The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-08-19

Reid, had repu-
- tation to make for
himself and a bril-
liant one to keep bright for his vessel. The
ports of Azores had not seen a British
cruiser for months, and the American con-
sui assured the gallant tar that he was
safe from attack under Portuguese protec-
ton. The food and water were hoisted on
board about dark and the schooner was
left at anchor for an early sail next day.
AS night closed in a British vessel was
seen rounding point to enter the harbor,
within gunshot. While the American cap
tain and the consul stood on the schooner's
deck watching the Briton, two other YES
sells hove in sight, and vigorous signal
ing took place between the strangers. The
consul insisted that no enemy would at
tack vessel anchored in a neutral port,
and owing to a prevailing calm Reid de-
cided not to attempt to escape, though the
odds would be against him in fight.
The British vessels were in fact the adj
vance of a squadron bound for America to
aid in attacking New Orleans. They were
the flagship Plantagenet, of seventy-four
guns; the frigate Rota. forty -four, and the
brig Carnation,a eighteen, carrying lit
tie army of sailors and soldiers-about
1000 men. The Carnation, leading of,
boldly anchored within pistol shot of the
privateer, having learned her character
from the Fayal pilots. After some signal
ing she began to throw out boats and take
on very busy airs. Seeing this, Reid de-
cided to warp his schooner to shore under
the guns Of the castle of the Portuguese
governor of the island.
The moon was bright and nothing could
be concealed. The decks of the privateer
were closed for action, and the Carnation,
suspecting the Yankees purpose of hug
ging the shore for protection, cut her cable,
made sail and sent four boats loaded with
men to pursue the schooner. Reid was in
trim to receive his enemies, but he first
hailed them and warned them, without,
however, receiving a reply. His vessel
carried seven guns and ninety men. One
gun was Long Tom, large center can
non on pivot. The Armstrong was owned
by Samuel Adams, was well equipped and
one of the stanchest and most formidable
of her kind It was Reid's first cruise in
her, but he had seen service in the regular
navy, and was fighting skipper by blood
and training. 4
The British launches held about forty
men each, and as they drew near to the Yam
k60 UIlG OdESluGAG cuSWCICo UuC CAdAlCuSCS
from her decks by pulling at higher speed.
Finding that the Britons ignored his sig
nal, Reid opened fire with the Long Ton,
and with muskets. The volley was re.
turned from the boats and one seaman
and the second lieutenant on the priyateer
were wounded. The men in the boats
shouted for quarter at the second Yankee
volley and hauled off. qs'4 s. g
81 5sek,1r 1H1I o1I
his vessel within pistol shot of the Portu-
guese castle. The decks were prepared for
the hottest action, for the skirnish had
been just CORY enough to rouse the British
ire. In short time after the four launches
retreated to the Carnation the whole feet
was astir, and more launches filled with
men were lowed up under cover Of a ledge
of rocks. within short range of the priva-
teer. The huge warships stood by over
towering the little schooner and hemming
her up in the marrow harbor. During the
whole evening the preparations were
pushed for battle, and the sloping, semi
circular shores were lined with people who
waited for the spectacle under favorable
moonlit sky.
About midnight the British launches
moved slowly from their cover and paraded
| line, keeping close order. They were
rowed steadily toward the Armstrong. and
when within gunshot the crew Of the pri-
vateer, who all this time lay resting at
quarters, greeted them with stunning
volley. The Long Tom made terrible
havoc. and for q moment the boats held
up, the limo broke and all was in confu-
sion. However, some of the assailants
v% thau onctrpra6 tho Van
| kee fire with fnuskets and carronades
The men cheered and once more the
| boat dashed forward. The privateer con-
tinued firing with murderous effect, but
the plueky Britons pulled onward in the
face of the storm and through it, death
shots striking at every pull, until they
reached the vessels side out of range OF
her big guns Then the British officers
called out, ''Boardln and mo quarterp'
people on shore distinctly hearing these
| commands mingled with the shrieks and
cries Of the wounded and maddened sailors
in the boats.
Reid hurried his inen to the bulwarks
with their pixies, pistols and blunder-
buses, and the venturesome boarders who
clambered up the vessels sides were beaten
off by blows, stabs or shots The small
carronades and swivel guns on the boats
pounded away at the ribs of the Yankee
wherever there was clear space, and at
the same time the men in the boats fired
their muskets and blunderbusses into the
ranks Of defenders along the bulwarks Of
the privateer Early in the action all OF
Reid's lieutenants were hit. The senior
was dead, with bullet through the fore
| head. Many of the seamen were hit Also
| and the Yankee fire began to slacken, par.
ticularly on the forecastle.
Then Reid gathered up the spare men
| aft and led them forward with a wild bat.
tie shout, followed up by fresh volley Of
| musket balls, into the thickest ranks oil
the boarders. That ended the struggle
| The boats hauled of-all but two that were
| manned with dead men only-and drifted
helplessly on the pillows. One boat that
| got away carried but four survivors, and
| the lieutenant commanding saved his life