The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-01

had recovered partially, and tho fleet 7
sailed for Maiden, hoping to engage
the British force, but Barclays vessels |
were under the protection of the land
batteries, and Perry had to await his
adversary's pleasure.
Tie Day of Hattie.
Back to Put-in-Bay went the Aneri-
cans, and there they remained until
September 10, when the lookout on the
Lawrence sighted the British fleet car
ly in the day.
There was slight rain and the wind
was light and fitful. AS the American
vessels picked their way out between
the islands that form the bay the navi-
gator of the Lawrence pointed out to
Perry that it was likely they would
have to go to leeward of the British
and. therefore. would be at a disadvan-
tage.
The Lawrence shamblcs.
If the Lawrence suffered dreadfully
the British vessels suffered too. For
more than two hours Perry battIed
against odds such as were hopeless.
The decks of the Lawrence. which had
been sanded Just before the battle.
now were slippery with blood. or 100
men who had gone into action twenty
two were killed and siXty-one wound
ed. The one surgeon aboard could not
attend all the wounded. While he
worked in the ships hospital shots
passed through the room. A midship-
man while being attended by tho sur
geon was struck by cannon ball and
killed A Nara gansett Indian was
killed in like manner by cannon ball
while having wound dressed. mi
the height of the battle Yarnell first
lieutenant. reported that all the Off
GERS in his command were killed orl
disabled. Yarneli himself had wound
in his forehead and another In his
neck. and his nose had been struck |
by splinter and had swollen to a!
remarkable size
You must make out as best youI
can. I have no more to furnish" said
Perry.
How Perry escaped death Is mar
vel Forrest. The second lieutenant,
had been standing by Perry when a.
grapeshot struck him in the chest. a
little later Perry had gone to help a
gun captain who seemed to have trou-
Bile in firing his piece. Just as the gun
captain got 1t in working order again
and raised his hand to salute the COM
mander 24-pound shot passed
through his body. Lieutenant Brooks,
standing talking to Perry. was struck
by a cannon ball, hurled across the
deck and his thigh torn Off Cool, calm
and undismayed. Perry used his
dwind1ing force as best he could. So
long as gun remained it was en-
ployed. Then, when the last one was
dismounted and there was no way to
answer the torrent of death that was
sweeping in upon the Lawrence, he
gathered together boats crew and
turning command of the flagship over
to Yarnell he got in small boat ana
started for the Niagara. To Yarnell he
gave authority to haul down the flag.
but first he had taken the blue BAN
ner with the Don't Give up the Ship"
motto.
The Turn OF the Tide.
The Niagara, which had been we'll
distant, using only It's long guns on
the enemy, had como closer up, the
breeze having freshened. She was
about half mile away when Perry
put out for her. AS the British saw
the small boat go from the Lawrence
and OWNED tho Intention OF Perry
they opened fire on the frail craft.
Shots struck the water all about her.
One shot pierced her side and the rush
Of water was stopped only by coat
being stuffed into the cavity. One OF
the oars was splintered by another
shot.
Perry had been standing in the
stern, but his men refused to row un-
less he seated himself. Nearer and
nearer tho boat drew to the niagara,
and at last Perry, begrimed with
powder, spattered with blood and wet
with spray, clambered aboard
'How goes the day?" asked Elliott.
Badly" was the answer.
1t was 2;30 when he left the Law
renee. 1t was 2.45 when he reached
the Niagara. In a minute he had dis
patched Elliott in a boat with orders
to tho other tagging vessels to close
with the enemy. In another minute
he had the Niagara pointed into the
crescent where tho Lawrence had been
wounded to death. And then luck,
which had been against Perry all the
day, turned in his favor
Victory.
AS he swept down toward the Brit
ish fleet In the uninjured and fresh
Niagara the Detroit and the Queen
charlotte In manoeuvrlng to meet this
fresh attack fouled each other. the
boom or the Charlotte catching In the
rigging of the Detroit They We're
locked thus when a broadstde from tho
Niagara raked them. Then another
broadside swept their decks and left
them strewn With dead and dying. A
murdcrous fire was poured into the
Lady Provost, too. AS the Detroit and
Charlotte finally got clear the Niagara
raked them again, And now the
smaller vessels SO long ont Of action
il. lt.s " i