The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1879-11-29
fLondon Telegraph. ]


Vice Admiral Lord Nelson was great sea
captain if ever one lived. When, on the 10th
of September, 1906, he hoisted his flag on
board the Victory, and arrived off Cadiz on
his birthday to take command of the Med
iterranean fleet, he meant fighting. There
was no suspicion of hesitation in his tactics.
The force under him consisted of 81 sail OF
the line and frigates, which he withdrew
from the vicinity of Cadiz to a station 16 or
18 leagues to the Westward, Gin
the hope OF inducing the enemy to
put to sea-" These were the days of
dash and manhood, and great must have
been Nelson's exhultation when, on the
morning o. October q, just at daybreak,
the combined French and Spanish fleets,
consisting of 33 sail of tina line and seven
frigates, were seen ahead TO leeward, II
miles. The admiral lost no time, forbefore
II the British feet, in two lines, was bearing
down on the crescent shaped position of the
enemy, and then it was that Nelson hoisted
the signal, England expects that every man
will do his duty" The only fear was that the
enemy might run for refuge, therefore Nelson
notified to collingwood, IL intend to pass
through the van of the enemy's line to pre-
vent him from getting into Cadiz." There
was an affectionate anxiety about the i'm
er, so Captain Blackwood proposed that the
Temeralre should go ahead of the Victory, in
case that vessel might draw the principal at
tention of the enemy's fire. go! yes, let her
go ahead" replied Nelson; but ut the same
time he had clearly no intention of allowing
any such thing, for he would not permit an
inch of canvas to be taken in, and the Vic
tory continued to lead the column, closely
Rugged by the Temeraire. 1t was Colling-
wood, however, who began the fight on board
the Royal Sovereign, commanding the lee
division, and the feelings of the two brave
men at this important moment found utter
ance almost at the same instant. What
would Nelson give to be herep exclaimed
Collingwood to Captain ROTTERDAM, and at the
same instant, without spark of jealousy at
the enviable position of his friend, Nelson
observed, .See how nobly Collingwood car
ries his ship into action
But at 20 minutes past noon the Victory
was in the thick of the fight. Scarcely a
minute after the ship got within range, sew
en- or eight ships opened terrible and de-
structive fire upon her. The admirars Sec
the mizzen topmast of the Victory was car
ried away, and also her wheel, necesstating
the process of steetin by the relieving tackles
below. Yet no hail of fire destroyed the
dauntless and logged courage of Nelson and
his seadogs. When splinter from the fore
brace bits passed between Nelson and Hardy,
and tore away the buckle from the shoe of
the latter, the admiral only SMILED and said,
ssThis is too warm work to last long, Hardyl"
Still, warm as it was, the English admiral
was determined to make it hotter. The
Victory's sails were hanging in ribands;
she had lost full 80 men killed and wounded;
but soon it was her turn to begin. Deter
mined to pass under the stern of the Bucen-
taureas the only mode of breaking the line,
the Victory 'shelm was put hard aport, and
there was scarcely space for her to go clear
Sailing close to the larboard side of the Bu-
centaure, the Victory poured in such we'll
directed and tremendous broadside that the
French ship heeled two or three streaks on
receiving it. All this time Nelson was pac-
ing the quarterback with Hardy, their walk
being bounded aft by the wheel, and forward
by the companion-ladder. The distance was
only about 25 feet, and it was here, when the
Redoubtable brought up, that the fatal bullet
struck Nelson He fell on his knees just
where Mr. Scott had fallen, and said "They
have done for me 1T last, Hardy; my back
bone is shot through" The victory was all
but gained when Nelson was compelled to 90
below In that dreadful moment he thought
of his men, and caused his face and his stars
to be covered by his handkerchief, in order
that he might pass unnoticed by the crew.