Morris tribune., 1905-04-29
Seymour tainted from

| the hatchWay. seymour Ialnleu from
| loss of blood.
"Back, men! Back to the ship, all
you YarmouthsI' cried Captain Vincent
as he saw the lighted grenade, which
exploded and ignited little heap OF
cartridges left by dead powder boy
before the magazine. Alas! There
was no one there to check or stop the
flames. The English sailors sprang
back and up the sides and through the
ports of their ship with frantic haste.
The lashings were being rapidly cut by
them and the braces handled.
"Come aboard, men, while you can!'
cried Captain Vincent to the Ameri-
cans. Your ships afire! You can do
no more; you'll blow up in a moment!'
The little handful of Americans were
left alone on their ship. The only Off
Ger still standing lifted his sword and
shook it impotently at the Yarmouth in
reply; the rest did not stir. The smoke
of battle had now settled away, and
the whole CHASTITY scene was revealed.
A woman's cry rang out fraught with
agony, Seymour, Seymour" and again
was her cry unheeded her lover could
with a frightful roar and crash, the
Randolph blew up.
"a sail coming down fast-the little
brig, SIR" reported the officer Of the
deck to Captain Vincent. "Shall we
come about and give him a broad
side?"
'No, no; we dare not handle the
braces yet-not until the gear and spars
have been well overhauled."
"Shall we use the stern chasers then,
sirY'
The Yarmouth had left the scene of
the explosion some distance away by
this time, but she was still within easy
gunshot. Captain Vincent earnestly
examined the brig. AS he looked she
came up to the wind, hove to, and
dropped boat in the water There
was bit of spar still floating there
The captain saw that three Or four men
were clinging to it,
"NO; she's on an errand Of mercy.
There are men in the water on that
topmast there. Let her go Free" he
said generously. We've done enough
today to satisfy any reasonable man"
The colonel grasped his hand warmly
and thanked him. The little brig pick
ed up her boat, swung her main yard
and filed away again on the port tack
in the wake of the rest Of the little
cnro6pnT fa q ahn01 Thnyo
derstanding the forbearance of the big
ship, she fired a gun to leeward and
dipped her ensign in salute.
The force Of the explosion had
thrown Seymour from his advanta-
geous position aft far out into the wa
ter and away from the sinking ship.
The contact with cold water recalled
him to his senses at once, and, with
the natural instinct Of man for life, he
struck out as we'll as he might, cOnsid-
ering his broken leg and wounded arm
and weakened state. There was
piece Of q mast with the top still on it
floating near by. He struggled gallant
ly to make it. Twas no use; he could
do no more: closing his eyes, he sank
down in the dark water But help was
near. A hand grasped him by his long
hair and drew him up. One Of his
men, unwounded fortunately, had saved
him. The two men presently reached
the bit of wreck The sailor scrambled
up on it and by a great effort drew his
captain by his side. Two more men
swan over desperately and finally join
ed the little group. They clung there
helpless, hopeless, despairing, fascinat-
ed, watching the remains of the Ran
dolph disappear, marking few feeble
swimmers here and there struggling
till all was still. Then they turned
their eyes upon their late antagonist, |
running away before the wind in
flames. They saw her fight them down
Appalled,, none spoke. |
Presently one Of the seamen glanced |
the other way and saw the little brig |
swiftly bearing down upon them.
'God be praised! Here's the brig, |