The Irish standard., 1905-08-05

side, which was returned, when the
stranger came up under the lee quar-
ter of the American ship, and the ac-
ton became steady and general. AT
the second fire, the Raleigh unfortun-
ately lost her fore topmast, the mizzep
top-gallant mast, which gave the
enemy vast advantage in maneuver-
ing, throughout the remainder of the
affair. Finding the broadside of the
Raleigh getting to be too hot for
him, the enemy soon shot ahead, and,
for a short time, while the people of
the former ship were clearing the
wreck, he engaged to windward and
at a distance. Ere long, however, the
English vessel edged away and at
tempted to rake the Raleigh, when
Captain Barry boIe up, and bringing
the ships alongside each other, he en-
deavered to board, step that the
other. favored by all his canvas, and
his superiority of sailing in light
breeze, easily avoided BY this time,
the second ship had got so near as to
render it certain she would very soon
close, and, escape by fight being out
of question in the crippled condition
Of the ship, Captain Barry called a
council of his officers. 1t was deter
mined to make an attempt to run the
frigate ashore, the land being then
within few miles, The Raleigh ac-
cordingly wore round, and stood for
the islands already mentioned, her
antagonist sticking to her in the most
gallant manner, both ships maintain,
in the action with spirit. About
midnight, however, the enemy hauled
off and left the Raleigh to pursue her
course towards the land. The engage.
ment lasted seven hours, much of the
time in close action, and both vessels
had suffered materially, the Raleigh
in particular in the spars, rigging and
sails. The darkness, soon after, con-
cealing his ship, Captain Barry had
some hopes of getting off, among the
islands, and was in the act of bending
new sails for that purpose, when the
enemy's vessels again came in sight,
closing fast. The Raleigh Immediately
opened a brisk fire from her stern
guns, and every human effort was
made to force the ship towards the
land. The enemy, however, easily
closed again, and opened heavy fire,
which was returned by the Raleigh un-
til she grounded, when the largest of
the enemy's ships Immediately hauled
off, to avoid a similar calamity, and
gaining a safe distance, both vessels
continued their fire from positions
they had taken on the Raleighs quar-
ter. Captain Barry, finding that the
island was rocky, and that it might be
defended, determined to land and to
burn his ship; a project that was rem
dered practicable by the fact that the
enemy had ceased firing, and anchored
at the distance of about a mile. A
large party of men got on shore, and
boats were about to return for the
remainder, when it was discovered
that, by the treachery of petty Of
ticer, the ship had been surrendered.
The officers and men on the island
escaped, but the ship was got off and
placed in the British navy. The two
ships that took the Raleigh were the
Experiment SO, Captain Wallace, and
the Unicorn %. The latter mounted
% guns, and was the ship that en-
gagged the Raleigh so closely, so long,
and so obstinately. She was much
cut up, losing her masts after the ac-
many wounded. The Americans had
rs men killed and wounded, in the
course of the whole affair.
Captain Barry gained great credit
for his gallantry on this occasion. He
escaped to the main land with con.
siderable portion of his crew, though
not without great suffering, and new
ship was given to him on the first op-
portunity.
The island on which he first landed
is called the Wooden Ball, and lies
about twenty miles from the mouth
Of the Penobscot; being the outermost
of all the islands and rocks in its i'm.
mediate vicinity. In the chase the
Raleigh shifted her ground about two
degrees to the northward, and about
as far to the eastward.
At pages 1913, 1874, 1876 ib. 1t has
been stated already that Captain
.Landais was dismissed from the serv.
ice soon after hin return home, when
the command of the Alliance 80, was
given to Captain John Barry, the of.
ficer who made so gallant resistance
in the Raleigh, not long previously
in February, 1881, Captain Barry sail
ed from Boston for France, in com
mand of his favorite ship, with Col
Laurens on board, which well known
and much regretted young officer was
charged bith an important mission to
the French Court. The crew of the
frigate was so Indifferent, however
that BarrNAthought he risked his repu
tation by putting to sea with it. On
the outward passage, the Alliance cap