How the Cerbere was Captured.

Manawatu Herald, 15 December 1896, Page 2

How the Cerbere was Captured.

la July, 1800, the 14-gan cutter Viper, commanded by acting-Lien* tenuot Jeremiah Cogblan, was attacked by Sir Edward Pellow's squadron off Port Louis. Coghlan, as bis name tells, was of Irish blood. Be bad just emerged from the chrysalis stage of a midshipman, and, flushed with the joy of an independent commant, was eager for adv«nfcure. The entrance to Port Louig was watched by a number of gun vessels constantly on sentry go, and Coghlan conceived the idea of jumping suddenly on one of these, and carrying her off, from under the guns of tha enemy's fleet. Ha persuaded Sir Edward Pel low to lend him the flagship's ten -oared cutter, with twelve volunteers. • Having got chid reinforcement, and having persuaded the Amethyst frigate to lend him a boat and crew, Mr Jeremiah Oogblan prooeeded to carry out another and very different plan to that he had ventured to suggest to his admiral. A French gun-brig, named the Cerbere, was lying in the harbour of St. Louis. Sb.3 mounted three long 24 and four 6 pounder?, was moored, with springs in her cables, within pistol-shot of thrae batteries. ' A French seventyfour and two frigate 3 wero within gun-shot of her. She had a crew of 86 meu, 16 of whom were soldiers. It was upon this brig, lying under threa powerful batteries, within a hostile and difficult port, that Mr Jeremiah Coghiatr proposed, in the (Tarkness of night, to make a dash I He added the Viper's solitary mid* Bhipman with himself, and Bix of his crew, to the 12 volunteers, on board the flagship's cutter, .raising its crew to 20 men, and, with the Amethyst's boat, and a small boat from the Viper pulled off in the blackness of * night on this daring adventure. The ton«oared cutter ran away from the other two boats, reaahed the Cebere, found her with battle lanterns alight, and men at quarters, and its crew at once jumped on board her, Ooghlan, as was proper, jumped first, landed on a trawl net, hang up to dry, and, while sprawling helpless in its meshes, was thrust through the thigh with a pike, and with his menseveral also severely hurt — tumbled back into the boat. The British picked themselves up, hauled their boat a little further ahead, clambered up the sides of the Cerbere once more, and were a second time beaten, back with new wounds. They clung to the Frenchman, however, fought their way up to a new point, broke through the French defences, and, after killing or wounding 26 of the enemy — or more than every fourth * man of its crew— actually captured her, the other two boats coming up in time to help in towing out the prize under a wrathful fire from the batteries ! Ooghlan had only one man killed and eight wounded, himself being wounded in two places, aud his middy in six. Sir Edward Pellew, in his official despatch, grows . eloquent over " the courage which, hand to hand, gave victory to a handful of brave fellowd over four time 9 their number, and the skill which planned, conducted, and effected so daring an enterprise." Earl St. Vincent, himself the driest' and grimmest of admirals, was so delighted with the youthful Irishman's exploit that he presented him with a handsome sword. — Deeda~tfiu^*+ won lite Empire.