Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-10-02

with a favoring wind It'll he got sight of the Is
land of Guam on which fires were kept burning
every night during June by the small Spanish gar
rison. Having taken water, the galleon then
stood away directly for the Island of Samar in the
Philippines If there were no danger signals on
Cape Espiritu Santo, he then headed for "Cabite."
1t was In January of 1742 that Arson approached
the west coast of Mexico. He had sailed from Eng
land in September of 1740 for the purpose of at
lacking Spain "in her distant settlements; the two
nations being at war; His fleet consisted of two
British of war-the Centurion, go guns and
the Gloucester, so guns. There were also three
captured Spanish vessels which had been armed
Anson's expedition had been fairly successful He
had plundered and burned Paita the Chilean
coast, had looted several thousand pounds sterling
in silver and had destroyed several vessels. Now
he was bent on interceptng "the Manila Galleon'
To make this part of the story Short the galleon
got into Acapulco before Arson arrived. He did
not know of her arrival and In scouting for in
formation of his boats seen. So the galleon
did not sail as usual for Manila and Arson had
many weary week of vain waiting. Then he
planned to intercept the 1743 galleon its way
home. So April of that year found him at Macao
He sailed April 10 from that port, giving that
he was bound for Java and thence home. Instead
he shaped his course for Cape Espiritu Santo
where he lay in wait. He thought 1t likely that
there would be two galleons in company. But that
replied with cheers and expressed their determine
ton ito succeed or perish whenever the oppor-
tunity presented itself" This showed grit all
around inasmuch Anson's fleet had now been
reduced to the Centurion. which was only half
manned.
For month the Centurion lay in wait off Cape
Espiritu Santo Finally, after the crew had about
given up hope, one galleon appeared-Nostra Sig
nora de Cabadonga When the Centurion was
within league the Spaniard hoisted her colors
and brought to under topsails. She knew 1t was
the Centurion and was ready to fight 1t out.
Arson sent thirty of his best marksmen into
his tops. He had not crew enough to man his guns
in the regulation manner. So he placed only two
men to each gun on the lower tier; 1t was their
business to load the guns The rest of his gunners
he divided into gangs of ten men each. These
gangs moved about the decks and ran out and fired
the guns fast as they were loaded. This re-
suited in more or less constant fire instead of
broadsides, which proved a distinct advantage In
asmuch as the Spaniards accustomed to lie
down when they broadslde being prepared
and stay prone until It was fired
Early in the action Arson "overreached the gal
leon and lay on her bow" In modern parlance
he got where he could rake the Spaniard. Shots
from the Centurion set on fire the mats with which
Spanards had stuffed the netting of the galleon
The flames blazed up half as high as the miz-
zen-top" and for time 1t looked II the galleon
with all her treasure would be burned But the
sailors at last succeeded In cutting the burning
mass loose, when II fell into the sea.
The Centurions topmen acquitted themselves
gloriously. driving the Spaniards from the gal
Icons tops and making 'prodigous havock with
their small arms, killing or wounding every officer
but one that ever appeared on the quarterback"
Gen. Don Heronimo de Montero was wounded
early but fought his ship for an hour. Finally he
was no longer capable of exerting himself. There
upon he had the royal standard of Spain lowered
and surrendered the Manila GaIleon."a
Commodore Arson found on board 1.sl3s4s
pieces Of eight and 35,eS2 ounces OF rrgin silver