The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-10-06
A Famous Sea- Fight.
ny NOAH BROOKS.

War" In these later days, we have
had war on our own soil, which let us
hope, the last war tn at we shall ever be
engaged in as long as the American
Republic lasts. But boys of an older
generation than this knew "The Last
War to be between the United States
and Great Britain, now generally called
"The War of 1872" Happily, though
the contest was not a long one, Ameri-
cans can look with pride at the Ameri-
can navy of that period The names
of Bainbridge, Hull, Decatur, Porter,
Perry, and many other gallant sailors,
will be remembered as long as the ira
ditions of the United States navy en-
dure.
In 1918, the frigate ESSEX" COM
mauded by Captain David Porter, after
committing such havoc on the British
marine of the Atlantic coast of South
America, sailing boldly around Cape
Horn into the Pacific Ocean. Porter
had resolved to strike out into new
field of operations, and Carrying into the
Pacific the first American flag that had
hoated from the masthead of a man.
of-war, he swooped down upon the
British merchantmen and whalers, caus-
ing tremendous CONSERVATION. Nobody
had dreamed that the Yankees would
dare to send man of-war into this dis
tant sea, and the British frigates were
making things very uncomfortable for
the few American merchantmen engag-
ed in the Pacific trade. The arrival of
the ''Essex' soon changed all of that
Within a year she had captured four
thousand tons of British shippings, and
had taken four hundred prisoners. She
may be said to have subsisted upon the
enemy, as the vessel was not only sup
piled with everything needed for re-
pairs, rigging, ammunition, clothing,
and provisions, taken from the enemy's
captured ships, but the men were paid
with money found on board of one of
her prizes.
Orders were given that the "Essex"
must be destroyed, at all hazards, by
any British man-of war that should be
fortunate enough to catch her.
But the American frigate was fleet, and
difficult to catch. Finally, in February,
1914, the frigate, accompanied by a
small craft called the "Essex Junior,
cruiser made over from one of the
prizes captured from the British by Por-
ter, cast anchor in the harbor of Val
paraiso, Peru. The Peruvian Govern
ment was not then Independents. Peru,
being province of Spain. But Valpa-
raiso was a neutral port, although the
people of Peru, and the Spanish, also
were somewhat unfriendly to the
Americans. So, when two British men
of-war, the "Phpbe" and the "Cherub,
entered the port, it was tolerably Ger
tain that there would be fight, should
the "Essex" dare to put out to sea.
The Englshmen had the redoubtabl,
"Essex" aud her little consort in a trap
For six weeks, the two British vessels
kept a very close watch on the Ameri
ans, sailing up and down the coast
just outside of the entrance to the har
bor Finally, on the 28th of March
Captain Porter trusting to outsail eithe
Of the British vessels, and drew then
away, so that the "Easex Junior" nigh
escape, set sail and drew out of the an
chorage In doubling a headland a
the entrance of the harbor, the essex
was struck by squall, which carrie
away her maintopmast and several mel
Captain Porter returned toward tn
roadstead, and anchored three mile
from the town and about the distanc
of a pistol shot from the shore. Th
"Phebe' and the ''Cherub' ha
had been exchanging signals, and
was evident that they ment TO attack
although the vessels were all in neutra
waters.
The "Pheebe' carried thirty lon
eighteen Founders and sixteen thirt,
two pound carronades for her armament
besides seven small guns in her tops
She also had 800 men, all told. TIL
"Cherub" carried twenty eight guns O
various caliber and $50 men. To NEE
this formidable force the "Essex" ha
225 men, and her arment consisted O
twenty-six thirty Founders and six lon
twelve ponnders. The Essex Junior,
which took no part in the fight, ha
twenty guns and sixty men. Neverthe
less, Porter resolved that he woult
never surrender as long as he had me-
enough to work his guns and RICH
manfully did he hold to his resolutions
The Phoebe" opened fire at fou
o'clock in the afternoon, being the
nearly dead astern of the disable,
''Essex." The long eighteens of tn
Englishmen did great damage on boar,
the Essex" which, notwithstandin,
her disadvantage, returned the fire witt
gallantry and spirit The ''Cherub,
then on the starboard bow of the 'Es
SEX, next opened fire also, but wa
driven off by the guns OF the Ameri
cans. Three of the long twelve-pound
ers OF the ''Essex' were then got ou
astern, and played upon the "Phpbe
with such terrible effect that she, toe
was hauled off for repairs, many of tb
shot having struck below the water
line.
Both the British vessels now close
upon the American frigate, being O
her starboard quarter and poured int
her fire so calling that the spars an
rigging of the doomed ship were 500
in tangle of wreckage. Porter sliI
ped his cable, and, hoisted his flyinll
iib, bore down upon the enemy, poul
ing broadsides into them as the shi
slowly drifted. The "Cherub" wa
driven off for second time, and tn
"Phebe" retired out of the reach of tn
guns of the "Essex," but near enoug
to worry her with her long range orc
nance. After two hours of fightins
Porter tried to run his vessel ashore,
prevent her falling into the hands
the enemy but change of wind pr
vented, him, and he anchored ono
more, making fast sl.eet-anchor wit
hawser.
Very shortly after, the hawser parte,
and, to increase the trials of these d
termined heroes, the ship took fire b
low deck. In his extremity, Captai
porter told his men to save themselve
as best they could Some threw then