The Warren Hastings was a vessel7 of 1200 tons, was armed with 44 guns, and her crew consisted of 196 men and boys. She was therefore in size, in armament and crew a distinctly formidable ship, her commander being Captain Thomas Larkins. On the 17th of February 1805 she left Portsmouth bound for China. This was one of the most historic years in the whole history of the sea, and a few months later the Battle of Trafalgar brought matters306 to a crisis. It was obvious that in consequence of the eventful times no ship, not even an East Indiaman, could dare to begin a voyage unless special precautions had been taken to render her as fully9 equipped against a French frigate10 as both money and the ship’s own limitations would permit.
THE “SIBELLA,” EAST INDIAMAN, 721 TONS.
(By courtesy of Messrs. T. H. Parker Brothers)
Larger image
In the case of so valuable a ship as the Warren Hastings extraordinary precautions had been taken to make her as powerful as possible. Her forty-four guns were composed as follows. She carried on her main or lower deck twenty-six medium 18-pounders, fourteen carronades (18-pounders) on her upper deck, and four carronades (12-pounders) on her poop. The medium gun was six feet in length, and weighed about 26? cwt. It will be seen that this was a smaller weapon than that used in the Royal Navy, for the common 18-pounder of the latter measured nine feet long, and weighed 42 cwt. The East Indiaman’s medium 18-pounder when run out did not reach out more than a foot from the ship’s side. The 18-pounder carronade was five feet long, and weighed about 15? cwt. The 12-pounder was 3? feet long and weighed about 8? cwt. The Warren Hastings’ carronades were mounted, says James, “upon a carriage resembling Gover’s in every particular but the only essential one, the having of rollers adapted to a groove11 in the slide. The consequence of this silly evasion12 of an ingenious man’s patent was, that the whole of the ship’s quarter-deck and poop guns became utterly13 useless, after only a few rounds had been fired from them. The first discovery of any imperfection in the new carriage occurred at exercise: but a plentiful14 supply of blacklead upon the upper surface of the slide lessened15 the307 friction16, and, with the aid of an additional hand, enabled the gun to be run out. On account, however, of the rain, and the salt water in washing the deck, the application of blacklead was obliged to be repeated every time of exercise.”
The Warren Hastings, after leaving Portsmouth on the day mentioned, made a safe and uneventful passage to China and duly began her return journey. But this time she was armed not quite so strongly. Four of her main-deck ports had been caulked17 up so as to afford additional space for a storeroom, and the four guns had been put away in the hold. Nor had she so good a crew, for forty Chinamen had decided18 to remain at Canton, and there was the usual impressment from the British navy, a warship19 relieving the Warren Hastings of eighteen English seamen20: and you can be sure they were some of the best men in the ship. In addition to the four guns already mentioned, four of the 18-pounder carronades were also transferred to the hold. The net result was that when she put to sea for her homeward voyage she mounted 36 guns only and carried a crew of 138 men and boys.
It was on the 21st of June at 7.30 in the morning that, while this ship was foaming21 along under a smart press of canvas before a strong breeze, she descried22 a strange ship under treble-reefed topsails and courses. This turned out to be the French frigate Piémontaise of 40 guns, commanded by Captain Jacques Epron. This ship was armed rather differently from the rest of French frigates23 which were so famous at this period, and as we are about to watch the contest between her and the Indiaman it will be well to notice these details. The308 Piémontaise had the usual twenty-eight long 18-pounders on her main-deck. On her quarter-deck and forecastle she mounted ten iron and two brass24 36-pounder carronades, two long French 8-pounders, and four long English 9-pounders, these having belonged to the British frigate Jason, which had been compelled to throw them overboard when she grounded off Pointe de la Trenche at the capture of the Seine in 1798.
In addition to her forty-six carriage guns, the Frenchmen also carried swivel guns and musketoons in her tops and along her gunwales. On each fore8 and main yard-arm there was fixed25 a tripod to contain a shell weighing a quarter of a ton, the idea being that when in combat she got alongside another ship, the shell was to have its fuse lighted by a man lying out on the yard. It would then be thrown from the tripod, fall on the enemy’s deck, pass through to the deck below, and then exploding would cause wholesale26 destruction. Meanwhile, the French crew would rush on board, profiting by this confusion, and the capture of the Frenchman’s enemy would be an easier matter. The French crew would also be armed each with a dagger27 in the buttonholes of his jacket in addition to the boarding-pike which he would hold in his hand. These tactics were, even at the beginning of the nineteenth century, a curious survival of the medi?val methods of fighting. Gunnery was not the chief reliance, but was looked upon merely as a means for quelling29 the enemy so that she might be boarded and a hand-to-hand fight begun. It seems strange in this twentieth century, when a battleship would open fire at six miles and be pretty sure to keep a good distance from its opponent,309 that the older fashion should have survived so long. If the French frigates of yesterday were the German light cruisers of to-day, and the old East Indiamen were the crack ships of the Cunard Line of the P. & O., the latter could, if desired, be attacked and sunk without the vessels31 ever getting within several miles of each other, let alone any thought of boarding, unless the German was determined32 to spare human life, keep within the limits of international law and take the merchant ship captive. Thus have the conditions changed in the course of time.
