New-York tribune., 1899-12-17

old ship anoat long enough 10 give her chance
Of a befttng death? To sink under the guns 0,
the Spanish batteries, In his opinion and tha,
Of Irnidge, would be the only worthy conclusion
10 her gallant career
Presently "A boat from the Thunderer brough,
another offer Of assistance, which was again
declined by Irnidge, who added that II the Car.
Iotta were not in their hands by the time she
came out Of the roadstead the guns Of the Thun.
derer might sink her.
lyon may be very certain wen stand By
ready to do that rather than let her get away
said the lieutenant dryly, as he went over the
side.
The night turned cold and thick after the
moon sank but the bearings Of the Carlotta
had been taken by the compass, and Selby who
started in an advance boat for the purpose o.,
getting to the andward Of the Spaniard to cut
her cables. pulled away noiselessy into the
darkness. Every man Of the small boarding
party had his orders and his appointed task
The nimblest were to swarm the yards to loose
and set her sails so that she might be- got IN.
der way without delay. ana forth.
In due time with her canvas set the little
doomed British ship began to move in toward
the bar. towing behind her the boats 20 Dee ussd
10y Inc Dbdl tlIE Idl ll' i'i'' "tt'''i'''4 "4
creaked as the wind caught her. and her fore
foot began to cut heavily through the water
Mr.. Irnidee had served his apprenticeship IN.
der a consummate seaman therefore h. nov
succeeded in taking the mtractab.e clumsy Old
hull through the narrow fairVay. Thereupon
he left her drifting before the hreeze up the
dark length Of the bay. while b. and his crew
dropped astern and slid away n the direction
Of the Carlotta leaving the lights oi cadz to
starboard
The wind ripped the water from the oar blades
and sent it over Mr.. Irnidge in the stern he
shook i, from him and urged his men 70 greater
speed Here and there q stars reflection blazd
up from the hollow hlackness of the swell, but
all else around them was dark enough. IT.
nidge's boat passed almost within pistol shot 4
the sentinel gunhoat without attracting atten-
tion but they had not yet reached the quarter
Of the Carlotta when fame like a sword shot
out into the night from an unseen shore battery
and a heavy explosion shook the air. which told
them that the sure had been discovered
Quite certain that every eye must De fixed
upon the drifting ship. Irnidge gave orders %
board the Carlotta on the further or shoreward
side. by which stratagem he hoped 20 attach
something Of the nature Of flank movement
10 the assault. for the DonS would naturally
expect attack from the direction of the sure.
The crew Of the Carlotta had already begun
to run to quarters. and the battle lanterns were
being it when Irnidge and his boatoad cut
their way through the boarding netting which
protected the bulwarks and threw themselves
into the middle Of the enemy
Shut them down" roared Irnidge. fighting
his way aft as his men poured aboard from
various points.
Then with a shout the fight closed in. Upon
her wards British seamen were cutting her can
vas free; on the deck below. the scene tha'
shifted and tumbled into new shapes oi carhaee
and herosm underneath the Christmas s'a'S
was lit up dimly at intervals by 'he ha'"eS
from the batteries, now all engaged IN dlsaoIhg
the Sure
The crew Of the old brig fought like demons
against overW helming odds. but lrnldges '@'
tics told Imagining they were about 20 De d.
tackled on both sides, some OF the SpdnlaFds' =
soon as they felt the Carlotta begin 20 ho'7'
tbrev, themselves into the sea- and another parE
shut into the cabin called out offers ot su''
render. But still the British were far outnum'
hered and the fight went hercely on Gun ai'H
qun onened on the brig and added their thund
10 the confusion; for only herr and there
among the darkness and the drifting smoke
the lanterns showed patches OF ooodstahr'
thanking. where over the dead and the d!!Ns
men drunk with the lust Of killing ana ven
geance continued to drive the chances OF victory
to and fro along the decks
Irnidge wounded in the arm and neck KEY
his place beside the helm, and while he sun Or
Tended himself from the onrushes ot the Hps"
iards the ship was put about and beginning
groan and quiver as she moved toward '''
mouth Of the harborage. But all The time
grim conflict ragged on her forepart even VIE"
the Carlotta, still practically untaken. ran oo'
Of the fairway. and behind her in the darkness
OF the bay the Sure foundered with dim "hie
.bs s4A