Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-02-02
Rev. q. Il. Leyburn's Descrsp-
ti0ln of asle Greek Fire
ship Hero.

Letter IN Winchester News.
Not long since, in company with a few
friends, l had the pleasure of visiting al
most the last survivor Of those old Revo-
lutionary naval heroes, Admiral Kanaris.
For he occupies the highest position in the
Greek navy, being full Admiral, thought
GOV on the retired list, with q comfol table
annuity of some $4,000; his country not
being unmindful of the distinguished SER
vices OF her son.
A pleasant ride Of half an hour, on a
beautiful December evening, brought US to
a plain but neat country house, a mile or
two north of Athens. 1t was surrounded,
as most houses in this land are, by a high
stone wall, with a large gate, or door, in
front. A Greek friend vino was with us in
quired if the Admiral was at home, and if
he would receive some Americans who had
called to see him; upon receiving an alfir-
NATIVE answer, we alighted and were met
almost at the door by the old gentleman
himself, who had been sitting in the open
air near Dy. He was q venei able old man,
about the medium height, rather stoutly
built, hair and beard quite gray. most of
lis teeth were out and he seemed some
what Stiff with age, though he had a fine
eye and a very pleasant expression oil
cOuntenance, and we imagined that in his
youth and prime he was probably a fine
looking, perhaps handsome, man; his dress,
for which he twice apologized, was a large,
comfortable dressing gown of checked
flannel, i'll which he was wrapped UP from
head to foot; he had also a little black skull
cap OIL the top IF his head. with d cologed
handkerchief wrapped around it, after the
fashion of a turban. He received us very
politely and cordially, and invited us into
his parlor, which was a pleasant room,
neatly but simply furnishe! with tables
and chairs, two Sofas, several arm-chal.s S,
and two Turkish rugs, while on the wall
We're hung a number of nautical pictures
lit such an expression BIZ correctly aud two
miniature ships, one of them representing
the vessel he commanded during the war.
We found him very affable and quite
laxative; he told us that he WIS born in
1892, had gone to sea when only 10 wears
Old, and that he had in his n DAYS
visited most OF the countries and ports of
the Mediterranean and Black Seas. lie in
quired from what part of America we were,
and a little after, as he opened his snuff
box ard took Il plnch, remarked, 'the best
tobacco comes from Virginia." He eX-
pressed his regret at not being able to speak
with US ill our own language, saying that
when a youth he knew a little of several
languages, but had long ago forgotten all
but the Greek.
But we were especially DESTROYS to hear
him talk about the Revolution and the
events In which he had taken so prominent
a part SO l asked him how they managed
to set an enemy's vessel on fire with their
%"brulot," if they fastened tie two together
in any way !? He answered no! The brulot
was only an ordinary, fast sailing vessel
filled with combustibles; with this they
raj againsl, or into, the eneny's ship, aud
just as the two collided, the match was
fired, and-if all was well ex%ecuted-in a
few moments, while the two were ~entangled
together. both would be wrapped in flames;
and said he: it was not quite so difficult or
dangerous, as at first 1t might seem, owing
to the coWardice and terror Of the Turks,
who always became so Frightened. as to be
almost utterly helpless, and hardly able TO
put forth Il vigorous effort either to defend
or even to save themselves.