e
corvette on the bow of Philip's vessel. After half an hour's determined
exchange of broadsides, the fore-mast of the Spanish frigate fell,
carrying away with it the maintop-mast; and this accident impeded her
firing. The Dort immediately made sail, stood on to the corvette, which
she crippled with three or four broadsides, then tacked, and fetched
alongside of the frigate, whose lee guns were still impeded with the
wreck of the foremast. The two vessels now lay head and stern, within
ten feet of each other, and the action recommenced to the disadvantage
of the Spaniard. In a quarter of an hour the canvass, hanging overside,
caught fire from the discharge of the guns, and very soon communicated
to the ship, the Dort still pouring in a most destructive broadside,
which could not be effectually returned. After every attempt to
extinguish the flames, the captain of the Spanish vessel resolved that
both vessels should share the same fate. He put his helm up, and
running her on to the Dort, grappled with her, and attempted to secure
the two vessels together. Then raged the conflict; the Spaniards
attempting to pass their grappling-chains so as to prevent the escape of
their enemy, and the Dutch endeavouring to frustrate their attempt. The
chains and sides of hot vessels were crowded with men fighting
desperately; those struck down falling between the two vessels, which
the wreck of the foremast still prevented from coming into actual
collision. During this conflict, Philip and Krantz were not idle. By
squaring the after-yards, and putting all sail on forward they contrived
that the Dort should pay off before the wind with her antagonist, and by
this manoeuvre they cleared themselves of the smoke which so incommoded
them; and having good way on the two vessels, they then rounded to so as
to get on the other tack, and bring the Spaniard to leeward. This gave
them a manifest advantage and soon terminated the conflict. The smoke
and flames were beat back on the Spanish vessel--the fire which had
communicated to the Dort was extinguished--the Spaniards were no longer
able to prosecute their endeavours to fasten the two vessels together,
and retreated to within the bulwarks of their own vessel; and after
great exertions, the Dort was disengaged, and forged ahead of her
opponent, who was soon enveloped in a sheet of flame. The corvette
remained a few cables' length to windward, occasionally firing a gun.
Philip poured