The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-07-19

SOUsS - Sss0 SUSsU1SCS " sDS sSOSO"OS
the "i.ssex" Vas struck by . squall,
which carried away her maintop-
mast and several men. Captain Por-
tor returned toward the roadstcad
and anehored three miles from the
town and about the distance Of =
pist"l-shot from the shore, The
''PnG!e" and tie ''Chcrub" lad
been exchanging signals. and II was
evident tha. they meant to attack,
altI,onyI, the vessels were all in nel-
trail waters.
The 'Phel,e" carried thirty long
eightecn-i'oundtrs and sixteen thirty
tws'-l ound carronades fDr her arnl;s-
Inent, hAi.les seven email guns In her
tops. She also had 30 men, all told.
Tie "Cierub" carried twenty-eight
guns Oi various calitcr and $50 men.
TO meet this formidable force the
Essex" had c5r5 men, and her arn,a.
,m,:it consisted of twenty six thirty
rvu,,.i.rs and six long twelve-pound-
ers. The "E~sex Junior" which
took no part in the fight, had twenty
guns and sixty men. Nevertheless,
Porter resolved that he would never
surrender as long as ie had men
enough to work his guns; and right
,ulanfuhy did lie hold to his resolu-
ton.
The "PhULe' opened fire at four
o'clock In the afternoon, l,eing then
ne"rly dead astern of the disabled
Essex" The long eighteens OF the
Englishman did great damage on
hoard the Essex" which, notwitl,-
standing her disadvantage, returned
the fire with gallantry and spirit.
The ''Cherub," then Oh the starh.Ard
bow "f the Essex" next opened fire
alko. but was driven Off by the guns
Of the American. Three Of the long
twelve-louutlers Of the Essex" were
then got out astern, and played upon
the "Pl.nbe" with such terrible ef.
fect that she, too, was hauled of for
repairs, many Of the shots having
struck below the water.line.
Roth the British vessels now closed
upon tho American frigate, being on
her starlnard quarter, and poured In
to her a fire 20 CALLING that the spars
and r,gring Of the doomed ship were
soon in 4 tangle OF wreckage. Porter
slipI cd his cable, and hosting his
flysns:jii', bore down upon his enemy
pouring broadsides into them as the
ship slowly drifted. The ''Cherub''
was driven of tor second time, AMI
the "Phnl,e' retired out # the reach
Of the guns Of the "Esscx," but near
enough to worry her with her long
range Ortlancc. .Afser two hours Of
fighting. Porter tried to run his vessel
ashore, to prevent her falling into
the hands Of the enemy; tut q change
of wind prevented him, ANIL lie an
chored once more, making fast u
sl,eet-anchOr with u hawser,
Very shortly after, the haw>er
parted, and, to increase the trials Of
these determined heroes. the ship
tl,ok fire b..lnv' deck. In this extrcm-
ity, Captain Psrter told the men to
save themselves as lx.st they could.
SOnle threw themselves into the sea
aud SWAIN to shore. SOME were drOw-
cl, and many were picked up, white
clinying TO bits Of wreck by the boats
of the enemy. But larger part "f
the crew >tai,l by the ship, and conf
t'n,.t.i hrins into tn" enemy, in The
n.i,is, ":thr SMOKE and ilai,its. FL
nai.y, ,:,c fire w..S l,a,l:::: su'',lur0. "n'l
n,c,. e,,nu.i, to work / wo vi the Ion=
iw.lvt~ kcI.t UP /. brisk fire.
but :urt .rr resistance was usel. ~.
Only >cvrn,y-iivc H'rn were lett t"
10 .luts. tie remainder lting killed.
."Gn,ic! or missing. 80. after an
rn"n":ll,rn, that had lasted two hours
.nG 4 half. Porter, Will, u ss,rrvwful
'n:,rt. hauled down the .Ana rican
ti,v. and the wreck Of the gallant
l.. >.x" wa. surrendered to the foe.
IL E;itisl lost four killed and seven
Wounded ou the ''rhW!.e," aud one
killed and three wounded om the
''Cheru.,." Both ships were BADLY
crippled, their sails and rigging i'eing
rid.licsl. and the ''Phobe" had re-
c~ivel eighteen shots below water
line iron, the long twelves oFthe ''F.s-
SEX" Tl,ol,san nls IL spectators crowd
c,l the shores Ia gaze ON the bloody
encounter. The Spanish VirerOy
was vaimly cn. .yratcd by the An,eri-
can Consul t0 insist upon the n'ain-
tcnmncc "f neutrality. He refused to
Interfere.
Thus ended one of the most re-
n,arkallc naval engagements of mod
crn times. 1t ended in disaster to
the American cs,l,>e. Isat The heroic
defense Of the "F:ssex." in wLicl, OtIi-
GERS and men We'd with one another
in :: determination not ttrgive up the
ship. free! with fresh enthusiasm all
who heard the story Of their brave
and obstinate f.gh:. And when The
young people Of the republic shall
celebrate once n,.re the deeds Of the
patriotic defenders of the American
Rel u,,!ic. Let them give hesrty
cheer !ur David Porter and his crew.
~. .Nich"'u~ for .t"y.
Fashion Note.
\ lady who was preparing bathing
SUITS for Il triy Fast for the summer
wrote to m Eastern fashion paper tO
cI L. ~ =.