Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-23

Hebrew Leader

r,uip,uLvJ,,Ccr Ul tllr actions dome ", lllt
ll..h h, the men whom the grim sergeant
oscrtakes, aud We are reminded ny the
demise of am old sailor who expired u
I,v DAYS since at Moullosr, Scotland,
,I,,l there still liD.cr u few survivors
" ho took part IN soinc OF the desperate
ga lights between British aud American
Iriantes in tho war Of 1872 On tue hh
Of January, 1886, u child was born az
Fcrry,lcn, near MuntroSc,J james Coull by
ua,ue. who starte,l life as cabin boy, ut
the early aye of six years, in Scottish
fishing vessel. The lad found his ways
TO Copenhagen, when, in 1901, Nelson
was lying of that city, which he shortly
proceeded to lombard. The CcDtanr, u
seventy four gun-ship, was under Ncl-
sons orders at Copenhagen in 1901, and
again in Trafalgar in 1905, and in h"th
of these actiOns James COull wortllily
bore his part among the Cenlaur crew.
Gnt the most notable engagement al
which lie assisted was the short, sharp
and decisive action fought of Boston
lIarbor on tho LIST Of June, 1s3l, be-
tween the United States irigatc Chrsa-
prakc, commanded by Capt. Lawrence,
aud tho British irigato Shannon, conf
manded by Captain, afterwards Sir
Philip We're Broke. The Shannon and
tn, chesapeake were regarded AS typical
vessels of their respective fleets at tue
time when their memorable encounter
took place, and even to this hour their
names when mentioned on nan-Of-
war, "stir the blood like trumpet"
and recall in some measure the feelings
with which the solitary triumph Of an
English ship in the American war III
1872, was hailed.
The first few naval actions fought be-
tween British and American ships III
IIla may fairly be said to have clcctri-
Gcd the country. Again and again ducls
were fought ut sea, in each Of which the
British Union Jack was hauled down in
token Of defeat, and replaced by the
"slars and stripes" Thus it came tt
pass that in the August Of 1ol3 Tia,
British iriyatc Guerrero, COMMANDED
by Capt. Dacres, was compelled t
strike her colors to the United Stat,
irigale Constitution, commanded b,
Capt. Hnll. IN The following Octobc
she Frolic and the Macedonian struck [,
the American ships, Wasp and United
States, and the year closed so disastrous
~ for British, arms Will, the trcmendou
sonhict between the Java and the Con
stitutien which cuded, after an ohsti
nate struggle, in the capture ct I'll
former, On the 18th of February th
British sloop Peacock was disabled an
sunk by the American Hornet. Anon
those who clalcd under the strange an
novel sensation Of British r,icriori
upon England's own element, Cap
Philip Broke, of the Shannon, was b
no ,uGans the least conspicuous. Stun
by the hnniliatiOls and rrverses il
hicted upon his native country, Cap
Broke drew near to the mouth of Bosto
Harbor 10 the early summer of lSl;
The most formidable cruisers t1at ca
,isd the Stars aud Stripes were in Il
habit of issuing from this port, al
soiue of tho best American ships /,
for instance, the CONSTITUTIONAL
been built u the yards ut Boston AZ
Marblehcad.
Capt. Broke had not been lying lul
in the Shannon of Boston Lishthou
before he became aware thut one
the finest American frigates, the Chcs
peake, was getting ready Tor sea in d
harbor. Shortly before the action Will
made the two ships 50 famous COZ
Broke addressed q letter to Capt. La
renee, inviting him TO "try the forum
Of their respective flags" and biddi
him come forth TO the combat. T
American captain had no desire to ba
tho wishes Of his opponent, and short
afterWard on the first day of June, lsl
Broke deserted fron his own masthc;
chat the Chesapeake was preparing
GONE out Of the harbOr The Amcric
frigate bore down upon her adversary
VERY handsome fashion, aud ut ha
past five in the evening hauled upon {
starhoartl side of the Shannon, viii
was steered by the veteran sailor, Jan
Coull, who has just hreathed his last
Scotland. The battle began exactly
six s'cloeh, and in fifteen minutes
aHion-jack was dying above the st;
and Stripes. at the mainmast Of
~.