The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-04-25
THE MAN BEHIND THE GUN.


In the records Of all naval powers no
act of heroism can be found to surpass
that of Captain Nicholas Biddle, of the
United States thirtytw o-gun frigate
Randolph, who, III years ago today
March y, persisted with 80 of his
men in an attempt to protect five
American vessels sailing in his com
pany from superior English naval
force. The Randolph was a new
frigate, one of the first ever built by
the United States. In February, 1777,
she sailed from Philadelphia on her
maiden cruise against the enemy, but
when only few days out she was over
taken by violent gale, in which her
masts were so seriously weakened that
Captain Biddle was compelled to put
into Charleston for repairs. This
mishap was due to the fact that her
rope stays and shrouds had been fitted
during cold weather in Philadelphia,
and on getting into the warmer air to
the south they slackened and left the
masts almost unsupported. The Ran
dolph was blockaded in Charleston, but
in March, 177S, she got to sea in COM
pany with the South Carolina State
ships, General Moultrie, Notre Dame,
Polly, Fair American, and shooner in
search of some British warships which
had been cruising off the coast. On
March 7, while eastward off Babadoes,
they fell in with the British 64-gun
ship -the-line Yarmouth, Captain
Vincent. In order to give his weaker
consorts time to escape Captain Biddle
signaled them to make all sail before
the wind while he boldly stood down
to engage the ship of the line single
handed. When near enough to hail
Biddle shook out his colors and poured
broadside into his huge antagonist.
The Englishman promptly responded,
and for an hour the two ships ran
along side by side, the Yankee seamen
maintaining a superb fight against
hopeless odds. Finally a shot entered
the Randolph's magazine and the ship
blew up and sank almost Immediately.
Out of her complement of 315 only
four escaped. Captain Biddle had
been wounded early in the action, but
refused to be carried below. At the
time of the explosion he was ON his
quarter deck, having his wound dressed
and animating his men by his heroic
example. The American accounts of
this extraordinary act of heroism are
fully confirmed through English
sources. An English historian says
that ION March 2, at 5 a. M, the Ga
gun ship Yarmouth, cruising eastward
of Barbados, got sight of squadron
of six sails, consisting of two ships,
three briggs, and schooner. The Var
mouth made sail to close on the strang
ers, and at 8 a. m. was near enough tc
hail the largest, which proved to be
the American 32-gun frigate Randolph
Captain Nicholas Biddle. The Ran
dolph Immediately hoisted her color'
and fred broadside at the Yarmouth
which, being returned, fight of al
hours duration ensued, when the Ran
dolph blew up. The Yarmouth, being
to the windward, fortunately escaped
being involved in the catastrophe, bu
several pieces of the burning wrecl
fell on her deck. An American ensign
rolled up, was blown from the Var
mouths forecastle not singed. TIL
temerity Of Captain Biddle in thu
attacking ship SO much superior t
his own deserved better fate. Fiv
days later the Yarmouth fell in with
piece of wreck Of the Randolph o
which was found four men, the onl
survivors of the ill-starred ship. TIL
poor fellows had been on the wrec
four days and had subsisted on raj
water, which had been imbibed b
means of piece Of blanket" Capital
Vincent reported five killed and twel,
wounded in the Yarmouth. The r
manning American vessels escaped.
New York Sun.