The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-11-20

destruction was
made up in their greater opportunity for
daring and exciting personal adventure.
Jean Bart. the Frenchman who organ
lied the first "guerrillas Of the sea-
and Paul Jones, the idol of the American
navy, were unique in their way and their
careers such rs modern tars sigh for i'm
vain, and the ships of their common enc
NV. Great Britain, carried men equally
bold and versatile, equally renowned in
the annals of their race. One of these was
Admiral Sidney Smith. Smith figured in
the combats between England and the
Young republic Of France His highest
laurels were won at st. Jean d 'Acre, where
he defeated Napoloeu's plans of conquest.
Long before that the French held him
prisoner and would have done well had
they never let him 20. but bolts and bars
were as letters of straw before his match
less ingenuity and daring. Strange and
thrilling in the highest degree were his
experiences in his capture, in imprison-
ment and in the escape.
When the British evacuated Toulon in
1898, Smith was lieutenant of marines.
BY most daring feat he accomplished the
destruction of the French men-of-war in
the harbor. the powder vessels, arsenal
and storehouses. 1t was done by the use
of fireships and explosives and without
the loss of man. As "A reward he was
placed in command of the Diamond frig-
ate in the English channel During the
two years following he made his name n
terror on the French coast and well nigh
obliterated the French cruisers and priva-
teers from the channel. In one of his in
Cursions, however, he risked too much I'M
der the guns Of shore batteries and was
compelled for the first and only time to
strike his flag. He chased n piratical lug
ger. noted for her depredations upon Brit
ish commerce and for great speed as well,
into the port of Havre. She anchored I'M
der "A 10 gun battery, but nothing daunted
Smith manned his boats, and leading in
person cut her out. \ strong flood tide
carried the English boats and their prize
up the Seine above Havre, and the Dia-
mond, lying outside was becalmed and
unable to give assistance. The French i'm
mediately sent out mixed fleet to inter
cept the captured lugger and her foreign
crew, She was surrounded, and the French
prepared to board her, at the same time
shouting" No quarter Smith harangued
his men, and they fought until the enemy,
compelled to admire the hopeless valor of
the little band, offered honorable terms ii
they would strike colors. Resistance being
useless and a wanton waste of noble lives,
Smith did so.
On learning of Smith s capture the Brit
ish proposed to the French to exchange
him Cor some prisoner of equal rank, but
France had found that their prisoner was
worth more to England than a score of the
men of equal rank then in British captiv
ity would be to their country and declined
the exchange. Not only that, but Smith
who had risen to the rank of admiral, wal
incarcerated in the Temple at Paris, al
ancient fortress built by Knights Templar
and used for the most important politica
prisoners-deposed royalty and mobiles con
demned for treason.
Sir Sidney bore his humiliating confin'
ment gallautly until he became convince
that France was prosecuting him. The
his wits were turned upon means of es
cape. Friends outside conspired with him
and tunnel was eXcavated from the Gel
lar of house adjoining the prison as ia
as the wall of the Temple garden. UnlI ok