The Naval History of the United States. Volume 1Abbot, Willis J. (Willis John)
History
The Naval History of the United States. Volume 1
Abbot, Willis J. (Willis John)
United States -- History, Naval
The horrible accident which destroyed the "Randolph" came near being
the end of the "Yarmouth," her antagonist. The two battling ships were
close together; so close, in fact, that after the explosion Capt.
Morgan of the "Fair American" hailed the "Yarmouth" to ask how Capt.
Biddle was. The English ship was fairly covered with bits of the
flying wreck. Some heavy pieces of timber falling from the skies badly
shattered her main-deck. An American ensign, closely rolled up, fell
on her forecastle, not even singed by the fiery ordeal through which
it had passed.
The "Yarmouth" wasted little time in wonder over the fate of her late
antagonist. In all the mass of floating wreckage that covered the sea,
there appeared to be no living thing. The four smaller American
vessels, dismayed by the fate of their consort, were making good their
escape. Without more ado, the "Yarmouth" set out in chase.
Four days later, the Americans having escaped, the "Yarmouth" was
again cruising near the scene of the action. A raft was discovered on
the ocean, which seemed to support some living creatures. Running down
upon it, four wretched, emaciated men were discovered clinging to a
piece of wreckage, and wildly waving for assistance. They were taken
aboard the British man-of-war, and given food and drink, of both of
which they partook greedily; for their sole sustenance during the four
days for which they clung to their frail raft was rain-water sucked
from a piece of blanket.
So died Capt. Nicholas Biddle, blown to atoms by the explosion of his
ship in the midst of battle. Though but a young officer, not having
completed his twenty-seventh year, he left an enduring name in the
naval annals of his country. Though his service was short, the fame he
won was great.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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