Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-03-20
A NOTABLE NAVAL BATTLE.
Captain Stewards Famous victory and an
Offer That Was Not Accepted.

Offer That Was Not Accepted.
In the many controversies that have
arisen as to the relative merits of the
naval occurrences between the Amer
lean and English navies i'll the war OF
1919 no argument has been urged with
more persistency by our transatlantic
cousins than that the Yankee ships car
ried greater number of guns and
heavier shot. A naval action took place
Feb. 20, 1915, however, in which, even
by British authorities, it is admitted
that tho Americans were inferior in
number of guns and aggregate shot
weight. Tt was the action between the
frigate Constitution and the British
cruisers Cyaue and Levant, fought some
180 miles northeast of the island of
Madeira The Constitution, commanded
by Captain Charles Stewart, carried 81
guns, having total shot weight of 644
pounds to the broadside after allowing
for underweight in American shot,
while the two British ships mounted 80
guns with 754 pounds of metal TO a
broadside.
The battle was fought by moonlight,
beginning at 6:05 p. IN. and ending
with the capture of both British ships
by 10 p. M Stewart began the battle by
boldly attacking the Cyane and Levant
together, and never was American gun
merry shown to better advantage. Broad
side after broadside was hurled into the
opposing vessels with astonishing ra-
pidity and accuracy, and before the en-
10 Io1f fI,o
Constitution had secured position be-
tween the two Englishmen and was fir
ing from both batteries at the same
time. At $3.50 p. IN. the Cyane surren-
dered, and after taking possession of
her Captain Stewart made sail after the
Levant, which, in the smoke of battle,
had become separated from her consort
and was some distance westward. By
10 p. m. this vessel had been oyertaken
by the swift sailing Constitution and
compelled to surrender.
In this remarkable action the Ameri-
cans sustained loss of only killed
and 10 wounded, while the English had
80 killed and 42 wounded. After tho
battle was over the two English com
manders, while aboard the Constitu-
tion, got into dispute as to the result,
each charging the other with the respon-
sibility of the defeat and claiming that
if such and such maneuver had been
made the American would have been
captured. Captain Stewart, who over
heard the discussion, finally said:
"Gentlemen, there is no use in get
ting warm about it. 1t would have been
all the same whatever you might have
DONE If you doubt that, l will put you
all on board again, and you can try it
over.
There is no record of the British com
manders having accepted the generous
offer New York Sun.
A Seville Reggar.
His name is Ramon, and there are
few better known men in Seville than
he. 1t is said that his father was the
public executioner of the city, and,
when he died. some foolish people told
Ramon, then a lad of rather weak i'll
tellect, that he would be compelled to
succeed his parent in his CHASTITY office
The terror created by such destiny
fairly unhinged his mind, and he be-
came the sad, innocent lunatic he is at
present He has wandered about the
streets for years, gentle, kind and
honest man.
No one knows where he sleeps, for he
has no home. 1t is supposed that i'll
winter he crawls near the furnaces of
the brick works and in summer huddles
in any quiet corner. He never inpor
tunes for charity, like other beggars,
but simply presents himself and takes
the help that is given, and if it is re-
fused he meekly turns away. Ho usu-
ally, however, gets moro than his few
needs require. and when he is thus en-
riched he distributes all that he can
spare among the other starving crea-
lures whom he knows. But it is rather
to the poor children Of tho street that
he gives food than to the grownup pro-
fessional beggars
The hungry children recognize him
as their best friend, and so this Ramon,
the poorest Of beggars, is, in fact, one
of the most generous benefactors. AS
watched him turning up a lane, no.
ticed how he was encircled by children,
among whom hestood talking in friend
ly confidence. There was none of that
rough play which we often notice on the
part of the street arabs at home when
lunatic comes their way. Ramon and
the ''gamins" were evidently compan
ions. Good Words.