Life — June 2, 1898 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

STEPHEN crest on the wa bad been in the habit of training bis crew to meet emer- gencies, and delighted to spread a sudden alarm of fire, toaccustom them tonct quick. Midshipman Farragut, feigning sleep, discovered the plot, He quietly notifled Porter, Porter shouted “ Fi and tho crew responded in double- quick tim Then the prisoners were secured before they had time to say Jack Robinson, The Essez sent her prisoners to Halifax under parole, and getting back to the Delaware, Later on she mado a famous cruise, which will be referred to, THE “WASP” AND THE “ FROLIC.” T wasgreat fun to beat the English at I their own game on the high seas, No nation had ever done it before, and when the Constitution took tho Guerriére John suceeeded in Decatur. Bull opened his eyes; but this was only a small beginning. In October, the sloop Wasp, 18 guns, commanded by Captain Jacob Jones, started out to pick up prizes from the West Indies, Inaheavy gale she sighted a floct of mer- chant vessels protected by a sloop-of-war. Moreover, the sloop scemed anxious to fight. Jones gave her the opportunity, and it wasn't Jong before the superior gunnery of the Wasp's men disabled the enemy. She was rapidly dismantled, and, the two ves- sels fouling each other, the crew of tho Wasp boarded ber, and found only one man on deck at the wheel, and a few officers who wero left, and who promptly surren- dered, The majority of her crow were killed or wounded. 469 This vessel proved to be the British sloop Frolic, of 20 guns. Shortly after the engagement, both vessels were taken by the British frigate Poi It was a grand victory, however, and proved that we could even capture British vessels superior in armament to our own, Allon account of grit, gumption, and gun- nery. THE “ UNITED STATES” AND “MACEDONIAN.” HE capture of the Frolic was followed by a still more important vietory. In October, Commodore Rodgers from Boston with his squadron on a ond cruise, in the President, in company with the United States and Argus. The United States soon parted company with the others, however, and stood off to the southward, This vessel was at that time commanded by Stephen Decatur, famous in the war with Tripoli, On Sunday morning, October 25th, a strange sail was sighted. Decatur saw that sbe was an English frigate. “Horo is my chance,” said Decatur, and he called the crew to quarters, There was in the ship a boy who been considered too small to be enrolled, but was allowed to accompany the ship. This boy now came aft, and attracted Cap- tain Decatur’s attention. “ Well, what do you want ?” he asked. The boy, Jack Creamer by name, took off his hat. “If you please, sir,” he said, “f would like to be put on the muster roll. “What for?” said Decatur. » I ean get my share of the prize responded Jack. So much for Yan- kee foresight. His request was granted: The two ships were now nupidly ap- proaching each other, At first the stranger kept at long range, but the guns of the United States reaching him easily, be began toclose up. Here was shown the good marksmanship of the Yankees, which, it may , Wo are as proud of to- day as we were then. It played havoe with the enemy’s top hamper. The mi: fell, and one of the American gunners ro- marked with a smile: “We have made a brig of ber.” Decatur, standing near, heard him, “Try again,” said he, “and she'll bea sloop. After nearly two hours’ stiff fighting, the Macedonian, for such she proved to be, struck her colors, She was commanded by Captain Carden, one of the most successful commanders in the English navy, and was admitted to be a fine frigute in every re- Spect, She mounted 49 guns to the United States's 54, and had a much smaller crew, Her loss was 104 killed and wounded, that of the United States only 12. Captain Car- nmast comicbooks.com