The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-12-15
NAVAL YARN.

| AAASoosS A>S'Shs >pPe' ba'it L VI btl, y. -
| N, Gather of the present Admiral Por-
ter) from the period of her sailing from
the United States to the time of the ever
memorable engagement, in the neutral
port of Valparaiso with two British ships
| The Pbebe and Cherub would be too long
for newspaper article; therefore brief
account of the defence and pluck shown
by officers and crew of the Essex in de-
Tending their ship against two crack ships
fitted out and sent expressly to capture
the Essex wherever found and under
whatever circumstances, which accounts
for the violation Of neutral port, will
constitute this narrative.
During the cruise of the Essex from
| the United states to the Pacific ocean,
she captured a good number of valuable
armed prizes, one vessel furnishing to her
capturers 500, 600 in specie. and the other
with bread, beet, pork, cordage, canvass, in
fact everything needed for officers and
men, sweeping the Pacific ocean of every
vessel sailing under the English flag.
This state of affairs caused the British
government to send two ships, heavily
armed and manned, to find and capture
this famous ship of the infant American
navy. The Phebe carried thirty long
eighteens, sixteen thirty-two pound car
ronades and one hawitzer in each top
with crew of 500 men. Her consort
the Cherub, mounted IS thirty-two pound
carronades S twenty-four Founders and
long mines, making % guns and crew
of $50 men, while the Essex carried 80
eighteen Founders and only 90 souls all
told.
The British men-of war found the Es-
sex lying in the harbor of Valparaiso
where she had gone to fill up with water
and to await the arrival of the Phebe, not
expecting or supposing she would bring
with her another ship. These ships Gu
tered the harbor and anchored near the
Essex, during which period Capt. Porter
offered Capt. Hillyar, of the Phebe. to go
outside and fight the Phebe single hand
ed. Though far superior in force, this
| challenge or offer was declined. Captain
Porter then determined, the first oppor-
tunity offering, to run out to sea, know
ing the enemy would follow him and
with the hope of separating the Phebe
from her consort the Cherub, and then
engage the Phebe ship to ship. In car
rying out this project during one of the
heavy blows they have on that coast, lie
got under way and made sail, but in
doubling what is known false Cape
Horn Or Cape Angels, a heavy squal struck
him and carried away the main topmast
OF the Essex which falling over the fore
braces crippled the use of the forward
sails uniting the ship to go into an
action. Capt. Porter Immediately wore
| ship and stood back into the harbor, but
on account of his crippled condition, could
not fetch the inner harbor, but anchored
| under the guns of a CHILEAN fort, whose
| duty it was to have protected him from
Vic atlaSh vi his SilSlilltS do IL WIS d HGu-
trail port, but failed to do so. and both
ships continued to approach him with
motto flags and jacks set. The decks of
| the Essex were therefore cleared for ac-
ton, and an attempt made to get springs
on her chains, but the two ships approach
ed, one taking her station under the stern
/ &c he I'D 81 I
using their long guns in raking her fore
aud aft. The fire of the Phebe from the
double advantage she poss essed in her
long guns and position became very de-
structive, as scarcely gun from the Es-
sex could touch her, and yet with all her
disadvantages both of her opponents had
to haul off to repair damages, aud as they
had the Essex on lee shore at their
mercy, they renewed the attack until
nearly every officer of the Essex was
either killed or wounded, ard until the
blood flowed from her decks like streams
of water-this fact the writer had from
the lips of persons who witnessed the en-
gagement from the bluff under which she
was anchored.
Capt. Porter finding that he was max
ing au useless sacrifice of the lives of his
officers and men by continuing The fight,
consulted with the few officers left and
ordered his flag to be hauled down, say.
ing to the men that were able to swim
tn t they had better try and reach the
| shore, which some few of them did. Thus
ended one of the most cowardly and dis
honorable naval fights recorded in history.
In this noble defence against superior
| force, the late Admiral Farragutt, then
a wee midshipman, received his baptism
in blood, encouraged by the heroic con-
duct of his gallant commander, and un-
der the shadow of the glorious stars and
stripes, vowed to serve his country and
defend its flag, let the enemies be whom
they may, and nobiy did he fulfill his
baptismal vows.
In after years the Gillian government
had to pay the United States for the loss
of the Essex captured in neutral port
p. p. l..
A TERRIBLE PROPHECY.