The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-12
liz the LDasp's Nest:
81. BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BEADy >:
Copyright 1902. by Charles Scrbner.s sons)
CHAPTER XIV. x
An Heroic English Captain.


spite Of the Impotence Of the officers and men Of
both ships, they approached each other with the
most exasperating sowness. :... -. -. -
1t apparent, even u1lsled eye, that the
Wasp somewhat larger and heavier vessel than
her opponent the difference between the two in favor
q the wasp beng about IN the ratio OF three TO TWO
and it was highly probable that the Wasps battery was
correspondins heavier and more effective than that of
the English ship This disparity made the gallantry OF
the English captain i'll thus boldly leading down
superior foe. more conspicuous and BaEely and his
could restrain feeling pride they wit
messed the courageous advance of the other ship
The young American captain actually eSulted in
the daring of his rival rejoced
feenlan apparently worthy of his steel He would
been of equal size that the disparity had been the
other waythat is against him instead of in his favor
but it: was quite evident that they would all have
enough Of fighting before they were thru Indeed. the
approaching battle destined to be of the hard
the and of the most desperate actions
eve fought
At a:1s p. the English captain opened fire with
shifting twelve-pounder, really large boa-gun:
mounted on his top-galan forecase, and arranged
that it could be fired nearly right ahead either
DOW. The shortness Of the the bulk the Wasp
and the smoothnes of the rendered accurate shoot
ing The shot hit the ship fairly squarely
sent shower of.splinters inboard. ~. = =.
a gun the Wasp yet bore on the enemy.
There nothing they could do but hold grimly
and take the pounding especially they imagined that
every moment would bring the brig alongside of them
and under their guns. But the English captain
good to throw away advantage.
For minutes by skilfu management his ship,
he held his position blazing at the American ship.
Tie very deliberate about it, too, shifting
carronade fred after being carefully aimed only
about once in every two minutes.
The EngliShnan aternated shot
shot from the carronade. The damage consider
able Nothing that a soldier a sailor required to
do is SO hard to compass. and brings such
upon his native courage and discipline as to stand
under fire without the possibility return In this
respect the of the Wasp showed they
possessed steadiness veterans.
Seeing that the English commander good
seaman to throw away his advantage Blakey a
put his helm down and made q half board Wasp
slowly swept to port. At 1926 the
port battery last bore the English ship. gun
captain imne diately beneath Captain Blakey.
S locksring in his Without order he
and looking Blakely with world of en-
treaty in his gaze: The captain DESTROYS
than gunner The instant the piece nodded
his head.
.Gve it him. lads!" cried, before the
heard the hammer of the sunlock fell
the printing, and With huge the bolt o
mark. The sound had not died before the
parked out its of defiance,
next the in succession, whole
broadside had been deliberately emptied upon the
English ship.
reply instantly. Seeing that no
@Ianser maintain his position, the captn brig
laid his ship alongside the Wasp returned her fire
with every gun. The both sides was exceed
singly rapid The marksmen of the American We're in
The tension of waiting taken off they
put practice all they had learned in various drills
target practices they had enjoyed they
maintained their fire fearful pace they did not sac
riice to haste.
The conclusion, of deadened light air.
the two vessels lay side by side the smooth
water, less than twenty yards apart,
distance sidewalk sidewalk in an ordinary
city street, The smoke hung each them in