The Portland daily press., 1894-11-24

| staff and he gets little credit for his work
with the public. What told this man is
| true. My place in this army could be sup
| piled; his could not. Much of the success
| of this army is due TO him. This army
| fights we'll because it is well fed. That it
| is we'll fed is due TO the executive ability of
Beckwit,''
The UNITED States" and Macedonian"
In October of the year 1912 the fIigate
United States was one of a small squad
ron that was cruising not far from the
island of Madeira. On the twelfth day
of the month she parted with the Presi
dent, forty -four, and later with the six
teen-gun brig Argus both of which had
sailed with her from the port of Boston,
all we'll differed, we'll manned and eager
to meet the enemy. Bearing away SOUTH
ward into the paths of the British West
Indiamen, Decatur, in the United States
hoped to intercept rich prize or two.
or better If possible, to fall in with one
of his Majesty s vessels, which were con-
stantly lowering in that neigborhood.
Sharp looks were kept at the mast head
at all hours, and the crew were spelling
for action.
Sunday morning, the 25th, dawned
bright and clear. There was a sIiff
breeze blowing, and the frigate was I'M
der easy canvas, steering a course south
east by east. An observation showed
b to be in latitude 20 deg, longitude
20 deg, 80 M, west, AS soon as day
light was fairly broad, off to windward,
close to the horizon the lookout deserted
sail and in a few minutes it was dis
covered that the stranger WIS an English
ship-of-war carrying all but her lighter
canvas Quickly the. United States
blossomed out from the top gallant yard
to her main course: and although the
breeze was strong studding sails were
set and tossing the heavy sea to left and
right she was soon hard upon the chase.
The United States was a good sailer-all
of our ships were in those days-and long
before seven O'Clock it was seen that she
was overhauliDg the enemy rapidly. So
great was the enthusiasm of her officers
and men that the cheers they gave were
borne by the wind to the Englishman
before a single gun of the action had
been fired. Through the glass it could
be seen that the enemy were at quarters.
At nine in the morning Decatur lutfed
little, took in his lighter sails and fired
his gun-deck battery; but the balls fell
short. Both vessels were now on the
same tack close on the wind and Decatur
found that it was impossible for the
United States to gain the weather gauge.
Broadsides were exchanged as the dis
taEce was lessened and for half an hour
the commanders continued firing doing
no vital damage. Suddenly the enemy
changed his course, squared his yards and
crossed Decatur'S bows, letting drive
his forward battery. Still the United
States held on; and here the Englishman
made fatal error. 1t is given by some
authorities that Captain John Garden
the commander of the Macedonian sup
posed his opponent to be the Essex
which only mounted carIonades there
fore he commenced action at long range
1t did not take long, however, to appraise
him that he was out in his reckoning for
although the distance was SO great that
carronades and muskets were of no avail
almost every shot from the heavy metal
of the American struck its mark despite
the pitching cross sea. Finding 1T was
too late to run, Captain Garden bravely
bore down upon the United States TO en-
gage her at close quarters, as at the dis
lance at which the action had COM
menced he was being literally chopped
to pieces. 1t was reported that during
the engagement, which then began in
earnest, SO incessant were the broadsides
of the American vessel, the Englishmen
supposed her to be on fire, and three or
four times cheered in their turn as the
news ran through the ship. but they
were soon undeceived. The splendid
gunpery of the A mericans was apparent
as the vessels neared. The rigging and
spars of the Macedonian were riddled
and cut, many of her guns were dis
mounted, and in a few minutes her miz-
zen-mast went by the board. Pitching
to and fro, shrouded in the smoke which
blew toward her from the enemy's guns,
the United States kept up her destructive
fire. For an instant the smoke cleared
away, and there hung the main-yardarm
of the English frigaJe in two pieces; her
maintopmast was gone, her foretopmast
was tottering. and no colors were seed
foaing above her deck; her bowsprit
was swaying to and fro, held only by
the jib-forestay, and sailing was impossi-
bic. She ceased to gather headway,
lurching and yawing to one side and the
other helplessly.
Strange to say, the United States re-
manned almost unhurt. Decater ceased
his fire as he saw the enemy's plight,
furled his mizzen-topsail (the mizzen-
topmast being badly wounded), drew
away, tackled and came under the lee of
the English ship. They gave him
feeble broadsiGe, and Decatur lutfed
again across her bows; AS ne did SO,
Garden, perceiving further resistance to
be vain, hauled down his colors, which
had again been hosted on spar at the
stump of the mizzen-mast.
Decatur, his face flushed with victory,
hailed in person: "What ship is that?"
His Majesty's frigate Macedonian.
thirty-eight, John S. Garden" was the
response.
Immedialy boat was lowered, and an
off Ger was sent on board. In the two
hours Of the engagement she had suffered
terribly. Not less than one hundred
round Shot were counted in her hull.
many of them between wind and water.
She had nothing standing but her main
mast and foreyard. Her boats were use.
less, with exception of one small quarter
boat, and out of the officers ana crew,
three hundred in lumber, thirty-six
were killed and sixty-eight were wound
ed. The American loss was five killed
and six wounded. -Harper's Weekly.