But to return to the incident before us. An hour and a half after sighting the Frenchman, the Warren Hastings noticed that the frigate was shaking out her reefs from her topsails and was approaching the English ship, the latter still keeping on her course. At half-past nine that morning the frigate was fast gaining on the Indiaman, and nevertheless set her topgallant-sails as well as her fore and maintopmast stuns’ls. Her next act was to hoist33 an English blue ensign and pennant34. However, the skipper of the Warren Hastings was far too experienced in the ways of the sea to be taken in by this piece of bluff35, and still kept his ship on her way. He replied to the signals by hoisting36 his English colours and making the private signal, of which we have spoken elsewhere in this volume. The Frenchman, however, made no reply to this private signal, so it was pretty certain that there was treachery.
On came the frigate, tearing through the water with the smart breeze, doing good work all the time. Meanwhile, the East Indiaman’s commander was seeing that everything was in readiness for obvious impending37 trouble. At eleven o’clock he shortened310 sail, hauled up a point and cleared his ship for action. One hour later the frigate also took in her “fancy” canvas—her stuns’ls and her staysails, but also her mainsail too. And having approached to within one mile hauled down her English colours and sent up her French flag. She had intentionally38 chosen the leeward39 position, because of the high wind, and opened fire at the Indiaman’s port quarter within musket-shot distance—that is to say, about four hundred yards away; and so soon as the Indiaman could bring her guns to bear this fire was returned. This firing went on for about a quarter of an hour, when the frigate bore away, let her sails fill, and went on ahead. The only damage that had been done to the Indiaman was to carry away part of the rigging.
After the frigate had got about a mile and a half ahead the latter tacked30, passed close to leeward of the Warren Hastings again, and once more a smart fire was exchanged. This time several of the Warren Hastings’ crew were killed and wounded, and in addition the whole of the port fore shrouds40, the foretopsail tie, her chief running gear, her stays and her ensign were cut away and her foremast seriously injured. The ensign, however, was quickly rehoisted at the maintopgallant-masthead. Quickly the Indiaman repaired her damage, but then the frigate having put about astern of the Indiaman began the action a third time, though this did little more damage than crippling the merchant ship’s foremast altogether. Owing to this fact and the heavy sea and high wind the Warren Hastings could carry sail only on her main and mizen masts. The result was311 that the Frenchman could run round her even more easily than before.
This time she went ahead again, tacked, and was about to make a further onslaught when the Warren Hastings opened a hot fire. The Frenchman replied, but it was seen that the Englishman was being injured still more and more. She was now injured not merely at her foremast, but at her main too. Her standing41 and running rigging had also been considerably42 damaged, two quarter-deck guns were disabled, five men had been killed and others were wounded. However, in this crippled state she had to sustain a fifth attack. For the frigate, coming on the Indiaman’s port quarter, poured in a heavy and destructive fire which smashed the driver-boom to splinters, and soon the mizen-mast went. And as it fell it succeeded in disabling every effective gun on the upper deck. Troubles seldom come singly, and in addition to these misfortunes the lower deck was on fire from the shot which had entered the counter, and as the nail of the tiller rope on the barrel of the steering43 wheel had drawn44, the rudder became useless.
The surgeon was in the act of amputating and dressing45 the wounded when a shot entered and destroyed the whole of his instruments. Altogether it was a bad business, and the poor, crippled Indiaman, after having done her best to fight against a superior foe46, was reluctantly compelled to lower her colours just before five o’clock that evening. She had been rendered almost a mere28 hulk, she had lost her purser and six men all killed. Thirteen more, including her chief, third and sixth officers and her surgeon’s mate had been wounded, whereas the312 Frenchman out of her enormous crew of 385 men and boys had lost only seven men killed and five badly wounded. Her hull47 was practically undamaged and her rigging and sails were only partially48 injured. But this, of course, was natural enough, for the frigate’s weight of broadside was 533 lb. as against the Indiaman’s 312 lb. The Indiaman carried only 138 men and boys, as against the Frenchman’s 385.
But it is necessary also to bear in mind that a warship exists solely49 for the purpose of being an efficient fighting unit. This frigate had to think of nothing else. Whenever she cruised about, her intention was to find some opportunity of inflicting50 injury on an English ship. The Indiaman, on the other hand, had to consider primarily how best she could carry the greatest amount of cargo51, how she could get this to port in the quickest manner: and then only in a secondary sense had she to contemplate52 being an able fighter. Necessarily, therefore, the frigate was always better armed and more ready for war. It so happened that the Warren Hastings was still further handicapped by the fact that she could make very little use of her upper deck and poop batteries after the second or third round of shot. Owing to lack of men she could man only eight out of her eleven guns on her lower deck, while the frigate was in no way impeded53.
