The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1890-11-14

that one away from her companion. In a
short time the stranger h9lSted English
colors and proved to be the war tr!GHte
Java The other vessel was an American
merchantman, prize Of the Java. The Com
stitution mounted fifty-four guns and her
opponent thirt y-ei-ht, or, "a some state.
ments have it, forty-niue, although rated
at thirty eight \ heavy broaasde from
the former greeted the show Of English
colors and the battle was opened Balm
bridge was a bold G@hter It was he who
ran his vessel, the III fated Philadelphia,
into the harhor of Iripoli in chase Of n
TriDolitan and lost her on a treacEorous
shoal under the gunsoi the Barbary pasha's
feet. The ships We're far apart and began
maneuvering for advantage IHeX We're
about evenly matched The CONSTITUTION
had more seamen than the Java, but tile
English vessel was the faster ship-G great
point in Eer favor in maneuvers. The t#f
tics of the Java were to rake the Constitu-
ton, which was classed in the English
navy az "a bundle Of pine boards under a
bit of striped bunting" But Bainbridse
was alert, and although his wheel was
shot away at the outset the loss was speed
ily remedied and the vessel handled with
kItdJ ShllI III a 54ibl q IiLli' 'iiS N''i'''i|
dore was wounded Is Tausket bali III the
hip. He refused To leave the deck and
soon received a second wound, which was
very painful Still he stayed above, die
recting every movement, his fEe figure
he was over six feet tall commanding the
| admiration Of his men, his dark eyes now
flashing with the brilliancs Of excitement
and again cal.n In The moment Of intense
I H., I,pl, 4 tIiG N
4 the scene of battle he Is q host, and his
presence makes his men followers indeed,
and enrilltors Of his bravery.
During the first half Of the fight the YES
sells remained at a distance from each
other, ard BaiHbridge finally determined
10 close in and sta,.d the Java's raking,
SO that Ac could put In some Of the de-
struetive hull shots for which American
captains were famous. The Java soon
had her boWsprit shot down, and BAN
bridge turned tie Constitution sharply
on her heel and dashed away from the
rakins fire of tile other.
The Java was now quite unmanage-
able with her headsails gone, and the
Constitution fell a,tern Of her ana raked
her deck. Again the Constitution turned
on her heel 10 avoid return fire. The
captain determined 10 board the Amtri
can The gunners Of the Constitution
frustrated this attempt by their admirabl,
firing The Java IN closing ram her llb
boom into the mi2zen rigging VI her op
ponent, but she soon lost both her lih an'
the head of her bowsprit, and received ;
severe raking from the stern. The fore
mast went down under this fire, carryln!
In the forecastle and main deck.
Banbridee hauled off the Constitution
rapidly, avoiding Il raking fire by doing 50
4nd shortly came UP under the Java
quarter without receiving a shot HI
vessels were new hr0adside to broaaside
AT the next fire Of the Constitution th
Java lost her nixzramast, and all tia
remained was her nainmast with its yard
gone The English captain noN cease
firing, but it WAS noticed did not atrik
his colors. Thinking that this migl
be owing to excitement over the sever
damages suffered by tile Java BainbridG
lay to and after an interval, seeing ii
Jaya's ensign still flying prepared I
open his guns again Tho English IA
came down Meanwhile tile lava's mAil
mast had fallen, having been pertorate