The Washington times., 1908-07-22
THRILLING CHASE
LASTED four DAYS
Running Fight of Wizard
and Requin a Notable
Event.

A century ago. three months before
Wellington landed in the Peninsula with
British troops, and while Napoieon's
power was yet unbroken. there took
place an encounter which. though or
small Importance internationally, de-
serves to be remembered for the ex-
traordlnary circumstances attending III
and for the logged determination dis
played by both the combatants. says the
London Globe
The actors in this story of the sea
were the English vessel Wizard, 2 brig
sloop % sixteen guns. with crew Of
close upon 100 men, and commanded by
Capt Abel Ferris; and the French brig
corvette Requin. also a sixteen-gun
ship. but having a slight advantage
over her opponent in the number Of her
crew In point of tonnage there was
practical equality, the Requin being just
over the Wizard just below 800 tons
An hour after midday on May 10 1905,
the Wizard, cruising in the Mediterran-
ean' sighted the Requin in the north
east, steering southwark. and forthwith
gave chase The breeze was fresh from
the west, and through the afternoon
and night the chase went on. Sleep
was out of the question for the English
crew. who were kept busy shifting the
ships provisions aft and using every
other means TO increase her speed. Four
hours after midnight. the wind being
light, the Wizard got out her sweeps
10 aid the sails. the men encouraged by
their nearness TO the Frenchman, now
but two miles away At o'clock the
Requin showed French colors, a display
TO which the English ship replied in
kind. At 9 o'clock the Requin brought
70 and fired a broadside.
The Fight Begins.
The Wizard. nothing loath, now ran
close up, hove to. and for an hour and
a half a standing fight went on. The
English guns were trained on the
French ships hull. while the Requin.
evidently DESTROYS Of proceeding on her
course, aimed more at her opponents
masts and spars. and with no small
effect Then, making sail once more,
the Requin drew away: the Wizard.
being TO leeward lost the wind. but
still maintained the fight until her guns
no longer reached the foe.
At dusk. when twelve leagues vest
OF the Island Of Toro. the sweeps were
again piled for two hours. and for a
second time the Wizards crew were
mulcted Of their rest. The British less
in the encounter was five wounded and
one killed.
At G o'clock on the morning of the
18th the ships were again near enough
for the Wizard to fire; but a vigorous
use Of the sweeps. Notwithstanding,
the distance between the vessels soon
increased to a mile. a mile and half.
three miles. Not all the efforts of the
captain Of the Wizard could decrease
the intervening space. At midnight the
ships were still more than two miles
apart and only seven from the coast of
Africa And for the Wizards crew
there was again no steep.
The Requin Escapes.
On The 18th. half a hour after mid
night the Requip. followed by the Wiz
ara, tackled It proved a day OF inter
mittent fog. in which the vessels con-
stantly lost sight of each other, and the
Requin drew four miles away The
wizards crew was constantly at the
sweeps. guns were fred to call the at
tention Of any British ships that might
be cruising of Cape Bon. bur to his
summons there was no response, and
the fourth night was spent as wake
At O'Clock on the morning Of the
14th Cape Carthage was only four miles
of and TWO miles and a half in front
the Requtn was steering for Tunis Bay.
There. IN The neutual harbor. below
Fort Goleta, the French brig anchored
safely, and the long chase was 1T an
end. All that the the captain Of the Wiz
ard could do now was 70 run under the
ReqUins stern and read her name and
note with satisfaction the considera bic |
damage lone to her hull.
Then at o'clock in the morning he
made sail for Malta for repairs; and
presently tie hammocks were piped
down, and the tired crew made ap as
best ii might for four lost nights of
was again at sea. and two months
later the ReQuin was taken of Cor
Sica. after chase Of nine hours by
the British ship Voltage
Pursued For Ten DAYS.
In this pursuit of Lightweight hours
the vessels ran distance of $40 miles at
an average speed Of four knots an nour
all that the almost incessant :ightpess
Of the wind would permit. A chron-
icler remarks that this performance
was highly creditable to the Wizards
crew, and that il is 10 be regretted
that the bTiE's dull sailing deprived
II OF me prize its valOr and skill would
have gained. Captain Ferris reward
for his perseverance was his appoint
ment by Vice Admiral Lord CoIIing-
wood 10 the lO-gun ship ROYAL Sow
ereign. but the promotion does rot
seem to have been confirmed by the ad-
miralty, at any rate until some two
years later.