New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-05
Ill.
AK ROADS AND THE STOCK EXCHANGE.

ak ROADS AND THE STOCK EXCHANGE.
Soon after this, however. a great opportunity
came to him. Lord Mulgrave. First Lord of
the Admiralty, sent for him and commissioned
him to attack and destroy the French fleet in
AK Roads. This was just the sort Of commits
sion Cochrane had long desired But he
declined it. Admiral Gambler ought to do IT.
since he was blockading the French. 1t would
cause hard feelings If another man were sent to
do It, Lord Mulgrave promised. however, to
make that all right. He went to the AK Roads
and undertook the task. Gambler received him
cordially enough and then did all in his power
to hinder and bring to naught his efforts. Coch-
rane had his Imperieuse and three other frigates
for the attack Gambler kept the rest OF the
fleet eight miles away. Fireships and explosion
ships. which Gambler dsapproved as "un-
Christian devices" were first sent In. The
French were scared out of their wits. and In the
confusion ran thirteen of their ships aground.
At daybreak Cochrane signalled to Gambler
to come on with the feet, for every French ship
could be captured or destroyed. Gambler would
not come. Again and again he sgnaled; again
and again refusal was the sole reply. The tide
was rising, and the French were getting their
ships afoat Cochrane became desperate. lie
had been begging Gambler to come on ever
since 6 o'clock. Now it past noon. lie
weighed anchor ard went in alone with the
Imperieuse against the fifteen Frenchmei, ana
then sgnaled that he was In danger and needed
help The daring trick succeeded. Gambler re-
luctantly sent few ships, with the aid OF
which Cochrane quickly destroyed four OF the
French vessels. The next day all the other
French ships could easily have been taken or
destroyed. but Gambler would not consent lie
positively forbade Cochrane to renew the at
aim
with to England French historians have done
full Justice to Gambler They have called him
the guardian angel and the savior Of the French
fleet.
Cochrane was hailed in England as hero. ana
made a knight OF the Bath. Gambler himself
declared his services could not be exceeded by
any feat of valor hitherto achieved by the BRIT
ish Navy" Eut then the Government proposed
a vote of thanks not only to Cochrane' but 10
Gambler Cochrane told Mulgrave he would OPP
pose IT IN the House of Commons. on the ground
that Gambler had failed t. do his duty. Null
grave begged him not to do so. and offered TO
give him a feet of three frigates, II he would re-
frain Bat Cochrane was stubborn. He hated
Gambler; he hated the Government and he let MS
animosity rule him Hearing of Cochrane's in
tention Gambler demanded a court-martai; put
In perjured testimony. and forged charts. and
was. Of course acquitted. That was the end OF
Cochrane in the British service. In 1914. how
ever the Government turned to him again. AS
the only man who could restore the prestige of
the British flag in North American waters
Cochrane accepted command OF chip.
Before he could fit her out and set SAIL
he was visited by a French adventurer
who begged for berth on the ship
This Cochrane refused. Then the other begged
for the loan Of decent coat and hat These
Cochrane gave him. Then II came out that the
fellow had been the bearer OF false news 10 rig
the Stock Exchange: had in fact been hired TO
do so by Cochrane's own uncle. Cochrane was
arrested as an accessory TO the fraud or course
he was innocent, as everybody believed. hut
by monstrous Partially the Chief JUSTICE A|o'u
Ellenborough. secured his conviction. and SEN
fenced him to stand In the pillory an hour be I'M
prisoned a year, AMI pay fine OF thousand
pounds Cochrane then expelled from
Parliament only to be reelected by his con-
stituents a fortnight later; his name was struck
from the Navy List. and his banner as KNIGHT
Of the Bath taken from It's place and hteraliy
kicked down the steps Of Henry the Vllth's
Chapel He escaped from jail. but was re-
cantured. served out his sentence and paid his
fine The day he left prison he resumed his seat
in Parliament. and had the JOY of casting the
one vote needed 20 turn out the Ministry. In
the next session he tried to have Peterborough
mneached. but in vain. and figured in a number
OF most painful episodes. which friend and foe
alike were eager to forget. Finally he badc
adieu to his native land. and. refusing an invita-
tion from Spain to help her in subduing the
Chilians went to aid the Chilians in throwing of
the yoke OF Spain
".