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218 The National Music of America.
whereupon a young Irishman, named John Hogan, seized it in his teeth, climbed to the masthead amid a shower of bullets, lashed it there, and came down, quite unharmed. Congress afterward awarded him a pension for the bold deed.
One final attempt was made to board, on both sides, and, of the three leaders on the American side, Lieutenant Morris (Hull's second in command) and Master Alwyn were seriously wounded, and Lieutenant Bush, of the marines, killed. Just at this moment the sails of the Constitution filled and she pushed ahead clear of her foe, while the mainmast of the Guerriere came thundering down, leaving her a hopeless wreck.
The Constitution now drew off, knowing that her enemy could not escape, but took a position across the bow of the Guerriere, whence she could rake her." Hull's pru-
1 The battle began a little after 6 p.m., and lasted about forty minutes. |
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