The age-herald., 1898-05-08
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 SEH FIGHTS IN HISTORY.
Fate of Nations Decided in Great Naval Encounters
Manila Is the Latest Entru Up to Date.
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 sharp iron spikes on the bottom of the corvi pierced the decks and the contending vessels were firmly grappled. Raising the war cry the Romans rushed, sword in hand, across the bridges, and met the enemy. The Carthaginian galleys were soon turned into slaughter pens. Eighty of them were taken or destroyed, and many of their peaks or rostra were taken to Rome to adorn the Forum.
 One of the bloodiest battles of history was that fought in the bay of Lepanto, in 1571, between the papal, Venetian and Spanish fleets and that of Selim, sultan of Constantinople. The Christian fleet con- sisted of 250 ships and more than 10000 men, under the command of Don John, of Aus tria- The Turkish fleet, which was urder the command of the Pasha Ali, was much larger But the Christians had the advant- age of equipment They made use of hel- nets, coats-of-mail, and fire arms, while many of the Turks had no better defensive weapons than leather shields, and no more formidable missils than arrows.
 The admirals began the battle. The ves- sels of Don John and Ali after short cannonade closed and grappled. The crews of both vessels rushed to the assault and met in fierce struggle on the gunwales. Three times the Spanards boarded the Turk and were driven back. fourth time, with reinforcement of 200 men, they rushed to the assault and then carried everything before them. An indiscriminate slaughter followed. The crescent was quickly replaced by the cross, and the bloody head of Ali planted on pole. was raised on the masthead of his flagship. At the sight of this the Christians, with cries of "Victoriai Victoriai" rushed upon the enemy. But the Turks did not yiefd The ships grappled, and a hand-to-hand con fict throughout the fleet ensued. Both sides were fired with religious fanaticism, for the pope had promised absolution to all sinners who fought and heaven to all who died, and Selim, in like manner, had promised the delights of Paradise to all his followers. Pikes, javelns and arrows, can mons, matchlocks and arquebusses, used with deadly effect soon made the decks run with gore. But the result was stiil doubtful when the Christian galley slaves in the Turkish vesesls revolted, broke their chains and turned on their masters The criminals who served as galley slaves In the Christian fleet were at the same time set at liberty and joined in the attack on the Turks. This decided the result Tne Turks took to flight. Only thirty Of their galleys Con one of which Cervantes was horne off A captive) escaped to Constan- tinople: 10000 Turks were taken and 70 JUL slain Rut the victory had cost the Chris tians GOO men.
 The most brilliant naval victory or our revolution was won by the adventurer' John Paul Jones, when he captured, with
 
 the British frigate Serapis. Jones ihho been cruising along the British and Scot tish coast when he fell in with the Scraps and a smaller vessel, the Countess ol Scarborough, carrying fleet of mercnant- men, The British men-of-war approached to engage the American vessels and give the convoy time to escape. It was o'clock in the evening, the moon was just rising. and the neighboring heights were covered with people who had come to watch the battle. One of Jones' consorts engaged the consort of the Serapis the other did not enter the action till toward the close when she fired with equal injury to friend ana foe. The Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis approached within pistol shot. and then opened fire. At the first discharge three of Jones' guns burst. causing terrible havoc. The Serapis, having the advantage in number and calibre of guns and being more manageable, was able to choose rank ing positions This advantage was finally lost, however by running her bowsprit be- tween the poop and the mizzenmast of the Bon Homme Richard where Jones, with his own hands, made it fast. The two ves- sels were now lying side by side, their guns muzzle to muzzle, and fighting desperately The Bon Homme Richard, her rotten sides piereced through and through was soon in a sinking condition, but the prisoners were made to man the pumps, and so Kept the vessel adoat Jones' sharpshooters mean while were clearing the decks of the Se- rapis Some of the men climbed over by the yards into the tops of the Serapis, and threw stinkpots. fasks and grenades down into her matches. Captain Pearson finally, to save the remainder of his crew, struck and Jones at once transferred the rem nant of his crew on board her. The loss on the Richard was 300 killed and wound- ed, that on the Serapis nearly as great The Bon Homme Richard was left to her fate and went down the next day with many of her wounded crew aboard.
 The battle of Trafalgar. Ne1sons last fight, took place off Cadiz, between the allied French and Spanish fleet of thirty three sail and the British fleet of thirty seven On October 21 1805 the two fleets came in sight of one another and pre- pared for fight. The allied fleet drew up in an irregular, crescent-shaped line, on the larboard tack. The British fleet bore down under full sail, in two single columns. the left, of fourteen vessels, led by Nelson in the Victory, and the right, of thirteen by Vice-Admfral Collingwood in the Royal Sovereign. Nelson's object was to break the enemies fleet up into sections inferior to his own and then engage in fight at close quarters. The signal, England ex- poets every man to do his duty,' was raised on the masthead of the Victory. Colingwood reached the enemys line first; broke through it astern of the Santa Ana, and raked her with a broadside. Mean while Nelson, whose course was at a less acute angle with the enemy's line than Collingwood's was bearing down exposed to raking fire from the ships under his lee Finally breaking through the enemy's line the Victory opened with both broad sides. The other ships, one after another, followed the admiral's example, breaking through the enemy's line and engaging their vessels at close quarters. Nelson, from a feeling of humanity, had given orders that sharpshooters should not be employed to pick off the enemy's officers or clear the rigging. To this order he owed his death. A bullet fired from the mizzentop of the French vessel Redoubta- ble struck him the epaulette and en- tered his back He fell with his face upon the deck. When. an hour later. as he lay dying below, he learned that fifteen of the enemy had surrendered. he said: That Is we1-but I bargained for twenty" And twenty did surrender before day was over. When he had ordered the fleet to be an- chored and requested that they would not throw him overboard he said: "Now I am satisfied. Thank God! I have done my duty.'