The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-17

DRUG AND CHEN. CORR, Sole Props, Boston, n
astern was still floating there, uninJur-
| ed, with her oars in her. The little boat
was brought alongside. The British, see
ing the motto flag come down, slackened
their fire. Four Of the few able-bodied
men remaining on the Lawrence slid
down into the yawl.
Perry wrapped the motto flag around
his arm and entered the boat. Standing
erect in the stern, charges of grape
sputtered across bow and stern. Round
shot clipped the water but few feet
away, dashing the spray into the faces
of the men bending at the oars. Two
of the men in the stern sheets absolutely
pulled their commander down from his
exposed position, and all unframed,
they swept under the counter of the Nj
agara, whose cheering crew. had been
watching them.
AS Perry gained the deck he turned
back and looked at the Lawrence and as
he did so the charnel ship with her sur
viving crew of fves hauled down the flag
that had been flying at her peak. She
could fight no more.
At the same moment the emblem,
Don't Give Up the Ship" rose to the
Niagara's masthead.
The Englishmen who were cheering
again after the flagship had lowered her
ensign, soon gave over, for out of the
smoke that was drifting down toward the
Yankee fleet came the Niagara, with
Perry in command It was no half Grip
pied, shattered hulk they had to face
now Straight for their line the Niagara
bore on After he came the Somers,
the Scorpion and the smaller vessels.
working their sweeps, and the men
shouting as they doubled their efforts to
be up with their leader.
The English feet had begun to man
oeuvre, and were heading this way and
that in obedience to the signals of their
flagship. They were trying to get in line
to receive the onslaught of the Ameri-
can squadron Perry left the quarter
deck and made his way to the forecastle.
They were almost within rdnge and yet
not a gun had been fired.
The smoke OF the previous action with
the Lawrence had blown away and lay
like a thin mist over the water to the
leeward The tickle wind had again shift
ed and caught some of the English YES
sells all aback.
The Niagara took advantage Of it and
bore w little. Her broadside guns
covered the nearest English ships. An
old gunner sighted along the barrel of
the twelve-pounder and lowered the
breech a little. Perry observed the mo-
ton
'eHave you the range there, Judson?"
he called out.
AYE. aye, sir that I have" the old
star replied. 80 Think I can cripple her,
sir
The Queen Charlotte of the British
feet, whose crew were working like ants
endeavoring to bring her head around,
was gathering sternway. Just abaft
her quarter was the flagship Detroit, and
she also seemed in difficulties. A quick
glance told Perry that his forward star
board gun was in position to do great
damage, but there was not an accent of
excitement in his voice as he turned
quickly and said:
you may fire, udsonJ." Instantly
the forecastle shroudede in smoke and at
the roar OF the Niagara's first gun every
man aboard looked to see the effect Of
the shot
The ball carried away one of the Queen
Charlotte's stays and crippled some OF
the running rigging, 50 that the toIsaH
went back against the mast Before the
Detroit could get out Of the way the
Queen Charlotte had run foul OF her
They ranged side by side The yards
became twisted IN the shrouds, and the
running gear that. was let go fouled so
completely that they were locked toseth-
er. Now was the time for action Perry
hurried TO the quarter deck
Hold your fire. Hold your hrs" he
cried to the impatient gunners. who were
waiting for the word
Nearer and nearer the Niagara ranged.
The blows OF the axes of the men who
were trying 70 separate the English ships
were distinctly heard and the voices Of
the Officers urging them on In another
instant Perry had given the word
No broadside that had been poured into
the poor defenceiess Lawrence b. The
British had been 50 destructive as that
which lesped from the SiaEara's side.
The crushing force Of tie sho-t-ra-Se
guns was seen Great gzshes were rip
PED in the bow and stern % ths Detroit
and Queen Charlotte Charges CO grape
shot SWEPT &he crowded decks Il vas
one % those transformation scenes thzt
have happened and always VIII happen
in battle The stricken ships shsvsrsd
beneath the blows The busy axes cess-
ed. shriels and xrosss rise
That for the Lawrence" cried ths
men Of the Niagara
On the Niagara swept heading Sor ths
Lady Provost .thas lzy bit a shori 6fs-
lance or 70 p1y;- The smaller Graf;
nov came into action They toIlowei
close on re heels % tee Niagara sn5 as
each ere passed. the Engissh shsps ,heF
let 80 a 5ros6zgds- Just as ira Porca-
pine passed By sAere cane 4 crasA ard
tire rzsnmast II ths Detroit ss-i. bring
Eur dowr every thszE n IS wake. \ few
seconds zsgerws-s The -nszzeurnast o. the
Queen Charlotte teH zlso
The port hsoads.de Ok tie Niagara zss