He said in his official report that he saw the shot strike the boat, whereupon Perry took off his coat and plugged the hole with it.
But for the temporary veil the American commander could not have made half the brief distance between the _Lawrence_ and the _Niagara_.

As it was, however, he reached the latter without a scratch.

He hoisted his pennant and the flag bearing the immortal words of the gallant Lawrence.
Then an officer was sent in a boat to communicate the orders of the Commodore to the other vessels.

This was hardly done when Perry saw with the keenest distress the surrender of the _Lawrence_.

Such submission was inevitable, for almost every man on board was either killed or wounded and every gun on the engaged side was disabled.