The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-27

roads of Fayal. the finest part of the
'Azorean group of islands.
Reid did not whip the vanguard OF
the feet, for it comprised the flagship
Plantagnet, Of - guns; the frigate
Rota, 81. and the brig Carnation. IS
carrying a little army of sailors and
sOldierS-ahOut 1000 men, He fought
them single-handed though with his
little priYateer, for a night and a day,
and as a result the feet did not get IL
New Orleans in time to put in shot
As might closed in. that memorable
Sept. &c, 1914, the British vessels sailed
into the harbor of Fayal. The Carna-
ton boldly anchored within pistol shot
of a mysterious ship which the pilots
had told them was a Yankee priVateer
After signalling to her consorts the
Carnation threw out some boats, and
her crew took on very busy airs. The
moon was shining and nothing could be
concealed.
THE MYSTERIOUS VESSEL.
The mysterious vessel which was the
object of attention from the British
had reached FayaI during the after
noon. after a Il days run from New
York. Her commander. Captain Reid
learned from the American consul al
Fayal that there had not been a British
nag in that port for months. and the
that he was entirely safe under the
protection Of the Portuguese, who
ruled the islands. The Armstrong took
On food and water, as allowed by the
laws Of war, and prepared for an early
sail next morning. Reid saw the ac-
tiTity of the newcomers in port and he
knew that the odds would he against
dim in a fight, but he decided not ia
attempt to escape. When the Britons
began their suggestive signalling he
put his schooner to shore under the
guns of the castle of the Portuguese
governor and cleared his decks for ac-
ton. When the master of the Carna-
ton saw the Yankee ship hugging the
shore for protection. he cut his cable
made sail and sent four boats loaded
with men to pursue the Yankee. Reid
was in trim to receive the attack. but
ne filst hailed and warned the enemy
His vessel carried seven guns and On
men, One gun was the famous Long
Tom, which has been the subject nj
diplomatic interest. 1t was large cen
Ter cannon on a pivot. The prfvateer
armstrong had been fitted out by
Samuel Adams and was one of The best
of her kind. She had made a record
before Captain Reid took charge of her
for this cruise. Reid had served fy the
regular navy AID was a fighting skin
per by blood and training.
The British launches sent ont from
the CaInation held about 40 men each
AS they drew near to the Yankee. and
heard Captain Reds challenge +ba
oarSmen pulled at higher speed. Find
ing mis- signals ignored. Reid openad
with Long Tom and with muskets. One
Foliey was fired from the boats. but
at the second Yankee volIey the assa IL :
ants asked for quarter. then backed off
IN a snort time, after the four launches
retreated to the Carnation. the whole
British fleet was astir. a line of
launches filed with fighting men moved
up under cover Of a ledge of rocks with
IN short range of the privateer The
three huge WarShips also stood in line
oVertoWer'ing the little Yankee schooner
and hemmsng her in the narrow har-
Dor. During the whole Venfng pran-
arationS were made on both sides for
battle. The Sloping semi-circuIar shores
of the larbor formed a splendid arnuf-
theatre and throngs of people gathered
TO watch the expected battle under a
clear moonlit sky.
A MIDNIGHT BATTLE.
The was lun after the first sk;r-
nlash until after Midnight; then the
British launches crept slowly from their
cover and to the number of Ii parade-J
in one long row, close order. Their,
oarsmen pulled steadily toward the
Armstrong. The Yankee crew lay rest
ing at her quarters, and when the
launches came within gunshot arose.
and greeted them with a stunning vol
ley. Terrible havoc was made by tina
Long Tom. The boats held up for A
moment, then the line broke in confu-
sion. There were enough sound mef. left
in the boats to reply to the Yankee
fire With muskets and boat cannon
AIDES. a round of British cheers fol-
lowed these answering shots, and once
more the boats dashed forward. In
spite of the murderous fire from the
decks of the priVateer the Britons
pulled ahead until they reached the side
Of the Armstrong, out Of range of the
big guns. Cries of board" and no
quarter rang out on the British boats.
These shouts, mingled with the shrieks
and cries Of wounded and naddened
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 boardery who
had clanoered up the vessels sides
We're driven off by blows. stabs and
shots. 1t was a rafting fight for a few
minutes. The small cannonades and
swivel guns of the British Numbered
away against the wooden sides of the
Yankee ship. At the same time the
men in In boats fired their muskets and
blunderbSisses into the ranks Of the
Yankees along the bulwarlls of the pri-