Evening journal., 1912-10-18

off the Frolic's larboard bow. A
most spirited fire was now kept up
from the Wasp, which produced great
effect. The FIRE Of the Frolic had
slackened SO much, that Captain
Jones gave up his intention Of board
ing her, lest both vessels might be
endangered by the roughnesB of the
sea. But. in the course Of a few
minutes more, not a brace OF the
Wasp was left. All had been shot
away. Her rigging was so much
torn to pieces, that Captain Jones
was afraid, that her masts being un-
supported, would go by the board.
and the Frolic thereby be enabled 10
escape. He therefore resolved to
board. and at once decide the con-
test. With this intention, he ran down
upon the enemy. The vessels struck
each other. The Wasp's side rubbed
along the Frolic's bow. The jib-boom
of the latter entered between the
main and mizzen rigging Of the Wasp,
directly over the heads of Captain
Jones and his first lieutenant, Biddle,
who were then standing together
near the capstan.
"The Frolic now lay in so good
position for being raked. that It was
resolved not to board until another
broadside had been poured into her.
SO near were the two vessels, that
while the men we're loading the guns,
the rammers Of the Wasp were push
ed against the Frolic's sides; and two
of her guns went through the bow
ports of the Frolic. and swept the
whole length of her deck. About
this time, Jack Lang a brave and
intrepid seaman Of the Wasp, and who
had once been impressed on board a
man OF war. jumped on a gun with
his cutlass, and was springing on
board the Frolic; when Captain Jones
desiring to fire again before board
, ing, called him down. But. probably
urged on by bis impetuosity, he did
not hear the command of his captain,
and was Immediately on the bowsprit
of the Frolic. Lieutenant Biddle, per-
ceiving the ardour and enthusiasm Of
the Wasp's crew, mounted on the
hammock-cloth, to board. The crew
Immediately followed. But the
lieutenants feet being entagled in the
, rigging of the Frolics bowsprit, and
midshipman Baker. In his ardour to
board, laying hold of his coat he fell
back on the Wasp's deck. He directly
sprang up, and as the next swell of
the sea brought the Frolic nearer, he
got on her bowsprit. where Lang and
another seaman were already.
He passed them on the fore-castle; ;
and was much surprised at not seeing
a single man alive on the Frolic's
deck, except the seaman at the wheel
and three officers The deck was
slippery with blood, and strewed
with dead bodies. As he went for
ward, the captain Of the Frolic, and
two other officers, who we're standing
on the quarterback, threw down their
swords, and made an inclination OF
their bodies, as a sign of submission
The colors Of the r'rolic were still
flying. None of her seaman, probably
dared to go into the rigging, to strike
them, for fear of the musketry of the
Wasp. Lieutenant Biddle himself
Immediately jumped into the rigging
and hauled down the British ensign
Possession was taken Of the Frolic
forty-three minutes after the com.
mencement Of the action. She pre-
sented a most shocking spectacle
Her berth-deck was crowded Will
dead, wounded. and dying. Not ahov,
twenty Of her crew escaped unhurt
Captain Jones Immediately sem hi
surgeons mate on board. All tn
blankets Of the Frolic were brough
from her slop-room for the accom-
/, mediation of the wounded. To in
crease the confusion, both the Frolici
masts fell, soon after taking posses
sion OF her. and covered the dead anC