The Arkansaw traveler., 1882-08-13


 
 The EB-Hsaulea hld .hc -cd54b.4aic I.S.eN aui her i.tsi. esneett tn a aap. taf >iN ae-a- thc t.so 5riiishvc>>el, kep, a fcrY close nsseh on the Nael.s 5t4s. ,a:l.ns HP .taa dssn s3e estss. a.s out >fs.e oi thc eafz.,nz r h the hdrj'at. r. atiix. aH .he e.jh af daf h. .1apt. Porter. 'ru>Hn- to his Ibii..y ta ot.>.a. either af yhc t;rtt'St1 f-cs,ci~.5.sRd df,.,a= them lwAs . Sa ,ilt, tiFC tSSCx tu1i7r m 1t = ape. ,es -.t, 4ad drew atii the ,t.ss aae39c n daeri IT d heliltad - lhe oa.ga.iee ut .ae hafAaf. t->cs Wt~ ser,.rs=;1Y | .3gait. .tAsen ttsritd tssat her mautur:u t,; ,sDd several men. Capt. Porte; fctsIreed io- W.If3 he road,jcad ana .uuohotcd three u45lc, from the town. aaa about the e.-- ,fnae at a p.>,ol >hot from the shore. lb- lha.bc ard the Chetub had hecn rN- ehs,a and criSicrI; ,i..ii 'tes meant tu attack. although Inc ve>- ~els were ail n neutral waters.
 He l'hahs rar#ed ihftN leH- t 5h,een- peandcr, and sixteen ,h!rtN-iNo-poaNd C.Gronadcs taf her ainAMeHt besides >cken small g,ins in her tops She also lad ;co men al la.d. The Cheizh e.sr- rea t~eaN -eeh, guns ot tar.ous o..hbct and lN, mex. fo ncc, thl, formidable iets, ,he t~-eN had ass men and htr AUnlmtni. consisted oi iWtu,t->lX lhlr,A- paHn cf~ aud >iN bong taciv c-poundrrs. Inc E>e-NA IL. Mh.ch took ua uar, fu t1s. i. lli. had iaea;l sUn> and >lNt n'eA. Nevertheless, i'urler resolved ihd, hc pld aeYcs >..irendts t> lri. a- hc had men enough ,oWoik h.s 1.sl>: .tz5t Shy ;n1uiallv tid he hold n hi> resol.Fsion.
 he l'hahe opened tirc .f. o'1.oCh ln the afternoon. hem. ,hcn neHi3 de ,d .,>tcfn ot the ,i,~ahiod i.,~cS he long ctshtcc0> ot the t.ngii~hm10 c.d great lama . an board the ..>>cN. winch. slo;- N th>ta9s.luS her di>l,tan:aSc. returned the ire W,ih s.,llantrN and >plrt. Inc Cfcfub. tbcu or the stuboacd box otthc Essex. nc>, opened fire also. but WAS df31cn ati b> ;hc guns ot the .kmeriean. Three ot the hong twclve-pogudcrs ot the Essex were then go' out astern and played upon the lh,phc with ,ieh teul pie effect that she ,oo. was hauled off tnr repairs. many ui the shots having struck below the ~,ttet-igur.
 So,h the British vessels now closed up- on the American friga,e, being on her >,arboard quarter. and poured ln;o her q nr> >o -aliins that the sparS and rigging ui the doomed >h}p were soon n iansle ot wgcCkasc Porter shipped hs cable and hoisuns his tiNIns-iib. bore down upon the enemy. pouring brUadsidcS into them d, the ship >low!N drltied. The ChcrHh was driven o;t for the second tac and the Phoebe retired out of the reach ot the guns of the FSsc> but near enough to warrN her with her long range ordnance. AIter ,we hours oi fighting. Porter tired to run his vessel ashore. to prevent her from falling into the hands et the enemy. bui :, change ot wlnd. prevented hlm. and he anchored once more. making faS, a sheet anchor with a hawser.
 kery shortly after the hawser parted. and. tp increase the trials of these deter mlned heroes. ,he ship took tire below deck. In the extremity Capt Porter told the men to save themselves as bes, they could. Some threw themselves into the sea and Swam to shore. some were drowned. and many wcrc picked up while cllasins ,o bits of wreck by the boats q: the enemy. Ba, larger part of the crew stayed by the ship and continued hnng into the encm, Tn the midst oi smoke and flames. Finally. the fire vas partly sub- dued. and men enough ,o work TWO of the long ,welves kept up'a brisk ire.
 But further resis,ence was useless only seven,y-hve men were left to do duty. the remainder being killed. wounded or mis- sing. So. after an engagement that had lasted two hours and a half. Porter with a sorrowful heart. hauled down the Amer. can flag. and the wreck of the gallant Essex was surrendered ,o the foe. The British loss four killed and seven wounded