The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-07-19
A Famous Sea Fight.

years ago, We boys used to tell thrill
ing stories of what was called "The
Last War" In these latter days, we
have had war on our own soil, which
was, let US hope, the last war we
shall be ever engaged in as long as
the American Republic lasts. But
boys of an older generation than this
knew "the last war" to be the war
between the United States and Great
Britain, now generally called "the
war Of 1872" Happily though the
contest was not long one. Ameri-
cans can look with pride at the Am
erican navy Of that period. The
names of cambridge, Hull, Decatur,
Perry, and muny other gallant sail
ors will be remembered as long as
the traditions Of the United States
Navy endure.
In 1918, the frigate Essex, com.
manded by Captain David Porter, az
ter committing much havoc upon the
British marine off the Atlantic coast
of South America, sailed boldly ar
ound Cape Horn into the Pacific
Ocean. Porter had resolved to strike
out into q new field of operations,
and carrying into the Pacific the first
American flag that had aoated from
the masthead Of q man.of.war, he
swooped down upon the British
merchantmen and whalers, causing
tremendous CONSERVATION. Nobody
had dreamed that the Yankees would
dare TO send a man.of.war into this
distant sea, and tho British frigates
were making things very uncomfort-
able for the few American merchant
men engaged in the Pacific trade
The arrival Of the Essex soon changed
all that. Within year she had
captured four thousand tons of Brit
iSh shipping, and had taken four
hundred prisoners. She may be said
to have subsisted upon the enemy, as
the vessel was not only supplied with
everything needed for repairs, rig
ging, ammunition, clothing, and pro-
visions, taken from the enemy's cap
tured 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, accompa-
MED by u small craft called the "Es-
sex Junior" a cruiser made over
from the British by Porter, cast anch.
or in the harbor Of Valparaiso, Peru.
The Peruvian Government was not
then independent, Peru being prov.
inco of Spain. But Valparaiso was
u neutral port, although the people
of Peru, and the Spanish, also, were
somewhat unfriendly to the Ameri-
cans. So, when two British men Of
war, the Phoebe and the Cherub, en-
tered the port, it was tolerably GER
tain that there would be q fight, if
the Essex should dare to put out to
sea.
The Englishmon had the redoubt.
able Essex and her little consort in
a trap. For six weeks, the two Brit
ish vessels kepta very close watch
on the Americans sailing up and
down the coast, just outside Of the
entrance to the hardor. Finally, on
the 2Sth of March, Captain Porter,
trusting to his ability to outsail eth
or Of the British vessels, and draw
them away, so that the Essex Junior
might escape, set sail and drew out
Of the anchorage. In doubling a
headland at the entrance of the har.
Dor, the Essex was struck by squall
which carried away her maintopmast
and several men. Captain Porter re-
turned toward the roadstead, and
anchored three miles from the town
and about the distance of pistol.
shot from the shore. Tho Phoebe and
the Cherub had been exchanging sig
nails, and it was evident that they
meant to attack, although the vessels
were all in neutral waters.
The Phoebe carried thirty long IS.
poundcrs sixteen 32-pound carron-
AIDES for her armament, besides seven
small guns in her tops. She also had
Al ~