Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-04
ITALIAN HEROISM.
Fate of the Frigate Palestro at the
Battle of LISA
Her Omeers and Crew Devote Them
selves 10 Death.

Florence Correspondence Of the London Nowsl
The PalestrO was steamer constructed in
France for the Italian Government, of BOO
horse power, armed with four ARMSTRONG
guns, Of which two were so and two $50
Founders, manned by 250 men. She was
commanded by Capt Luigi Alfredo Cap
pelliui, Livomese, who, at the time Of the
battle was 80 years Of age. His First Lieu.
tenant was Ernesto Niterbo, Of Naples. The
other officers were Nincenzo Cacciottolo, Of
Procida Antello Lanso, Emannele Barba-
70, Carlo Marcetlieri, ali Of Naples; Fab
riziO Fabrizi, Of Palermo; Andrea Degosti-
ma, and Pietros Ribaud, Of Naples; Ferdi-
nando GaFzilli, Of Solofra Carlo Gloag, Of
Florence; and lastly, Giovanni Banner, Of
Naples.
The Pdlesiro formed, together with the
iron-clad Re FHaiia, and the San Marfino.
a group against which the principle impetus
Of the enemy was directed. In attempting
% execute a manmuvre for the supporting
the Re fItalia which was hardly pressed.
the PalestrO became surrounded by three
vessels Of the enemy, two Of which we're iron
clads, and the third partially armorod. The
PdiesirO fought well and calamity under
these difficult circumstances, and the UNEQUAL
struggle had already lasted for consider
able time, when it was perceived that a heap
Of Goals on board had caught fire The First
Lieutenant, NITERBo, rushed with a body
Of men while the action was continued as
hotly as ever, to extinguish the fire. But it
had already got beyond the means available
for the extinction Of IL, and VTrEKBo re-
ported 10 the Captain that all efforts 10 sub
due it were in vain. BY this time the Pal.
estrO had become involved in 40 dense a
body Of smoke that the Austrians, consider
ing that the fire on board would do for them
all that they had as yet been unable TO do
for themselves, sheered of and abandoned
the Palestro to herself Captain" said the
Lieutenant, " il is vain the FIRE cannot be
extinguished."
"In that case" returned Capt. CAPPEI,-
LINZ, eve must abandon the ship. Here
are The Iadipendelza and the Goueynolo at
hand First put the wounded on board Of
them, and then let the rest Of the crew 20
likewise"
And You, captain%
at IL my duty 20 remain with my ship"
"If 81" returned the lieutenant, "you |
shall not be alone" And thereupon raising |
his voice, he cried:
"Men OF the Palesfro, the FIRE is beyond |
our power. We cannot put it out. The |
captain Ofdefh al 70 save themselves on /
board the Indepeadenza and the Gouernolo. |
lie will himself, however, remain on board
the Palesiro"
On that arose a universal cry from the /
crew, 1--WE will all remain with him Long /
live the captain Hurrah for Italy p
And so they not only said, but did. The |
wounded, however, were sent on board the |
other vessels. Then Capt. CAPPELLINI,
anxious 10 sell his life and those Of his
crew as dearly as possible, directed his ship |
with all the power Of her engines, directly /
against the nearest Austrian vessel. But
the fire on board his own was too quick in
It's fatal progress 20 allow him even this
satisfaction. Before he could reach the
Austrian ship the fire reached the maga-
zine Of his own, and she was blown into the
air, together with her noble-hearted crew.
Nevertheless. FABRIzIo FABRIN and
nineteen Of the crew fell unhaFmed into the
water, and were saved. Lieut. YITERBo
also fell Lnharnred into the sea, but a huge
piece of iron falling on him in the water,
he was killed.
This is a true story of the heroism Of the
pdlestr0 and her commander, LUIGI Al
FREDo CARPEIIISI, and it is worth pre-
serving even in other memories and records |
than those Of the young Italian navy, |
which assuredly will not suffer il 70 die