“Under these circumstances,” says James, “the defence made by the Warren Hastings, protracted54 as it was to four hours and a half, displayed a highly commendable55 zeal56 and perseverance57 on the part of Captain Larkins, his officers, and ship’s company, but with all their gallant efforts, the latter could313 never have succeeded in capturing—although, had the ship’s guns been in an effective state, they might, in beating off—an antagonist58 so well armed, manned, and appointed as the Piémontaise.”
But we have not yet concluded. The Warren Hastings being dismasted, and a heavy sea running, the ship was allowed to fall off. And as the French frigate was lying close to leeward, under three topsails, with the mizen one aback and the main one on the shake, this warship had to bear up to avoid collision with the Indiaman. The former filled her maintopsail, but as there was none left at the helm she luffed up into the wind and fouled59 the Warren Hastings on the latter’s port bow. You can readily imagine that with such a sea running there followed a series of sickening thuds as these two heavy ships banged against each other’s sides. But the situation was now suitable for boarding tactics, and the Frenchmen, led by the first lieutenant60, poured aboard the merchant ship. But they came not as conquerors61, but as assassins, with uplifted daggers62 and threatening the lives of all.
One of these villains63 dragged the English captain about the ship, accusing him of an attempt to run the frigate down in order to cripple her masts. The first lieutenant also stabbed the captain on the right side. It was a brutal64 affray, which cannot be said to redound65 to the credit of any naval66 officer. Captain Larkins, brave man though he was, soon fainted through loss of blood, and was then ordered on board the frigate. It should be added that the first lieutenant and many of his men were highly intoxicated67 at the time and so cannot be held fully responsible for their base treatment of their victims.314 The second officer, the surgeon and the boatswain’s mate were also stabbed, and a midshipman was pierced in seven different places by the first lieutenant. The ship was afterwards pillaged68 by this drunken gang, but after such excesses had been allowed to have their way the French captain did his best to make the survivors69 comfortable. The Piémontaise then steered70 for the Isle71 of France, taking her fine prize in tow, one of the handsomest vessels which the Honourable72 East India Company ever possessed73. Captor and captive arrived at the Isle of France on the 4th of July, and a strange sight these two must have made as they proceeded. The reader may have marvelled74 that the Piémontaise had been able to overhaul75 the Warren Hastings so quickly and to man?uvre so easily when she kept returning to make one attack after another. But these French frigates were splendid craft and wonderfully fast, for although the East Indiamen were built on frigate lines more or less, yet they were modified to allow of a large cargo being carried, and this of course could be done only by sacrificing speed possibility. Some idea of the pace which these French frigates could reach may be gathered from the statement that the Piémontaise, in a moderate breeze, carrying three single-reefed topsails, foresail and mizen staysail, was able to tow her prize, a deeply laden76 ship of bigger tonnage than herself, having very small jury-sail set, at the rate of seven and a half knots an hour.
This fight and capture show the kind of adventure that was always imminent77 during a great portion of the East Indiaman period. It is almost difficult for us who travel with safety and punctuality in modern315 steamship78 liners to realise the uncertainty79, the danger and anxieties with which the old merchant ships to the East proceeded on their way. There was not a species of disaster peculiar80 to maritime81 travel that was not ready to bring the career of such fine ships to a speedy end. Every conceivable kind of enemy seemed to be lying in wait for these craft: and the wonder really is, not that they were so often lost, but that they got to port. Knowing, as we do, something of the characters of the commanders who took these East Indiamen over the ocean, we need not be altogether surprised that their sagacity, their determination, leadership, seamanship and ability as navigators and tacticians when tested did so much for the honour of their service and for the safety of the ships and cargoes82 which the Company entrusted83 to their care. They were men of whom the Company and the country had every right to be proud.
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1
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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5
posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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7
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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groove
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| n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯 | |
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evasion
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| n.逃避，偷漏(税) | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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caulked
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| v.堵（船的）缝( caulk的过去式和过去分词 )；泥…的缝；填塞；使不漏水 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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warship
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| n.军舰，战舰 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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frigates
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| n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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quelling
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的现在分词 ) | |
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tacked
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| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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pennant
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| n.三角旗；锦标旗 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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hoisting
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| 起重，提升 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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intentionally
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| ad.故意地，有意地 | |
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leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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shrouds
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| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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49
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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50
inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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51
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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52
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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53
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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55
commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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56
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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57
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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58
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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59
fouled
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| v.使污秽( foul的过去式和过去分词 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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conquerors
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| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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62
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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64
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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redound
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| v.有助于；提；报应 | |
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66
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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67
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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pillaged
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| v.抢劫，掠夺( pillage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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overhaul
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| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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steamship
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| n.汽船，轮船 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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maritime
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| adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的 | |
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cargoes
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| n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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