Evening journal., 1888-09-17

lish shout f'No cuartersi" and vowed that
none should be given by his gunners
or crew. Again there was an outburst of
powder fare and an avalanche of hot
shot. The English recoiled, but not in
confusion. They stubbornly kept up the
attack, and for more than half an hour
supplied CORY harvest to Capt. Reid and
his Spartan nerved sailors. Blood was
flowing everywhere around the Arm
strong, and rivulets of it from the priva-
teer's slippery decks tinged the waters of
fayal bay. Three of the English boats
had been sunk and 239 Of their men killed
or wounded. Capt. Reid dexterously
used his cutlass to repel boarders. grasp
ing it with his left hand, while pistol
after pistol. loaded and primed by pow.
der boys, famed from his right hand ,nd
laid many a stalwRrt Britisher on 4rlorv's
eternal quarterback. The intrepid Will.
iams second lieutenant of the Gen.
Armstrong, was killed in the fore part of
the action and his brotherofficers Worth
and johnson, were both severalv
wounded, but Reid himself miraculously
escaped with hardly bruise. His total
loss was nine men, and Of these only two
were killed outright
~
At daybreak of the 21th Commodore
Lloyd signaled the Carnation to omen hsr
guns upon tho Armstrong and try to sink
that vessel. Reid kept up a vigorous re-.
turn fire. and finally compelled the Enc.
lish brig to haul off for repairs. Seeing
no way to evade the doom which threat,
ened his little craft, Reid scuttled tho
Armstrong, went on shore with his heroic
crew, and took refuge in a dismantled
fort ON the island, knocked away the
drawbridge, and grimly prepared for a
continuance of sanguinary results. Al
though Commodore Lloyd defed the Por
tuguese governor and threatened to land
800 valorous Englishmen, he didn't make
good his brag In fact, lie had more than
enough Of Samuel Chester Reid and Of
night fighting in neutral waters with
Yankee born demons. His fleet, aug.
mented by the sloops That's and Calvpso.
was detained at Fayal ten days for burials
and repairs. 1t then set sail for Jamaica,
and Reid took another dinner with his
warmly approving friend, Consul Dabnev.
Landing at Savannah, ten weeks later.
the commander of the Gen. Armstrong
was met at every city and town, as lie
lourneyed northward, with heart graft
flying testimonials OF a nations esteem.
Virginia rendered him a public dinner,
and Richmond, Baltimore and Philadel-
phia excelled their proverbial hospitality
in receiving Samuel Chester Reid. who
had SO signally humbled the marine
prowess Of England. The state of New
York voted him an elegant gold hilted
and jeweled sword, and Americas metro
polls added u massive service of silver
ware to a round of banquets and recep-
tions. The modest hero Of Fayal harbor
almost succumbed TO this promiscuous
welcome and wassail. His exploit at the
Azores made a profound sensation in
Europe. 1t was referred to by an admir-
ing and candid writer, in London news
paper, as the essence Of heroism."
At a venerable age, this courageous.
dashing, scared and peace honored
American surrendered a life, worthily
filled out, just as lis beloved country
was nerying and girtins itself for a
dreaded ordeal-fratrcida war.
HENRY CLAY LUKEys.