The morning call., 1892-06-12

an;ine flag was hoisted at the fore, and as
the SpaniaTds had a wholesome horror OF
any plague from the BaTbary Coast, from
which, of course, the Speedy had just come.
the boat returned to the frigate without
boarding and the latter Immediately made
sail. Some of the crew thought the frigate
could have been taken. Perhaps so, but
the risk would have been desperate.
CAPTURING A SPANISH FRIGATE.
The crew had an opportunity Of showing
their mettle on another occasion. A Span
ism zebec frigate. FL Gam0, hove in sight
one morning, ana it was determined TO fight
her. The Spaniard showed her cOlOTs, and
at first, to get an advantage by tacking, the
Speedy hoisted American colors. The or
ders were not TO fire gun until close to the
fTigate and to return the br0adside when
under her lee, with the yards locking the
rigging. Orders were given to double-shOt
the fOuT-poundeTS, but actually they were
trebly shOtted, and the br0adsides told we'll
on the SDanard's main deck, the first round
killing the captain and bOatswain. The
frigate's shot went overhead harm
lessIy, save in the rigging. Seeing
how awkwardly they were placed,
the Spaniards gave the order to board, but
COchrane beard the order also and as often
as it was given he sheeTed of sufficiently
and poured in musketry FIRE and broadsides.
The maneuVer was repeated twice and then
the crew of the FL GamO abandoned the no.
again. But this hot work could not last.
Cochrane told his crew that they must
either take the fTigate or be themselves
taken, and that the Spanlards would give
no quarter The doctor undertook the
helm and for the time being was both CON-
mander and crew Of the Speedy, COchraue
leading the whole of the officers and sea-
men and marines away as boarders.
THE ODDS AGAINST SUCCESS.
Describing this fight, Lord Cochrane re-
marks in his autobiography: For a
moment the SpanaTds seemed taken by
surprise. as though unwilling to believe
that so small crew would have the audac-
ity to board them; but soon recovering
themselves they made rush 10 the waist Of
the frigate, where the fight was for some
minutes galantly carried on. Observing
the enemy's cOlors still flying / directed one
OF oCr men Immediately TO haul them down,
when the Spanish crew, without pJusing to
consider By whose orders the cOlOrs had been
struck. and naturally believing it the act of
their own officers, gave IN, and we were in
possession of the GamO frigate OF 81 heavy
guns and 3l9 men, who an hour and half
before had looked upon US as certain If
not an easy prey
The Speedys loss was three seamen
killed and one officer and II men wounded.
The Gamo's loss was 10 killed a1d IL
wounded, her casualties exceeding the num-
Der of the Speedys crew. The Gamo had a
tonnage Of 600, and her brOadsde weight of
shot was 100 pounds. The SDeedy's burden
was 1853; her brOadside weight was %
pounds. and the crew numbered "a, against
319 IN the Zebec. 1t would be hard 10 match
this victory. Before boarding COchrane
ordered some Of his men 10 blaeken their
faces and TO board by the bow. This device
had ITS effect on the superstlti0us nature of
the Spaniards. They probably concluded
that the devil himself was taking hand in
the fight. The officer who succeeded the
captain OF the Zebec in command asked and
obtained from Lord COchrane a certificate
that he had done his duty. The document
certified that he had conducted himself
like a true Spaniard." and it procured him
promotion in the Spanish service. 1t re-
quired some strategy 10 work such a prize
into port, but CochTane was equal to the
occasion. The crew were driven below, and
their OWN guns were pointed down the
hatchway.
At length the Speedy's days of grace ran
out. Chase was given to three large ships
believed to be galleons, and they turned
out French line-Of-battle ships. COchTane
maneuvered beautifully to escape and at
tempted to run the gantlef, but was over
taken, and he struck his coloTs. The cap
tain of the Dessaix, on board which
COchrane was taken, would not accept the
sword Of an officer who had for so many
hours struggled against imposslbllity.
During 13 months the Speedy had captured
upward Of 80 vessels, l22 guns and 534
prisoners
A PosT-cAPTAIN A UNIVERSITY STUDENT.
Promotion to the rank of post-captain
followed upon Lord Cochrane being eX-
changed, but the honor did not come with
promptitude, the fac: being that the Ad-
miralty was Infested with jealousy and
corruption, and men who did nothing
gained much if only they bad art and un-
scrupulousness Not finding ship imme-
diately. Lord Coehrane entered himself as
student at Edinburgh University. In youth
lis education had been neglected, owing to