The pirates still paid no attention and continued their attempt to make it to shore, so the 4-inch gun was opened up on them again. By this time L5 had arrived in the area and her crew counted eight muzzle flashes from L4s deck gun. Lieutenant Gilbert Hackforth Jones reported that they were too far away at that time to open fire themselves, but they could see Irene burning after being struck by multiple rounds. At that point Lieutenant Halahan signaled L5 that lifeboats were being lowered from the steamer and that he was maneuvering in to rescue the survivors. L5 followed suit and both submarines dispatched a boat with one officer and one sailor each to go aboard the burning Irene. The pirates on board were counting on this and they were waiting for the British to move in close before responding, and when they did, the pirates revealed themselves from their hiding places and opened fire. Their shots were inaccurate, though, and went over the heads of the sailors. The submarines then turned around so they could open fire again with their deck guns. After a few additional shots, one struck something flammable on board the steamer and a large, "blinding" explosion was observed. Following that the pirates offered no more resistance and abandoned ship, some of them drowning in the cold water.Sellick, pp. 283–285.
