On the Ocean 209 



clear, Captain Peake put his helm hard up and wore, 

 firing his starboard guns; but the Hornet had 

 watched him closely, bore up as quickly, and coming 

 down at 5.35, ran him close aboard on the star 

 board quarter. Captain Peake fell at this moment, 

 together with many of his crew, and, unable to with 

 stand the Hornet's heavy fire, the Peacock surren 

 dered at 5.39, just 14 minutes after the first shot; 

 and directly afterward hoisted her ensign union 

 down in the fore-rigging as a signal of distress. Al 

 most immediately her mainmast went by the board. 

 Both vessels then anchored, and Lieutenant J. T. 

 Shubrick, being sent on board the prize, reported 

 her sinking. Lieutenant D. Connor was then sent 

 in another boat to try to save the vessel ; but though 

 they threw the guns overboard, plugged the shot 

 holes, tried the pumps, and even attempted bailing, 

 the water gained so rapidly that the Hornet's offi 

 cers devoted themselves to removing the wounded 

 and other prisoners; and while thus occupied the 

 short tropical twilight left them. Immediately after 

 ward the prize settled, suddenly and easily, in 5^2 

 fathoms of water, carrying with her three of the 

 Hornet's people and nine of her own, who were 

 rummaging below; meanwhile four others of her 

 crew had lowered her damaged stern boat, and in 

 the confusion got off unobserved and made their 

 way to the land. The foretop still remained above 

 water, and four of the prisoners saved themselves 



Hornet, Wasp, and Argus, from July 20, 1809, to October 

 6, 1813,") in the Bureau of Navigation, at Washington. 



