The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-20

For this surprising act of heroism
young Hopson was promoted to the
quarterback.
Every one must regret that more
isnot known of these gallant worthless
of past times. Why is not the
story of their services written for
boys? Who amongst living authors
who produce literature for the rising
generation could invent a more
thrilling, romantic, and exciting tale
than this which have only glanced
at? Here is another example Of the
courage of boy and what the spirit
of lad may achieve in an hour of
grievous peril at sea: A famous fri
gate, La Tribune was lost on the
Halifax coast one November, toward
the close of the last century. Four
men escaped in the jolly-boat, eight
others chung to the main fore tops;
the remainder of the large ships
company persisted. The inhabitants
approached so close to the wreck as
to be able to shout to and hear the
shouts of the poor fellows upon the
masts.
One of the first to attempt to sue
cor them was boy thirteen years
old belonging to Herring Cove; he
jumped in a little skiff at about
eleven o'clock in the day, and with
extraordinary labor and skill so man
covered his tiny ark as to back her
under the frigate's foretop, and two
of the shipwrecked men dropped into
her. The boat was too small to carry
more. The boy conveyed them in
safety ashore, and the record of this
inimitable piece of youthful heroism
afhrms that he chad them instantly
conveyed to a comfortable habita-
ton" The 'longshore men. spiritless
and afraid, in spite of this glorious
example, held back, and six men re-
NAMED to be saved. The undaunted
boy at once put off again; but the sea
and the boat combined opposed too
heavy task to his strength, exhaust
ed by his previous labors, and he
failed to reach the wreck. But fis
example was at last AN animation;
some boats we're launched, and after
much trouble and in the face of
grave peril, they brought off in tri
umph the remaining survivors.
tits story that should be written
in letters of gold. But what will you
think of the enthusiasm of the chroni-
cles of that lads deed when | tell you
that am unable to give his name?
| have searched for ito no pur-
pose. All we know is he was a Boy.
But he was among the very noblest,
and with something of emotion after
all these long years l salute the dar-
ling little chaps memory.
At the battle of Copenhagen lad
SO distinguished himself as to excite
the admiration of the great Nelson.
He was Danish boy, about sixteen
years of age, by some called We'll
NOES, but others have given him
different name. Be that as it may,
this young fellow was in command
of praam, sort of raft armed with
small cannon and manned by COM
pany of some twenty-four men. Nell
sons flag was flying aboard the Ele-
plant; the heroic young Dane re-
solved to attack the famous Admiral,
whose name was terror, and he
for shwith showed off in his raft from
the shore, and gained the stern OF the
line of battle ship, then laundering
in broadsides. The marines of the
flagship promptly discharged their
muskets at the gallant little band,
and the praam was rapidly converted
into a SHAMELESS. Twenty fine fel:
lows lay dead and dying, but their
boy commander, who stood up to
his waist amongst the bodies, stuck
to his post until the truce was pIo-
claimed. Nelson had observed the
splendid behavior of this lad. He
held him in memory, and when he
was banqueted at the palace, he
begged the Prince to introduce young
Welmoes to him. When the boy was
presented, the most famous of all sea
chieftains put his arm round his neck
and kissed him, and, addressing the
Prince, exclaimed that the young fel
low deserved to be made an Admiral.
"If, my lord" was the answer, 81
were to make all my brave officers ad-
mirals, l should have no captains or
lieutenants in my service"
Twice were The wonderful battles
in which Lord Nelson fought asso-
ciated with the heroism of boys. One
of the French ships at the battle of
the Nile was L'Orient. She,took fire,
and hundreds of her people sprang