vessels
that had attacked us were now lying
aground on a small island in the bay,
where our men compared them to two old
horses standing in park with their necks
across. About six O'Clock the enemy's
heavy fire began to slack; and wishing to
bring the affair to close, we gave three
cheers and poured in a tremendous broad
side. Presently we heard Captain Dick
enson, who had taken the command when
Captain Bathurst was wounded, shouting
through his speaking trumpet down the
main hatchway, Cease tiring!n "Cease
tiringm said the captain of our guns.
Likely! Before they douse that bit of red
bunting! Come, my lads, let's give 'em
another dose!"
When the Captain came down on the
lower deck to stop the firing, our excuse
was, "The guns loaded. sir" and direct
ly he turned his back we fired. But. this
was only two or three rounds, and when
the enemy's ships entirely ceased firing.
we gave up the contest, and began to lean
out of the ports to look about us. we
now had time to observe the carnage on
our own decks, and the CORY heaps col
lected under the alter ladder. We began
to throw some of the bodies overheard.
Snatching up "a lantern, l went down in
the cockpit to look for the messmaie I
found him, at last, sitting on midship-
mans chest. His lips moved but he was
fast dying.
Tom, Tom," said. ''can't you speak
to mep"
He pressed my hand feebly but could
not speak. was lifting his head. to put
a bag under it, when the master at arms
came down, and ordered me on deck.
The doctor had given strict orders not to
allow any one to stay, or to talk to the
wounded. When went on deck they were
! just going to bury sailor, and his wife
was on her knees beside the corpse, strok-
ing his hair, and crying. Poor Jem, po,r
!, Jem!n Then she rose, clasped her hands.
and fell senseless on the deck.
When l got to my berth my messmates
welcomed me like a brother They look
ed like banditti. dressed only in shirt and