The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-18

HE Refusal % SEQ tho Signal Of Recall
from Admiral Parker.


from Admiral Parker.
Captain AIRED T., Mahan, the great
naval tactician, has an article ON "Nelsor
In the Battle Of Copenhagen" In The Cen.
tury. AS to che demeanor Of Lord Nelson,
Captain Mahan, quoting from Colonel
Stewart, gives the following description
when the signal from the London, No.
30, was made, the signal lieutenant report
ed 1t to him. He continued his walk, ano
did not appear to take notice Of 1t. The
lieutenant, meeting his lordship at the
next turn, asked whether he should repeat
it-by which, II done, the squadron en-.
gagged would retire to the northward. Lord
Nelson answered: No. Acknowledge 1t.
On the officer returning to the poop, hii
lordship called after him, rs No. 16 (foi
close action) still hoistedY' The lieutenant
answering in the affirmative, Lord Nelson
said, Mind you keep 1t so' He now
walked the deck considerably agitated
which was always known by his moving
the stump of his right arm.
After turn or two he said to me In
quick manner, DO you know whats
shown on board the commander In chief
No. 39Y On asking what that meant, hs
answered: why, to leave off action. Leave
with a shrug, Now, d-n me IL 1 do!
He also observed, 1 believe, to Captain
Foley: You know, Foley, have only one
eye. / have right to be blind sometimes
and then, with an archness peculiar to his
character, putting the glass to his blino
eye, he exclaimed, 1 really do not see the
signal"
Professor LaughtOn, whose authority or
matters relating to Nelson il second to that
of no one living, has lately told us In his
"Life of Nelson" that this little display
was but a joke, Nelson having received
message from Parker that he was to ust
his own discretion as to obeying the signal
IL SO, it Is not improbable that he had IL
view tho effect Of his manner upon the
many bystanders who must have witnessed
the scene in the midst of yet doubtful and
desperate battle 1t Is the converse of the
outward bearing which he reprchended In
the lieutenant. The moral effect of such
self possession is indescribable. The Mon
arch's midshipman already quoted speaks
thus of a wounded and disabled officer on
board Of her, "When the carnage was
greatest, he encouraged his men by ap
plauding their conduct and frequently be.
gan a huzza, which Is of more importance
than might generally be imagined, for the
men have no other communication
throughout the ship, bat when shout ID
set up 1t runs from deck to deck, and they
know that their comrades are, some OF
them, alive and in good spirits
As Parker's messenger, Captain Otway,
did not reach Nelson until after the signal
was hoisted, 1t is possible the scene wit.
messed by Stewart occurred before Nelson
knew Parker's purpose. Parker's private
secretary, who afterward served in the same
capacity with Nelson for two years, has
also affirmed that there was a previous un.
derstanding between the two admirals.
The matter Is of less consequence than ap
pears, for the supreme merit of Lord Mel
son was not the disregarding Of the signal,
but the sound judgment and tenacity with
which he refused to incur the risk Of Civ
ing ground at that moment. This was
wholly his.