Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-10-27

attempt and give up the ship. Get
| the stuns'ls ready for setting and sec
| that the gear is all clear. | want smart
| work from the sail-trimmers. now!
Slocum. stand by that helm and mind
the orders, Bid the men train their
guns aft Stanhope. and fire when
give the word. Now, then! Up with
the helm, Over with it! Hard-a
weather! Tend the after-braces!
Hands ready. Round in forward,
iatten in tie head-sheets! So! Stand
by with the starboard battery. Now.
Fire, Let her have it, men! Sway
away with those stunsls! Steady with
the helm Quick, for Gods sake
Well done ALL"
Once more the eight six-pounders
harled ont In cloud of her own
SMOKE the Boxer rounded on her heel
again, BRINGING the wind aft again
darted away at right angles to her
former course Covered with stuns'ls
allow and r. she leapcd along at a
great pace ming distance with every
moment. re they to succeed in es-
Gaping?
But the can'ain Of The liner had forn-
seen the skilful endcavOr. less
able seaman might have attempted to
emulate the Englishman's motions and
followed ON the briggs heels; less
thoughtful commander would not have
been ready for the only move which
would have stopped the daring ma
newer. With proper Judgment, he
chose to crush the audacious English
man with his mighty battery.
In spite of the promptncss with
which Gtaron's order had been carried
cut, and the advantage gained there
by the brig was still within easy
RANGE OF all bat the highest guns Of
the French ship Since the weather
was mild. it permitted the lower deck
ports TO be opened aud her heaviest
guns to be used. As IT, Boxer pre-
scented her stern TO her huge antagon-
list the latter was sudd'1lv wreathcd
with fire and smoke I'll thunderous
roar OF her discharge could have been
heard for miles Her captain took no
chance, every gun that bore was dis
charged at the doomed vessel.
aboard the brig She was like an egg
sholl under a trip-h ammer, From a
trim and saucy little vessel She was
reduced in the twinklins OF An eye to
q wreck The main-mast was carried
away a few feet above the deck, the
foretop-mast was hanging up and
down the foremast nearly every
shroud and stay had been parted. The
stern Of the brig had been beaten in.
Yer boats We're cut TO pieces. and the
decks were filled with dead and
wounded poor Stanhope among the
former--a round shot had taken OFF
his head Old Jabez, unhurt still
claspad the wheel. The foresa,l
though almost cut TO ribbons, still held
a little wind and the brig wallowed
slowly ahead through the water.
Good Cod" exclaimed Grafton,
who had come off scatheess dazed NJ
the failure OF his effort and the deadly
price he had paid so fruitlessly, "how
horrible!"
II had been gallant attempt. In
deed. the only possibility of escape had
owing to the preparedness and good
judgment Of the French captain
There were not ten sailors in France
who could have done so well as he
With almost any one else opposing
him, Grafton might have escaped. But
now his brig was a wreck beneath him.
There was nothing left for him but to
surrender. Throwing his weighted
bag of dispatches overheard. he drew
handkerchief from his pocket and
waved ii toward his enemy.
Seeing the hopeless and helpless con-
dition of her quarry, the French ship
Of the line swept gracefully up into
the wind by the side of the broken
brig. Her way was checked, her pom
derous yards swung, and she hove-to
a short distance off. A magnificent pic
ture she presented, with her frowning
tiers OF guns her lofty pyramids of
sails, her decks crowded with brilliant
~ uniformed officers.
The French could plainly see that
there was no boat left on the Boxer;
therefore. in a few moments, a heavy
cutter was swung from the davits of
the liner and lowered into the water.
Presently an officer, attended by sur
eeon and surgeons mate, stepped on
the deck of the brig.
You speak French, monsieur?"
asled the officer of Grafton who stood
in the gancway 10 receive him.
Eyes sir answered the American,