Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-08

they were keen to fight. throughout the
forenoon the two ships crept closer and
closer together, till by midday only a
league separated them. Then the Nues-
ira Sonora de Cabadonga brought to
under topsails, with her head to the
northward, and at the top-gallant mast
head the standard Of Spain was flying.
Anson was not slow to accept the
challenge, and he laid his plans with
great foresight. Into the tops he sent
thirty picked men, the best small arms
marksmen in the ship. His broadside
guns were manned only with two men
each, and to them he gave instructions
to do nothing but load their gun. The
rest Of the men were divided into gangs
Of twelve, with orders to move up and
down the battery for the sole purpose
Of running out and firing the guns as
they were loaded. 1t was an uncon-
ventional way of fighting; continuous
independent fire was the last thing the
Spaniards expected, and 1t threw them
into as much confusion as did the dis
aster which overlook them within a
few minutes Of the opening Of the fight.
A mass Of mats and hammocks In the
netting Of the galleon caught fire, burn
ing fiercely and blazing up nearly as
high as the mizzen top. The two ships
were practically within pistol shot, and
1t was probably some gunwads from
the Centurion which started the blaze.
To free themselves from the danger
was no light task, and 1t took the Span
ish seamen some time to cut the net
tings away and tumble the flaming
mass overheard, and in the mean while
Anson's marksmen in the tops were
subjecting the galleon's upper decks
to an incessant fusillade. Walter de-
scribes the effect as "prodigious hav-
oc," and adds that the marksmen sue
ceeded in killing or wounding every
officer but one that appeared on the
quarter deck, and wounding in particu-
lar the general of the galleon himself" I"
The fight ragged on for two hours,
Anson changing from round shot to
grape in the second part Of the engage
ment with deadly effect. The ships
were so near that some Of the Spanish
officers were seen running about with
much assiduity to prevent the desertion
of their men from their quarters, but
all their endeavors were In vain. After
having as a last effort fired five or six
guns with more judgment than usual,
they yielded up the contest; and the
galleons colors being burned of the
ensign staff at the beginning Of the en-
gagement, she struck the standard al
her main top-gallant masthead. The
Centurion did not escape undamaged;
at the moment the galleon struck An
son was informed quietly that his ship
was on fire near the powder room. He
received the news without apparent
emotion, and taking care not to alarm
his people, gave the necessary orders
for extinguishing the fire.
The specie In the Nuestra Sonora de
Cabadonga included 1,313,S43 pieces OF
eight, and 1852 ounces Of virgin sill
yer, and the total value Of the prize
was assessed at 9313,000 And in this
connection 1t is interesting to note that
two other Spanish treasure ships cap
tured by English commanders bore
names similar to that of Anson's prize
There was the Nuestra Sonora del
Rosario, which Drake took, land In II
great booty" from that most naughty
Of Spanish seamen, Don Pedro de VAL
dez; and the Nuestra Sonora de los
Remedies, which was taken very richly
laden by the Royal family privateer of
Cape st. Mary's. three years after An
sons great capture.-London Globe.