Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-11

lenged formally the Captain Of the c-,,.
TO naval duel with their respective 10.
sells beyond the marine league. mi. '
latter officer declined, and Col,I-s -
| determined, before the time ..rl.- .,.
TO capture or destroy the cruiser
! harbor. As such an act was cor...'.. 80
| international law. and might De- a...
/ with much hazard IN the gua-5.-
Collins called in his cabin com. .''j
war. at which Melville. the prssa,.
glneer-in-Chief Of the United S,a... n. ''-'
with other officers, was present. 10 .
slider the surest mode of attack sue
Many methods were discussed t..
choice fell on that suggested by ,r.....
TO ram the Florida where She Ii,
contended by moro than one menaa-l..
council that when the Wacausa-.
her blow the shock would star, .fs
from their fastenings, thus brelR.ra..
joints and scalding fatally all b...g ~,
vile combatted this theory. and lrf....
discussion upon it when be Sail. b..
Captain:
II do not think the boilers w. t-
loose; but II they do there Need ,.,
ore man sacrificed. for after ,.. ...'
are started / can work them a.o-.
will order all hands on deck
While preparations for the a.....-
making Melville volunteered .5 f-.-.
mufti the Florida, IN broad I.r.-..
ascertain, II possible the strsr-
battery, and the location of l.r-
cry. II. in this mission, his ida...
discovered he might have been ..-..
as a spy 10 the yardarm; l.t r....
standing this danger. the fa-..
officer succeeded IN reaching -te a.-
gangway in n shore boat game. ..-.
and with quick glance fore .r. 4.
tanned the desired informa. l.-..
officer in charge hustled him 0..-....
and into his boat, with the a4s.
II he did not keep off a sl.. v
dropped through her bottom.
TO sink or swim in the bay
At two a. m, on October 9Th Pie v.
chusett began her brief bur hal.rr... ,.-
age. Melville. however. W.. Dot .r.-..
alone below, one fireman. Hra..v. ...,..
refused TO leave him. She s.-
Florida on the s,arboard side. oil,
beam, and cut her down for ..r...-
inches below the water line. clr-r...o...
her mainyard and mIzziumaa .-...-.
her after broadside gun down .a ...,
hatch, and burning her ship. ,a~--.
below the awnings, which was forced l7x5
on them by the wreckage.
a boarding party from the Wa.-....
surgod on her from forward: th.-. v
a few pistol shots from The Florida v
were answered 10y vo.,oy from -a. r..
ion vessel and the discharge Of brE.s
guns, and the victory was comr,.
hawser was made fast 20 her foroma-...
the Wachusett towed her Of 20 SEA-. PIP.
ming on the way the gauntlet OF ID
lorna fire from the Brazilian forts rl
vessels Of war. The action LASTED E
twenty minutes. and there were oa. ....
men wounded-a bugler. the s.-r
yeoman. and Melville himself. WHO -s-
the cutting out received a. severe u
stroke across the back OF the ~, Band
The Wachusett proceeded with b. prize
10 Hampton Roads, Va, and there ts
Florida was sunk. according 10 tie OT.
declaration Of the United States a.r
ment. through IAN unforeseen s...
after a collision with an army tra'-r.
which accident II may be remarked.
was most opportune in is final 's.
OF the question as 10 the custody .r
United States OF the Confederate C-.s.-
William Ledyard Cathcart. IN C-4s...s
Magazine.