On the Ocean 251 



a brig laden with wine from Oporto was captured 

 and burnt, and unluckily many of the crew suc- 

 ceeded in getting at some of the cargo. At 5 A.M. 

 on the 1 4th a large brig-of-war was discovered 

 standing down under a cloud of canvas. 49 This 

 was the British brig-sloop Pelican, Captain John 

 Fordyce Maples, which, from information received 

 at Cork three days previous, had been cruising 

 especially after the Argus, and had at last found 

 her; St. David's Head bore east five leagues (lat. 

 52 15 N. and 5 50' W.). 



The small, fine-lined American cruiser, with her 

 lofty masts and long spars, could easily have es- 

 caped from her heavier antagonist; but Captain 

 Allen had no such intention, and, finding he could 

 not get the weather-gage, he shortened sail and ran 

 easily along on the starboard tack, while the Pelican 

 came down on him with the wind (which was from 

 the south) nearly aft. At 6 A.M. the Argus wore 

 and fired her port guns within grape distance, the 

 Pelican responded with her starboard battery, and 

 the action began with great spirit on both sides. 50 

 At 6.04 a round shot carried off Captain Allen's 

 leg, inflicting a mortal wound, but he stayed on 

 deck till he fainted from loss of blood. Soon the 

 British fire carried away the main-braces, main- 

 spring-stay, gaff, and try-sail mast of the Argus; 

 the first lieutenant, Mr. Watson, was wounded in 



Letter of Lieutenant Watson, March 2, 1815. 

 60 Letter of Captain Maples to Admiral Thornborough, 

 Aug. 14, 1813. 



