The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-06-13
ISLES OF THE HAWKS" FIGURED
IN EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY

1nlS is not the nrSt time that the
Azores, Isles of the Hawks, in Portu-
gese language-the first landing place
of the NC after leaving the Ameri-
can continent, has had a CONSPICUOUS
part in American naval history. 1t
was the seaport of Porto Delgada,
which was the haven of the trans-At-
lantic fliers the other day, but more
than a hundred years ago Septem-
Der 26, 1Sl4--one of the most des-
perate crnficts recorded in the annals
of the sea was fought by the Amer
lean privateer schooner General Arm
strong in the harbor of Fayal in the
same islands. The Armstrong was
owned by New Workers and comman-
ded by Capt. Samuel c. Reid.
In the early part of the war of 1912
the Armstrong carried nineteen guns,
of which one was long 12-pounder
and the other long mines. Manned by
$50, under Capt. Tim Barnard, she
took nineteen prizes. Later twelve
of the long mines were removed for
use in fort and a 42-pounder placed
amidship for a "long TOM" In this
style, under Capt. Reid, the Armstrong
sailed from New York with instruction
to cruise near the Maderias to inter-
cept the Brazil fleet.
Arriving at Fayal, Captain Reid
was informed by the American consul,
John B. Danbey, that no British cruis-
ers had been among the Azores for
several weeks, but at about dusk that
afternoon, while the captain, the con-
sui and some friends were standing on
the deck of the Armstrong, the British
brig Carnation suddenly came into
view under the northeast range of the
long guns. Following the Carnation
was the big British liner Plantagenet
and the frigate Rota. The Carnation
let go her anchor within postol stot of
the Armstrong, but Captain Reid felt
certain that the British would respect
the neutrality of the port.
A full moon was shining that night
and the activity on board the Carna-
ton, which could be distinctly seen
from the Armstrong as well as from
the shore, convinced the American
commander that the British were pre-
pairing to undertake some sort of a
coup. Captain Reid cleared his ship
for action, got up his anchor and with
the aid of long oars began to sweep
the Armstrong away from the enemy
and close inshore. AS soon as the
crew of the Carnation saw the Amer
lean schooner leaving they cut cable
and made sail in pursuit, while four
boats were manned with armed men
and sent after her.
Seeing the boats approaching, Cap
tain Reid hailed them repeatedly and
receiving no reply opened fire. The
British boats were driven off and the
Armstrong continued to move shore
ward until near the Portuguese castle,
where she moored. In the meantime,
the firing had attracted the whole pop
ulation of the port, who gathered at
every vantage point to watch the
fight.
The first action ACQUIRED about 8
o'clock. About nine o'clock the Carna-
ton with fleet of twelve boats, took
positnon under the shelter of reef of
rocks at long musket range from the
Armstrong. Here they waited until
midnight, when the headed for the
Yankees in three divisions. Capt.
Reid waited until the British were at
close range and one round from his
four cannon was al that he could give
them before they were at the ships
rail. After that it was a man-to-man
fight between lightweight Americans
and more than three hundred British
ers. The British were decisively de-
feated, 120 of them were killed and
two of their boats were captured. The
American loss was two killed and sew
en- wounded.
The Portuguese governor sent note
to Captain Lloyd Of the Carnation,
begging that hostilities cease, but the
British captain replied that he was
determined to capture the privateer
at all hazard. Then next morning
the British brig began to fire broad
side at Armstrong. The crew of the
American schooner fired back for a
time, but eventually scuttled and aban-
doned her, the crew escaping to the
, shore. Seeing that the Armstrong
was abandoned the British set her on
fire.-Arkansas Gazette.
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