Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-04-03

destruction was
made up In their greater opportunity for
daring and exciting personal adventure.
Jean Hart. the frrnchman who organ.
i,ed the first "guerrillas of the "a, "
aud Paul Jones. the Idol ~ the American
navy, wsrr unique In their way and their
carers such as modern tar- Sigh Tor in
vain. aud the ships % their common enc
my. Grcat Britain. carried men .quslly
bold aud versatile. equally renowned la
the annsl. 10 their rsce. One ~ tbese was
Admiral sidney Smith. Smith figured In
the combst. Ls,w-en England and the
young republic % France. His highest
lsurrl- were won st -. jean d'Acre. where
be defeated Napoloen's plan. ~ conquest.
Long i~fore that the French held him
prisoner and would have done well had
they never LEI him go. but bolts and bars
we're NJ fsttsr- % straw before his match
le~. ingenuity and daring. Strange and
thrilling In the highest degree were bis
experiences In his eaptur. In imprison-
ment and Ia the escape.
When the British evacuated Touion In
isS3, smith Wa. q lieutenant 20 marines.
By a most daring feat he accomplished the
destruction ~ the French men-of-war In
the barl.r. the powder vessels. arsenal
and storebouss-. II was d0ne by the Use
of hr, ship- aud explosives and without
the los ~ q man. Asa reward be was
placed In command % the Diamond frig-
at. IN the English channel. During the
two years following he made his name =
terrur on Oh. French coast and we'll nigh
oblitersted the French cruiser, and priya.
tser- from th. channel. In one ~ his Ia
cursions, however. he ri.ked too much un.
der th. guns % shore batteries aud was
compelled Tor the first aud only time Ia
strik. his fag. lie chased n piratiral lug
ger, noted Tor her Expectations uT0n Bfit.
ish oommsrc. aud for great sI'srl - veil.
Into Oh. port of lIsyr.. shc nnchorvd nn.
der 10 gun battery. but nothing dsuntrd
smith manned his bnat-, aud leading in
psr-on cut her out. \ strong food tide
carried the English boats Hnd their prize
up the seine above liayrr. aud the Dia.
mond, lying outside, wa. hecaln~i and
unabl. to give assistance. The fruch I'm.
n.diat.ly ssnt cut u mixed ne.t to inter
cspt the captured luggrr anil her ior,ign
crew. She Was surrOunde'l. and the French
prrpared o. boarl her. at the same time
shouting, )" "Noqusrt.r! Smith haranguei
hi. msu. and they fought until the enemy.
comTellei Ca admire Oh. bopcles- yalor ~
the little hand. Offered honorable terms "
they would strike oolor-. assistance bsing
useless and n wanton waste of noble lives,
Smith did -.
On learning of smiths capture the Brit
i.h prvpo-.sl to the frnch to exchange
him for some prisoner % Equal rank, but
France had found that their prisoner was
worth NOR, to England than score of the
men 10 equal rank then In British captiV.
i,y would 10 Ia their country and declined
the exchange. Not only that. but Smith,
who had ri-sn to the rank of admiral, was
inoarcsratsd la the Temple at Paris, ala
ancient fortress built by Knights Templar.
and used for the most important political
pri-oner--dspo-sd royalty and mobiles con.
demnci for treason.
Sir sidney bor- bis humillating conhne-
msnt gallsntly until he became convinced
that Franc. was p.rscuting him. Then
his wits w.r. turned upon means 81 80
CAPE. Friends outside conspir-i with him,
and tunnel was sxcaysted from the eel
lar % q hou.. adjoining the prison ~ faf
as the wall Of the Temple garden. Unluck'