The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-29


We were alongside. and then ensued-so
Tar at least as the launch was concerned
"a Few minutes OF such desperate hand
to-hand hghting as ! have never since
witnessed We dashed alongside the brig
IN the wake OF her larboard main rigging,
and as the boats side touched that OF the
SLAYER every man dropped his oar. seized
mis- cutlass. and sprang for the main chan
nels. Here. however. we were received so
warmly that II was found utterly i'm
possible TO mako good our footing. the
men springing up only 10 fall back again
into the boat wounded with pike-thru
pistol bullet. or cutlass cash Smelle and
happened to make a dash for the same
spot but being the lighter OF the two
was tostled aside by him and narrowly
avoided tumbling overheard. He sue
ceeded in gaining a temporary footing
on the chain-plate. and was evidently
about TO scramble thence upon the sheer
pole, when saw a pike thrust out at
him from over the topgallant bulwarks
The point struck him In the right shoul-
der, passing completely through Il: the
thrust upset his balance, and down he
came by the run into the boat Our lads
meanwhile were cutting and hacking most
desperately at the boarding netting en-
deavoring TO make a passageway through
II: but unfortunately they had emptied
their pistols I'm the first rush, and unable
TO reach their enemies through the net
ting, were completely at their mercy. In
less than three minutes all hands were
back In the boat, every one OF us more
or less hurt, and no nearer to getting
on board than we had been before the
beginning OF the attack.
The cutters had evidently Jared no bet
ter, for they were already hauling or dis
comhtted; seeing which smellie. who
seemed scarcely conscious OF his wound
reluctantly gave the order for use 10 fol-
low their example. which we promptly
did Poor Smelliei / pitisd him. for
could SEQ he was deeply mortified at our
defeat
The boats oonverged toward each
other as they hauled of. and as soon as
we were within speaking distance OF
them tho second lieutenant inquired OF
Armitage and Williams whether they had
suffered much.
eve have one man killed, and / think
none OF US have escaped quite scot-free," !"
was Arnitage's reply; whilst Williams re-
ported that two OF his men were seriously
hurt and seven others slightly wounded
WELL" said Smeilie, ut Is evident that
we can do nothing with them unless we
change our tactics. We will. therefore.
all three of US attack the schooner tho
two cutters boarding her. one on each
bow, whilst we in the launch will make
feint OF attacking the brigantine, pass
ing her. however. at the last moment
and boarding the schooner aft Now
away we gol"
The boats upon this were quickly swept
round, and on we dashed toward our re-
spectfve points OF attack We were still
fully hundred yards distant when an
other broadsade was poured into us. this
time with very destructive effect so far
as the launch was concerned. We were
struck by no less than five nine-pound
shot, two OF which played havoc with our
oars on the starboard side, third tore
out-about II feet OF planking and gun
vale on tho same side and the remaining
two struck the boats stem close together
completely demolishing the bows and.
worst OF all, killing three men.
The launch was now a wreck and sink
ing. Smellie. therefore, conceving 1t to
be our best chance. under the circum-
stances, gave orders to steer straight for
the schooners' main chains We succeed
ed In reaching our quarry before the boat
sank and that was all, the launch cap
sizing alongside as we sprang from her
Runwaye to that OF the schooner. Very
fortunately for us. the two cutters had
arrived nearly a minute before us, and
when we boarded the entire crew OF the
schooner was on her forecastle fully oc-
.cupied in the endeavor to repel their at
tack Taking advantage OF this we quiet
ly but rapidly slipped in on deck through
her open ports aft, and then made fu-
rious charge forward, attacking the Span
.ards I'm their rear. Our presence on
board seemed TO take them considerably
by surprise They wavered and hesi-
tated, but, melted by a burly ruffian who
forced HRS way through the crowd, raj
lied once more and attacked us hotly. This
was exactly what we wanted. Our fell
lows. by Smellie's order, contented them
selves with acting for the time being
strictly on the defensive. giving way grad
ually before the impetuous attack OF the
epaniards and drawing them by degrees
away from the forecastle. diversion
was thus effected In favor of tho cutters
rrews. OF which they were not slow 10
avail themselves: and In less than hve
minutes after the attack OF the launch's
crew our entire party had gained foot
ing upon the schooner's deck Even then
.he Spanish crew continued 10 fight des-
perately, infilctng several very severe
wounds upon our lads. until at last. thor
oughIy reused by such obstinacy, the blue
Jackets made such a determined charge
that they cleared the decks by actually
and literally driving their opponents over
board. Not that this entailed much loss
upon the Spaniards. however, for they all
or very nearly all. swan either TO the
brIs or tho brigantine, where 'they were
promptly hauled on board.