Pantaloon, 1831
Type: Brig/sloop ; Armament 10
Launched : Purchased Dec 1831 ; Disposal date or year : 1852
B.M. 323 tons
Capture Of A Slaver. (From the Standard)
It is with sincere pride that we record the exploit, which for chivalrous gallantry has hardly been surpassed during the most stirring period of the late war, and which must satisfy those detractors of our brave seamen who insist that the navy has lost much of the spirit that was wont to animate it, how utterly groundless such a belief really is.
The boats engaged in the affair belonged to the [HMS]Pantaloon, 10, sloop, Commander Edmund Wilson. The prize is a remarkably fine vessel of about 400 tons, polacre rigged, with immense sails. She is of great celebrity on the coast, is armed with four 12-pounders, and had a mixed crew, composed chiefly of Spaniards, amounting to about 60 ; and was equipped for any villanous service, whether slave-dealing or piracy.
The Pantaloon had been baffled in her chase of this vessel, supposed to be a slaver, for two or three days; and it appears, from what our correspondent has stated, the pirate, after leading the Pantaloon away to St. Thomas's, and out-sailing her, doubled on the cruiser, and then ran to Lagos; but Captain Wilson was too old an officer on the coast to be so taken in, and on the morning of the 26th of May, the sloop and the stranger caught sight of each other about two miles distant, off Lagos, becalmed. The pirate hoisted no colours, and the captain of the Pantaloon, desirous of renewing his attentions, sent the cutter and two whale boats under the command of the first lieutenant, Mr. Lewis de T. Prevost, with the master, Mr. J. T. Crout, and the boatswain, Mr. Pasco, with marines and seamen, amounting to about thirty altogether, to make a more intimate acquaintance with the stranger, taking especial care, however, to be fully prepared for a warm reception.
The pirate gave the boats an indication of what they were to expect, as they neared, by opening on them a heavy fire of round shot, grape and canister, in such a spirited style, that, after returning the compliment by a volley of musketry, the boats prepared for hard work. Animated by the show of resistance, each boat now emulated the other in reaching the enemy, the pirate continuing a sharp fire as they steadily advanced, the marines briskly using their muskets. In half an hour from the discharge of the first gun from the pirate the boats of the Pantaloon were alongside, Lieutenant Prevost and Mr. Pasco on the starboard and Mr. Crout, in the cutter, on the port side. The pirate crew, sheltering themselves as much as possible, nevertheless continued to fire the guns, loading them with all sorts of missiles - bullets, nails, lead, &c., and amidst a shower of these our brave sailors and marines dashed on board.
Lieutenant Prevost and his party in the two boats, notwithstanding their hot reception, were soon on the deck of the prize. The master boarded on the port bow, and despite the formidable resistance and danger, followed by one of his boat's crew, actually attempted to enter the port as they were firing the gun from it. He succeeded in getting through, but his seconder was knocked overboard by the discharge; the gallant fellow, however, nothing daunted, was in an instant up the side again, taking part with the master, who was engaged in a single encounter with one or two of the rascals. Having gained the deck after a most determined resistance, they now encountered the pirates hand to hand, when the cutlass and bayonet did the remainder of the work. Lieut. Prevost finally succeeded in capturing the vessel, but the pirates fought desperately, and it was not until seven of their number lay dead on the deck, and seven or eight more were severely wounded, that they ran below or yielded.
It may naturally be supposed that in such a hard and close struggle the gallant boats' crews did not escape unscathed. We are sorry to say that a fine able seaman named Henry Jackson, was killed. and a private Royal Marine was so severely wounded that he died a very short time after. The master was severely wounded. Pasco, the boatswain, was slightly wounded, as were also four others : Carrick, the captain's coxswain : Soughton, a quartermaster ; Harmer an able seaman; and a marine, named Freemantle. An able seaman, named Jones, was severely wounded.
The affair has excited a great sensation on the coast, and the men-of-war are loud in their congratulations on the success of the Pantaloon. The general feeling among the squadron is admiration of the gallantry displayed, coupled, however, with ardent wishes for such an opportunity for distinction.
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Gambia SG?