The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-06-10
gale and took her in triumph to st. kit's
within four days.
Fight with La Vengeance


Tho na,t wear CAPTAIN Truxtun had
chance to show what he could 90 asan, Is,
a stronger ship than his own, anu o -,
LIST of February, 1900, being OIL Guaudio
he sighted La Vengeance, one OF INC 80
French frigates, mounting hlty-l"o
The Constellation Immediately SCI ne. ,,,a
sign and gave chase, but La V 5ctac,,
having OH BOARD large NUMBER OI O li
OF rank and soldiers, which she "aS nave
ing 10 France, Would ldthIl ~ chase
fought. and so, look TO her heeiS. 4 he - Of
continued from the morning OF thC - ~.
February untiI late in the ditei mon bafora
End and it was O'Clock at hlshI Wien
they nnally came to close quar- 'Ui D ,,,os
La Vengeance found the COnSteI!tllol III
bent on a tight, they entered mo IL VIZ ,rna
the bravery OF the French chaIaclel, as
officers and soldiers she was carrying
passenge4s went TO quarters with tiG 80,
Iar crew and she came ABOUT III Sl"i'a ne
giving her first broadslde as SUM E1ntain
Constellation was ~ithih IdiiSS' -,
TruXtun without firing a gun, drew "I'i-
pistol shot OF his enemy, botn crews SHh
ing as the TWO gallant enemies hedIeu -
otner When within pistol shot, the ~
stellation bar<ed out every gun OH plo
side, and the tight began IN Sood edi No..
Both ships were running hre, anu n.irs
the whole fight, which IaSteu lNe hoI .i
the cannonade continued. The crown
condition OF the Frenchman ) decks Hihr~
the slaughter dreadful. out she did not tdhS
her punishment without giving 1t PACK VIZ
spirit The moon had risen IN troplc SPien
dor, and a good breeze was blowing, 50 INC.
both ships could maneuNtG, anu tic u
light enabled them to see what tney w.
doing Toward midnight though, IL wa
plain that the Frenchman was SettlhS ~ IN
worst of it. However, she showed no 0l??
of surrender and the guns that could sun
be worked pounded the malnmaSt OF M
Constclla ton unul it was soon seen lhaI AZ
must fail. At this point occurred what -
probably the nobleSt act OF young couId?o
in all naval history. The officer OF the main
top was a little midshipman, James JdtNi?,
who was only thirteen years Ola NhSh -
was seen that nothing could save the main
mast the topmen leaped and cldmpeIGu
down. and an old soldier begged the htIe
midshipman to save himself. To TINS youhs
Jarvis answered calmly: AS an officer
cannot leave my post-and II the mast Sve9
| must go with it" In few moments thG
great spar fell with fearful Crash an" M
the dauntless boy came down with IL. nc
was the only officer on the Constellation
killed. .-,,.;.,,
This accident rendered the Constellation
helpless for a time, and La NenSeanCt'
having stiu spars enough left TO get away;
made off, without firing another gun 1oI am
was soon lost in the darkness inat ioioMeI
the setting of the moon Her loss OF men
was frightful, while that of the Constelia-
ton was comparatively small.
Well Earned Eion0rsf.
When Captain TruXtun reached home
after this brilliant engagement he was re-
ceived with acclamaticHS: c9neISS I ,5 49,
a solemn resolution in honor OF young Jar
Wis. who gloriously preferred certain
death to the abandonment Of ms post
This is perhaps an unprecedented honor
for boy of thirteen, but it cannot be Ge-
MED that the little midshiom3n, WHO ue-
libcrately gave his life Ia'Ier t-l@l u'seiI
his post. we'll earned II. o,.
The London merchants of LloydS coHee
house sent Captain TruNtun a Splehd.t
service of plate with 600 guineas, ana SomJ
years afterwards the United states named
n smart soop of war after him-the IruN-'
tun. Captain TruXtun served but snort
while i'm the navy after this. IN lS02 ne
was ordered. as commodore. TO command
a squadron, and finding he was TO nave no
captain on his flagship. declined the haG-
shin His letter was misunderstood by the 4
authorities of the navy department. to mean
a resignation from the navy, ana was rs i
such. accented. Commodore TruNtun, too /
proud TO withdraw it, chose rather TO with 1
draw from the uavy-a course which must
ever bc regretted He chose Pniiadelph.a .
as his home and became prominent ana .
influential citizen lie was Tor some time
sheriff of the city. In lS3 mis- doi.h oc-'
CURED and he left behind him IN no1ora-
ble name as a man and brilliant reputa-
ton a a seaman