A Hard=Won Fight.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 June 1910, Page 4

A Hard=Won Fight.

Commander Robert F&ulkiwr, of the "Blanche," fought his List fight on January 4, 171*5, in the memorable engagement wiUh th ■ "Pique." The "Pique," like the "Blanche," was a 32-giiu frigate, and, .like her, she really carried 38 guns; but she bad tilie advantage of having a crew of 279 to Faulknor's 198. .Faulkner found her under the gun- of a battery at Grande Terre, and for a time tried in vain ito draw her '-"if". At last she came, and the "Blanche" immediately pursued her. The battle began at a quarter past midnight, and « most remarkable duel in seamanship folk-wed. The Bhircho tacked and stood for her opponent; at one o'clock was within musket shot when suddenly the "Pique" wore so as to rake her. Instantly the "Bkindle" bore up, and both frigates were running off it-he wind alt dose quarters side by side. The "Blanche" gradually forged ahead, and aibout half-past two began to luff to rake her enemy, when overboard went both mainmast and her mizzenmast, and on to her run her enemy's bowsprinlt. The Frenchman's quarter-deck guns we're run in nnd fired amidships, -and musket fire from it-he tops rained down on the "Blanche's" deck; but all the efforts of the Frenchmen to board were frustrated. The "Blanche's" men lashed the "Pique's" bowsprit to the capstan, and k, was while helping to do this that Faulknor was sholb through |t,he heart bv a musket ball. Lieutenumt Watkins then took command. Soon tho lashing -of the bowsprit panted, and the ships separated, the guns riWl going unceasingly. The Frenchman's foremast fell, then his mizzenmast. Then the "Blanche," with only her foremast standing, paid off before the wind, and fell aboard the "Pique," and again the Englishman lashed !the Frenchman's 'bowsprit, Ithlis time .to tho stump of the wlinmast. The fire of Ithe Blanche's" guns came chiefly from the two quarter-deck six-pounders, as she kid no stearn ports on the mam deck. The carpenters sot to work m .the thick of the fight to cut out the required ports; but the Ingate was too strongly .built, and, alter trying in vain for some time, wi <]ie«pern/fe measure was resorted!to. Ino Blanches guns were run in and nrcd through her own stern trame. And then, through the gap thus made, they poured rain into the enemy. Down went his .mainmast, and gun after gun was silenced. Still he foughlt,' pm>"ipally with musketry; but gradually the fire grew feebler and' feebler, tall, at a quarter past five, some or .his crew ran out to the end of the ibowsprilt and cried for quarter Every boat in both ships had been destroyed by shot, and as the lashings had again given, wl theships were apa-rt, the se-ond .lieutenant of the Blanche, David Milne, wifih fen reamen, jumped into the sen and .warn to and took possession of tho prize.