A GREAT NAVAL INCIDENT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2476, 24 February 1881, Page 4

A GREAT NAVAL INCIDENT.

The duel of the Shannon and the Chesapeake is vividly told by a leaderwriter of the “Daily Telegraph,” apropos of the departure for another world of one of England’s old salts. We venture to condense this animated bit of historical description : —“ There died a few days since an old Greenwich pensioner, Isaac Cooper by name, and among the small effects which the veteran left behind him ‘ to be given to his next of skin,’ was a medal, won by him for bravery in the service of his country, and a dirk which, when he was one of the Shannon’s crew he had taken in a fair fight from an officer of the Chesapeake. This happened just sixty-five years ago, and Cooper was the last suviror of that famous fight. The first of June (1813) dawned clear and bright. The fogs rolled up from off the sparkling sen, and every feature of the landscape stood revealed. A hundred pleasure-boats fitted to and fro upon the inner harbour waters, and in President Hoads, „ her royal yards across and just ready for sea, lay the gallant Chesapeake. As her commander looked upon her deck, ho saw that at the Harbor mouth there stood on guard but one British ship where Boston had thought there had been two ; and while they were wondering at it, there came towards them a boat, bearing a challenge from Captain Broke of ‘ Her Britannic Majesty’s frigate Shannon,’ to come out and fight him fairly in the sight of all the city. ‘ As the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea,’ wrote captain Broke, *1 request you will do mo the favor to meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags. To an officer of your character it re quires some apology for proceeding to further particulars. The Shannon mounts twenty-four guns upon her broadside and one light boat gun — eighteen-pounders upon her main deck and thirty-two pound carronados on her quarter - deck and forecastle —and is manned with a complement of 300 men and boys—a large proportion of the latter. I have sent the Tennedos away beyond the power of interfering with us, and will meet you whenever it is most agreeable to you. I will warn you should any of my friends be too nigh or anywhere in sight until I can detach them out of the way ; or I would sail with you under a flag of truce, to any place you think safest from our cruisers, hauling it down when fair to begin hostilities. You will feel it a compliment when I say that the result of our meeting may be the most grateful service I can render to m} r country. Favor me with a speedy reply. We are short of provisions and water and cannot staj- long. Choose your terms but let us meet.’ This chivalrous appeal met with instant response from the gallant enemy, and firing a gun in defiance, the Chesepeake shook out her sails and moved out from her shelter to where the Shannon awaited her coming. Those watching from the shore could sec every detail of the action that ensued. The Chesapeake, her ensigns all gaily flying, bore down upon the Shannon’s starboard quarter, and within halfpistolshot luffed up, conceding to the British frigate the privilege of firing first. Two shots were discharged from the Shannon in succession before the Chesapeake deigned to reply ; but the response, when it came, was a shattering broadside. For seven minutes the fearful combat of cannon continued, and then the two ships fell alongside each other, the anchor-flukes of the Chesapeake grappling the bulwarks of the Shannon. Three minutes more elapsed and then the Shannon’s guns had swept the Chesapeake’s quarter-deck clear. ‘Board!’ cried Captain Broke, and, leaping from his ship, he led the party. Twenty men followed him close, who driving the enemy fighting before them to the main hatch, maintained there a desperate fight, until in the next’minute they were reinforced by forty more of the Shannon’s crew. Another dash forward was made, and then the men of the Chesapeake threw down their arras, and the British ensign, fifteen minutes after the first shot was run up above the American colours.”