Nearly at the same moment a boat was lowered from the Asia to carry her pilot, Mitchell, with a flag of truce to repeat to the Turkish commander that the desire of the allies was for peace. Lieut. Fitz-Roy's boat, while approaching the fire-ship, received a volley of musketry. The Asia's pinnace, having on board the pilot and a flag of truce, shared a like fate; the guns opened fire, and the fight became general.
During all the manœuvring the two Turkish line-of-battle ships which confronted the Asia maintained a persistent silence. But as soon as the pinnace had been sunk, they fired a broadside into the Asia, which heeled over for a moment; as she righted, she delivered her broadside with splendid aim. The firing was rapid, and in a little while the two antagonists of the Asia were helpless wrecks. Both their cables had been shot away, and the wind wafted them towards the entrance of the harbor.
But the Asia did not escape unharmed in her fight with two of the enemy's ships at once. Both her broadsides were kept going as fast as possible, and very soon she was so enveloped in smoke that nothing could be seen. She received many shot in her upper works; her mizzen-mast was carried away; her other masts were injured, and several of her guns were disabled. The disappearance of her two antagonists exposed her to the fire of the second and third line; she maintained her position until the end of the battle, and practically fired the last shot. At one time she appeared to be in flames, and there was great anxiety through the allied fleet. There was corresponding relief when the smoke cleared away, and it was found that an Egyptian ship near the Asia had blown up and was on fire. Part of her crew had escaped by swimming to the shore, and the rest had perished. Cheer upon cheer went up from the allies when it was found that the Asia was unharmed.
Almost simultaneously with the attack upon the
