The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-19
One Of the Earlier Dewey..


by Admiral Dewey. ID that any American
VINO knows his country's naval history
shou.o express surpise at the result. The
brave man who commands and all the
otner brave men who officer and man the
Asiauc squadron Of the United States rep
resent the best tradition Of the American
navy and have been living up to 1t, but
what they did in the harbor of Manila is
the legitimate successor of brave deeds
done In the harbor Of Tripoli and, notably,
mat consummate act OF bravery per-
formed by Capt. Samuel c. Reid In the
harbor or Fayal in the Azores, on the
night OF September Is, 1914.
samuel Chester Reid was an earlier
Dewey-and the annals OF our navy show
many another like him In the gallant days
that have gone. just as there will be more
to come II the republic needs them in the
years that are still stretching before US
he was born in Connecticut, in Norwich.
Beginning ike the rest of Them as a mid
shipman, he served under Truxton and
rose to the rank of sailing master. At
the time OF the occurrence here to be cele-
brated, he was. however. in command Of
the staunch little privateer schooner the
General Armstrong. which sailed from
New York. September 3. 1874, with in
strucfions to hover around the line of the
Brazil fleet. Earlier In the war she had
been under the command OF Capt. TIM
othy Barnard and had made no fewer
than nineteen prizes. Wher she returned
home, she was fitted with seven long mines
and forty-two FOUNDER set amidships
not very powerful armament. but one
that would serve at a pinch.
The General Armstrong, following her
instructions, laid her course for the Azores
islands and after a rafting voyage
anchored in the roadstead at Fayal on
the fifteenth day out from New York,
seeking water and fresh provisions. John
b. Dabney. the American consul at the
port, came out and was able to assure
Capt. Reid that no British man-of- war
had been seen around those parts for
many long day. But he had not much
more than spoken when spanking Brit
tsh brig-sloop. the Carnation, Capt
George Bentham, eighteen guns. came in
sight. She was speedily followed by the
frigate Rota, Capt. Philip Somervile
thirty-eight guns. and the big sventy- four,
the Plantagener. Capt. Richard Floyd
Mr.. Dabney. the consul, was quite certain
even after seeing their enormous prepon-
derince of men and guns, 1900 and
ninety of one. $50 and seven OF the other
that the British would respect the neu-
traiity OF the Portuguese port. Samuel
Reid knew better. He could see that the
Carnation was clearing for action. so he
got up his anchor and began TO move the
schooner close In shore with his long
sweeps About 7:3C O'Clock in the even
ing OF a Gear moonlight night Ii was
when hs saw four boats filled with sail
put out from the British squadron
He pus UP stout boarding net al around
the ship, cleared for action ard dropped
his anchor with springs on the cable. In
shallow water. Then Capt Reid, his duty
done so far. awaited the coming of the
British He hailed them az they APP
preached repeatedly, and. falling TO get
any response. at last opened fire. TMs
was returned from the boats promptly
they came on with a rush and yell, but
before they got in striking distance. they
acknowledged defeat and returned
whence they had come
Thereupon the British set preparations
on foot that would admit OF no doubt.
Presently the Carnation came slowly in
surrounded hy boats. Waiting until mid
night, the latter, In three divisions OF four
each. left the shelter of the reef where
they had been lying, gave three cheers
and started for the Yankee. There was
only time for one brosdside from the
Armstrong when they were laid aboard
The attack on the quarterback was fret
repulsed with enormous losses 10 the as
saiiants Then, n slight advantage having
been obtained by those on the forecastG.
where two OF the American iieutenan.s
had been shot. Capt. Reid led mis- men TO
the rescue and the British went tumbling
over the side. all that was left of their
40 against our ninety.
Then the Carnation took a little turn
With her eighteen guns she came boldly
In, suffered two or three weIl-placed shots
from the Armstrong; long tom and wert
hack more quickly than she came. There
upon the big P.antagenet warped herself
around and the American saw that
further resistance would be useless-eight
guns TO seventy-four was not quite fair
So they turned their one big cannon
against the hull OF the gallant Armstrong
blew a big hole in her and down she went
tire wounded having been first removed
New for the casualties: They were rot
as dlsrroportionate as az the Manila fight
OF course for the British are another
breed from The Spaniards. bat the Amer
leans had two killed. one OF them Second
Lieutenant Alexander q. Williams. and
seven wounded among them the first and
third HeufeGants: while ire British off,
GERS admitted TO Consul Dabney that
there had been more than Is, killed
result Of the acton. though the official
report showed thirty-four killed and
esghty-six wounded. But Il was q glori-
olxa victory z.sd one 10 b. RENE "a trrea.