The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-27

about ell could learn from the jargon
around me, and when the captain OF the
British sloop bore down on US and her
captain shouted to us to ''down our flag, .
II gave the order to my eager aud
brave fellows to open on her.. which
they did with hearty good will. One
/ broadside had been well delivered, but
just as | was peering over the taflrail
through the smoke, to see what effect
had been produced, the most terrific
explosion occurred, which seemed to
rend heaven and earth into shreds and
to shake the universe from centre to
circumference. have only the vaguest
| Idea Of this explosion; do not reu en-
Der an incident Of 1t, and never recov-
cred consciousness nor the use OF any
one OF my senses until twenty foul. or
thirty hours after I had given the last
order ON the deck OF the Al Hassan
"And now [ was In the cockpit OF the
British sloop Sophie, which was crowd
senselessness- several OF them
were much worse off than was, having
| lost limbs, and were grooming In agony
or bowling In rage. ] was cut In several
places with splinters and was fearfully
/ bruised and stunned, which bud brought
on q severe fever aud delirium. / re-
| member, however, very distinctly the
ray Of comfort which beamed upon my
consciousness as my eyes fell upon the
friendly, sympathizing, mild counte-
nance OF young officer who was lean
ing over me-"
II asked him where I wa.;. He said In
the cock pit of his Maje5ty's ship
Sophie. "And where is the AL Has
sang' Sunk like the rest OF the Egyp-
tian fleet, but we managed to save all
her crew, including the wounded, and
now, my good fellow, make yourself
comfortable. / see you are no Turk or
Arab. know you can't be an English
MAJ, and / have calculated you must
be one of those rowing Yankees who go
about the world getting into al
sorts sort, OF sorapes.. Faithfully did
the young commander keep his
greatest kindness by this officer
and the other British officers, and
proceeded with them to England, where
| was released ON my parole, was
supplied with money and took pas
sage by the first vessel for Baltimore.
Now you marvel and look rather skepti-
cal about this story. Your wonder and
ineredulity would be much greater over
other incidents OF my subsequent career
In the Gulf OF Mexico, in the service Of
Columbia and other States. But to re-
IuUfo VII uOuDb dS u my NaYaIluO sbOEy,
[ have only to subpoena we'll known
and highly respected member OF the bar
and old citizen of New Orleans, who
was the Identical commander, John
Gedge, who commanded the British
sloop which blew up the Al
Hassan at Navarino." And rs
he concluded with this clincher,
the Captain, glancing his eye across
the street, exclaimed, In loud tone,
why, as L live, was there ever such q
coincidence There Is John Gedge
passing on the other side Of the street. !"
We knew Mr.. Gedge we'll; he was
High Mason and most esteemed gen
tleman and lawyer, but with an aspect
6 meekness, quietude and gentleness
which would have rendered him the
very last man In any thousand that
could be selected for naval hero or
fighter, who had figured In such scenes
Of conflict as that described by Bossisre.
Mr.. Gedge was intercepted, brought
in to join us, and then, In his quiet way,
gave his version OF the incident at Ma
varino which Bossiere had related.
In view of oil the circumstances we
have never ceased to remember this in
cident as one of such remarkable CO.
medicines as would be deemed extrava-
giant even In romances, but which was
verified by such practical proofs and
facts as left us no longer an excuse for
q single doubt OF the literal accuracy
of Capt. Bossiere's story of his expe-
rience as Turkish fillibuster.