The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1849-12-08
Gallant Feat in Trafalgar.

Amer the defiance aud Aiglc ~ had been
C.r some limo holly engaged, aud ihciiru of
the French ship, wiihu pistol shot OF her
opponent, had slackcued, Capt. Durham, IN
The hope that n brucn', It being ut the time
dead calm, would spring up aud enable hihi
to board npdr his arrangements according
ly. A. this imncture, Anirnntcd with u spirt
Of impctuous horuisn, MIR Sprntt, who had
hoon selected to lead the men ~ tue drrpor-
ate service thTt awaited them, volunteered,
ns oil the boats had been Disabled, To board
tho enemy by swimming thus utior hoinF
accented, ho Instantly, with his sword IA hr
teeth md his hattle-nNo ia his belt. dashed
into the sea, calling at tie same time upon
Gry others to follow; mandate, however
which in the general din, was not heard, or
mt nny rntc not decided. tudnuutrd, though
alone. Mr. Sprnit, on reaching The French
ship,coutriycd,hy means the ruddor ellainar
la GHIGF Tho stern Erft-rtot,t 4oFI atsl thence
to Gpht his way through oil the decks until
lac reached the poop. Here he wns charged
[ by threo prenndiors with fixed bnyoncis, bnt
Swinging WIT IfuxrrrTtJ- t~--t-II4aiil- AA Liz
assistance of the signal halyArds, lao got upon
an nrm-chcst, and before they could repeat
The operation disabled TWO OF them. SelznR
the third one, lac threw him from the poop
ON the quarter deck where lac fell and broke
] tllh lNtNhs NIuEklHk "'' s''''' II
however, escaped INJURY. By this time the
! ttritiEt, w1u md bteit 6teI raliilsed- were
engaged I'm n second aud more successful nj
tempt 10 carry tbs euomy's shipi aud Mr.
Eprhtt, who had joined IN the desperate
hand.to-haud conflict raging an her quarter
deck had the happiness of saving the lite OF
n French officer from the fury ot hts nssa'I'
ants. Scarcely had be discharged tins Hci
of humanity when nh endearor wnS made
by n Hrrnudier to run linn through WIN hl'
hnyonct The thrust being pnrrcd, th,
Frenchmnn presented his musket NJ MI
Sprntts breast; and although the latter sue
ceeded in striking i>down with his cuI'nss
the contents passed through his right leg tc
n Little below the knee, shnltering both bones
he Immediately burkcfl ia heiweoh lho al
the quarter deck guns, 10 prevent being Gu
blown from hchiud. and an this position ~
continued 10 defend himself against bis ole
torncntor and two others uut,i AT length re-
leved by some Of his pnrty. As soon Ms the
Angles colors had been struck, Mr. Sprat
presented himself on her quarter.swung hun
selfby one of the bont.iuckie falls 10 the dc
fnnce; aud, resting on lower-dock por
which Happened To be up, wHs carried int
the cockpit. Al first nuputaliou OF tho lei
Vns thought unavoidable but this lac positive
~ refused to allow. tie was afterwards sen
10 the hospiinl at Gihrnlteri where the suffer
ings he endured were OF the most hg0nI21Uj
description, aud ended in reducing his lei
three INCHES. The pain Mr SrrRlI ehdHrrI
was 80 NcutH that 1t brought on fever, dur
iur the pnroXysnIE of which the settings o
his leg herumo dcrnngrG as fast ms the surge
on could dress them. To ohvlnte tho neon
, veuienee aud danger u,ising from this "n
resolved to cncasc the limb IN u long box n
dpIted to the purpose, aud 10 allow II to re-
main in that state for niiie'days, IN order 1