The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-03-09
HI HENRY NEWBOL z

named Bradnock, had been at the Mic
and the captain said something about
it as he came up on deck. and asked
him about taking the sound1ngs. he
answered quite easily, and we all
thought him a very great man to nave
seen such service. Then at Z O'CLOCK
the signal was made for all captains
and masters to go on board the Ele-
plant Lord Nelson's flagship. They
were away more than an hour ana
half, and we couldn't think what was
happening. The wind was fair, ana the
current running pretty strong down the
Kings channel. The signal for actlon
had been flying for some time, and all
our decks were cleared; but we heard
afterward that not one Of the pilots
could be found willing to take the lead
ing ships into such a dangerous pas
cage.
"At last the boats came off again;
Capt. Murray and the master of the
Edgar had another man with them
when they came on board. [ never saw
him before or since, but [ shall not for
get his face while I live.
''He was short and stood very square
and sturdy upon his feet; he had jet
black hair and eyebrows, and a swarthy
red color in his cheeks; his lips were
pushed forward, and his eyes very
fierce; he was like man always on the
point of speaking angrily, and follow
ing with a blow. When we saw him
looking SO bold and full of force, we
guessed in moment what he was there
for. He had volunteered, when all the
regular pilots hung back, to take the
first ship down.
II remember the captain called out,
Now, gentlemen, the Edgar leads! and
we cheered. The dark man went to the
Wheel the master himself took the lead
and went forward; we weighed, and
stood right out for the entrance of the
Kings channel.
'"The two leutenants who had to
stand in the chains and see to the heav-'
ing of the lead began to dispute for
places; they were each cT1iming the
larboard side, which was the one eX-
posed to the enemy's fire. The captain
gave it in favor of Bradnock, and he
went forward, laughing.
1--WE soon came within shot of the
first Danish ship, and she began firing
single guns at us. I was not tall enough
to see over the hammock nettings, so
I held on to them and pulled myself up
on my toes. The enemy were nearly all
hulks and batteries, and looked very
ugly.
Every time gun went BOOM! /
felt a kind of warm shock, as if had
been struck amidships, but my hands
were still cold and numbed. I longed
desperately to hear the sound of our
own guns, and felt quite angry that we
went on without firing a shot
""Then 1 was going toward the fore
castle when I heard a sudden roar and
a crashing sound. 1t was the first
broadside from the Provestein, and a
good many shot struck the ship all at
once.
"Bradnock spun over and fell dead in
a heap across the chains; the splinters
flew all round him, and several men
came running up. [ heard Wilson, the
starboard lieutenant, cry out My
turn!' in sharp voice, and scramble
on to the deck and across into the 9TH
ers place.
II felt horribly sick and dazed, and
hurried away blindly, without any idea
where 1 was going. I had got nearly
to the quarter deck when a man ran
into me, and I reeled violently off into
the captain himself who had just come
down the ladder. I hadn't time to get
my breath to apologize; he picked me
up and clapped my cap down on my
head
We'll, young gentleman he said,
I thought you were a round shot at the
least?'
II was warmer for the tumble and
his kind, jolly voice did me no end of
good. He sent me with message to
the lower gun-deck, and I ran off feel
ing quite a man again.
LAS I was on the way down a ire
mendous explosion seemed to rock the
whole ship; we had let go our anchor
and opened with the larboard broad
side 1 felt suddenly mad with Joy,
my throat swelled, and the tears came
into my eyes. When I reached the low
er deck the guns were being run out
for the second time, and I stood still
to watch. The roar was awful, and the
smoke filled the whole place so that
could scarcely see at first. The men
were cheering and working like demons
in the dim lantern light, but as only one
broadside was in action a lot Of them
had nothing to do except now and then
to pick up the wounded and take their
places. Some of them might have been
safe enough behind the bits, but there
was only room there for few, and no
one would take an advantage over the
rest.
"It was dreadful to see them standing
quietly there to be killed in cold blood
as it were. Half a dozen dead and dy-
ing men were propped up against the
starboard guns; some were being car
ried below to the surgeons.
IT couldn't bear the sight much long
er, SO. slipped quickly down the other
side to sneak To the cantain of the deck