The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-24
HARTLEY'S GREAT NERVE.
Z Historical Incident Of the Siege Of
Gibraltar.

Gibraltar.
The most memorable siage Of Gibraltar,
indeed one Of tho most memorable Of ull
siegos, was that which tho fortress sus-
taincd from the combined sea forces Of
France and Spain during the years 1879
(, 1888. The great attack on the place
was made on the 18th of September, l7S2,
ard all the resources Of power and science
were exhausted by the assailants In the
fruitless ate IT.
1t was on this day that humble pri.
vate performed an act which history has
handed down to us. The business of the
siege progressed. The rock by the batteries
sent forth its splntcrs to deal destruction
around at every impact of the Spanish
shot. hut the return fire was of the most
telling lsscriItio and most steadily kept
Up by tho British.
But removed from the smoke and din,
IN tho laboratory of the garrison, sur
rounded by the chemistry Of war, sat one
man, q humble private. His 1t was,
while his comrades worked the guns In
tho Guffocating classmates of the covered
batteries, to prepare the shells fer tho use
Of tho mortars, u dangerous task-so
dangerous in fact that even tbs exsninl-
ton of the deadly missiles l., considered
sufficiently perilous OH board ship to war
rant stage being slung over the side to
DO occupied by only ono or two men, tho
others being kept at distance. But
familiarity with peril robs men Of their
fear, and Hartley sat busily making ready
shcll after shell, filling them with tho ex-
plosive composition, and afterward fitting
IN tho fuses, driving them home and rang
ing the prepared shells in cases till they
should be fetched to be sent in fiery arcs
to deal death and destruction among the
enemy.
The laboratory was at that time full OF
explosive material, every grain Of which
was Of inestimable vs no to the beleagu
ed garrison, and 1t sd been accordin
placed In position which rendered it i'm
possible for the shot or sh " Of the enemy
to reach 1t. But now the anger guarded
against from without threatened II pos
sible moro terrible from within-threat.
ened to destroy at ono blow the whole Of
the explosive compounds stored for de-
Tense, and this ut time when such loss
would have been irreparable
Shell after shell had been filled, the
grim black spheres, ms they lay ready, CIV
ing but small signs Of their deadly power
-the'force that should rend them into In
Vulnerable shreds of cast iron. each to
MAIN or STAY.
Suddenly, while calmly proceeding with
his work and driving fuse into fresh
filled shell, the fuse took fire. Kissing
loudly as it discharged its rain of sparks
and burning rapidly away There SEEM
ell hardly time for thought much less for
action, and the first feelings Of Hartley
were those of blank dismay
He had seen the discharge and flight OF
shells SO often that he knew he could only
reckon upon its burning for few Sec
onds, and then would come dire cxplo-
sion that would act upon the part of the
fortress where he was like an earthquake,
the bursting of the shell being, as it were,
but the flash in the pan that would prelude
the blowing up Of the laboratory. But
with tho calmness Of tho man whose trade
was ono which brought him daily face to
face with death, Hartley seized the shell
In both hands, hurried out into the open
air and then with tremendous effort |
hurled the deadly globe far into space,
where a couple Of seconds after it harm !
lessly burst. 1t was not until some time
after that the performer of this daring act
could thoroughly realize the great danger .
that had threatened him with destruction,
and though the peril was past 1t was
some time after, and then only with I'M
strung nerves, that he returned to his .
perilous task. -London Chronicle.