The sun., 1893-05-25
SLEW UP HIS SHIP.

4 Dutch Captain who Fired his
Magasine Rather Than surrsa.
der.
The Dutch man-of-war Van gpeijk,
which took part In the great naval re-
view at New York, recalls to the Times
an act Of self-sacrifice 20 glorious that
at the time 1t took place the whole
world sang the praises of the man
whose name this Dutch craft bears.
In 1880 the Belgian rebellion had
broken out and Dutch squadron Of
eight men-of-war had been stationed
before the port Of Antwerp for the
purpose Of preventing this important
city from joining the rebels. On Oct.
u the populace Of Antwerp, after hay
Ing broken open the gunpowder maga-
zine, opened fire upon the vessels ana
very badly damaged small gunboat
unuer command OF q naval lieutenant,
j. u j. Van Speijk The commander
OF the squadron, who at first had only
answered the fire Of the city from his
smaH pieces, was at last obliged to
Dring the heavy guns to bear upon the
reDelous place, and, assisted by the
aruiiery from the fort, Antwerp was
Dombarded for four hours. The result
OF tne punishment was that a large
bonded warehouse and 25O dwellings
were put IN ruins, 100 buildings were
nearly destroyed and 300 Were more or
iess damaged, while many of the in
. aaDitants We're killed or wounded. Van
-SpeDk, who years before, I'm the East
indies mad merited promotion for
bravery, behaved so courageously that
order.
An armistice had been concluded be-
tween the warning parties, and the
squadron before Antwerp, while keep
ing itself ready for action, never once
Droke the conditions Of the truce. Van
epeiJk was stationed with his gunboat
near the little village Of Ooesterwell,
10 Ine north OF Antwerp. On the 5th
OF feD., 1881, sudden squan drove the
vesSei from Its anchorage, and it was
nuIieo against the bank Of the Scheldt.
w Hie the sailors were trying to float
tne cra1t a crowd of armed Belgians
unexpectedly boarded the ship, tore
uoWn the Dutch colors, trampled them
uuei tooc ana demanded an immedi-
ate surrender. Resistance was ont of
the question, assistance from the other
ships could not be had, but the valiant
young commander preferred death to
) surrender Under pretext Of going
ior nis papers he went down to his
caoln, met the cabin boy, and called to
the latter: Boy, save yourself!' The
eoy new on deck, jumped overheard,
ana nardly mad he done SO when a ter
r1hc explosion occurred. Van Speiik
naa set flre to the ships powder, and
had saved the honor of himself and his
countrys flag by blowing up friend and
Zoe anKe. BESIDES a large number of
belgians, fourteen of his own men per.
lshed, ana only i've, including the boy,
were saved After some time frag,
ments OF the hero's body were found
and honored with O splendid nuhlic
Dur1al In the new church at Amster.
dam, where a tomb was erected in
Van Speijk,s- honor, while monument
In the Civil Orphan asylum, where he
had been brought up keeps his mem.
ory forever green with the ornban
boys, who never grow tired of hearing 4
and telling his story. At the time of
the gallant deed a new sloop-of- war
was building which received the name
OF Van Speijk, while royal decreeaor-
dered that for all time to come Dutch
man-of-war should bear the name of
the gallant young lieutenant. The deed
created the widest enthusiasm through
out the country. Orators, poets, his
tolians and painters united in immor-
talizing the memory of the man who,
like second Claassen, hurled with
him into death the enemy he could not
conquer Van Speijk's nearest rela-
tiyes received pensions, while the five
sailors who had survived were also
ronsionod