The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-04-06

At SLOWLY swung OH 10 port anu gain
cred Roadway again. The Scraps had
lost nm opportunity Of lacking and
raking. In order more quickly to
bring his guns to bear and perhaps
to prevent a raking by the enemy, Cap
tain Pearson threw all aback. And
the two ships. one backing and the
other reaching ahead, slowly drew
abreast each other. the batteries speak
ing again as soon as the guns bore.
The wind was very light, and the mo-
ton Of both ships was sluggish In the
extreme. 70 that they practically lay
side by side. steerage way almost gone,
slowly drifting In for long minutes. un-
I'll there came q sudden, temporary
breath Of wind.
The position was most advantageous
for the 6erapis, as with her heavier
and numerous guns she could de-
liberately knock the Richard into a
cooked hat" She was much the
speedier and handler ship. and might
reasonably hope to choose her own
distance. and. having selected a point
OF vantage. maintain II to the end.
Pearson's game was to fight at long
n0ge until he had sunk his enemy. No
difficult task that last-she was half
sinking now! But what the Richard
lacked In mobility and direction. she
made up In her captain. Jones did
things instinctively. Pearson had to
think about them. Jones' only hope
was In getting to close quarters ard
making use Of the disciplined French
soldicry upon his decks.
They had done good service already
In clearing the spar deck of the Eng
lish. Therefore. as the Richard. gath
ering way. gradually forged ahead. her
helm was shifted to port and the YES
sci slowly swung across the bow Of
the Scraps. which had just begun to
Oil away again as Pearson saw thet
he had nearly backed out Of action
The bow of the Scraps struck the
starboard quarter of the Richard. the
lib boom thrusting itself violently
through the mizzen rigging. There
was a terrific crash at the moment
Of impact. and a second later the Eng
fish. cheering frantically. jumped upon
the heel of the bowsprit and clambered
upon the rail of their ship.
They were led by a tall. distin-
guished looking officer. who attracted
double attention as he wore the red
uniform Of the English army. As
their heads appeared over the rail the
powerful voice Of Jones could be heard
shouting. "Boarders away" Not wait
ing for the men who came springing up
on the quarter deck In obedience to his
summons. the dauntless captain seized
a pike from the rack and hurled 1t
through the air ut the leader Of the
Englishmen. Good fortune guided his
hand. and the steel head Of the lance
struck fair in the bosom Of the soldier.
The British wavered a moment as their
oficer fell. and Jones discharged his
pistols full among them. Then De
left alive upon the deck. by a well d.
rected point blank volley. drove back
the boarding party Of the English.
The two ships were grinding against
each other, and the wind on the after
sail OF the Sernpis slowly forced her
around until she swung parallel to the
Richard. The lib boom snapped of
short under the strain and her star
board anchor caught In the tangled rig
cling Of the American frsgate. and Sta
cey. the sailing master. sprang to lash
the ships together. Stacey snatched a
rope from the rattle on the deck and
strove to overhaul II. 1t was tangled
and he found great dificulty In clear
ting II. An impatient man at best. and
now greatly excited. he swore roundly
a he tugged at the vexatious rope.
"Don't swear, Mr.. Stacey" said
Jones calmly. coming to his assistance.
YIN another moment we may Nil be in
sternity. but let US do our duty"
with his own hands Jones passed the
flashing.
On the gun deck below. the batteries
were being fought fiercely. The two
ships were Tying side by side. M head
ing In. the other out. the bow of n
by the stern Of the other. the starboard
side Of the Scraps closely touching the
starboard side Of the Richard. In the
hope that the Richard would drift clear.
Captain Pearson now dropped his port
anchor. In vain! No bulldogs ever
chung to foes with more ~tenaclty Of
grip than did those two ships In deadly
grapple Joined together. The Richard
and the Scraps were fast locked for
good. and the two ships swung to the
tidal current. the wind being again
almost entirely killed. In that position
they Law for the next two hours, or un-
I'll the battle was yer.
Az the Englishman had not hitherto
engaged on the starboard side. the port
shutters had not been opened. and the
close contact Of the two ships rendered
II impossible to open them then. The
Scraps men were therefore compelled
70 tire through them. blowing off the
port lids. 1t vas necessary for the
men on both ships to extend the long
handles of the hammers and sponges OF
the guns through the ports into the
49,. ~Atn Ia orlau 20 seNnorIu lOnH