The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-11-04

overtowerlng the little Yankee schoon-
e.. and hemmlng her in the narrow
harbOF. During the whole evening
preparations we're made on both sides
for battle. The sloping semi-circular
shores OF the harbor formed a splen-
did amphitheater and throngs Of peo-
pie gathered to watch the expected bat /
tie under . clear moonlit sky.
There Vas a lull after the FIRST Skin
mlsh an after midnight: then the |
British liSiches crept slowly from
their cover and 10 the number Of four
teen paraded In one long row. close or
der. Their oaismen pulled steadily
toward the Armstrong. The Yankee
crew lay resting at her quarters. and
when the launches came within gun
shot arose and greeted them with a
stunning yolley. Terrible havoc was
made by the Long Tom The boats
held up for a moment. then the line
broke In confusion. There were enough
sound mel left In the boats to reply to
the Yankee Gre with muskets and boat
carronados. 4 round OF British cheers
followed these answering shots. and
once more the boats dashed forward.
In spite OF the murderous fire from the
decks OF the priyateer. the Brltons pull
ed ahead until they reached the side
Of the Armstrong. out Of range Of the
| big guns Cries Of board" and mo
quarter" rang out on the British boats
These shouts mingled with the shrieks
and cries Of wounded and madlened
sailors In the boats. reached the ears
Of the people lining the shores.
when the enemy closed upon him,
Reid hurried his men to the bulwarks.
Pixies. pistols and blunderbusses were
brought into play. and the boarders
who had Clambered up the vessels sides
were driven on by blows. stabs or shots.
II was a attllng fight for a few min
utes. The small carronades and swivel
guns OF the British Numbered away
against the wooden ribs Of the Yam
kee ship. At the same time the men
In the boats fred their muskcts and
blunderbusses into the ranks Of the
Yankees along the bulwarks Of the
prlyateer All OF Mr.. Reds l!euten-
ants were hit. The senior was dead
with bullet through his forehead.
Many OF the seamen were also down.
and FIRE seemed TO cease on the fore.
castle.
Gathering up the spare men aft Reid
led them forward with a Wild battle
shout Fresh volleys Of musket ballS
were hurled into the thlckost ranks Of
the boarders. That ended the struggle.
Two Of the boats were manned with
dead mes only. They drlftcd hopelessly
on the pillows. but the others were
slowly hauled on. one boat carried
away but four living men. 4 licuicn-
ant commanding Il saved his lie hy
jumping into the water. Some OF the
oaIsmen fell dead from their seats dur
ing the retreat. and the boats iloated
ashore with the grim cargocs OF dead
and dying sailors.
But the Armstrong had not escaped
punishment. The Long Tom had jump
ed from her berth and several OF the
gun carriages were broken The ~.
malnder OF the night was passed In
putting things into shlpshape Tor the
morrows battle Although the portu.
guese governor cntroated the British "a
stop hosulities. the British commander
swore that be- would have tina; Yanke,
prlyatccr. u ne had TO knock down IN,
town 10 get at her Reid sent hi.
wounded ashore. and at daylight al
the ahlc-bodied men some wearinl
CORY bandages stood az the guns ready
Tor action. Early next morning the big
Carnation moved to the attack and
opened With full broadsldes at clos,
range. Meanwhile the Long Tom had
been rlghtcd and poured shots fast and
furious into the hull. the rigging and
@-h- Sss--aL - Lslinn.-Lle punish
ment was too much Tor the Carnaii0I
and she hauled away.
Reid saw that the defense would b
useless against the odds. and that bonn
bardment was endangcring the town
Many OF the British shots took effecl
on land. The schooner was scuttled ant
abandoned. The enemy boarded hel
and applied the torch, putting an enc
TO vessel that had left many a mari
on the crack men-o-war OF the klng'i