The instant the vessels came together, each attempted to board the other; but a close and deadly fire of musketry prevented. On the American side, Lieutenant Morris, Master Alwyn, and Mr. Bush, Lieutenant of Marines, sprang to the taffrail to lead their men, when they were all shot down. Finding it impossible to board, the _Constitution_ filled her sails and shot ahead, and a moment later the _Guerriere's_ foremast fell, and carried the mainmast, with it. This {070}reduced her to a wreck, and as a heavy sea was on she was helpless. The _Constitution_ hauled off a short distance, repaired damages, and at seven o'clock wore round and took a position for raking. An ensign that had been hoisted on the stump of the mizzen-mast was at once hauled down in token of surrender, and the prize was won. A lieutenant sent on board returned with the news that she was one of the squadron that had so lately chased the _Constitution_. The victor kept near her prize through the night, and at daylight the officer in charge reported that the _Guerriere_ had four feet of water in the hold and was in danger of sinking. Captain Hull therefore transferred the prisoners to his own vessel, recalled the prize crew, and set the wreck on fire. In fifteen minutes the flames reached the magazine, and the hulk that still remained of the proud English frigate was blown to pieces. In this battle the _Constitution_ lost seven men killed and seven wounded. Her rigging suffered considerably, but her hull was only very slightly damaged. The _Guerriere_ lost seventy-nine men killed or wounded. The location of this battle may be found by drawing a line directly east from the point of Cape Cod, and another directly south from Cape Race; the point of intersection will be very near the bat{071}tle-ground. It is a little south of the track of steamers between New York and Liverpool.