The Holly chieftain., 1898-01-28
sALurIMo THE peAn
An Unusual Naval nxDeaitisn . ne
IslanA Of Ushant.

-
An Unusual Naval nxpeaitisa . ne
IslanA Of Ushant.
on the northwest coast Of France
there is a region Of wild waters, dot
ted here and there with islands of
grim aspect and tragic history. about
which cling more legends and super
stitions than are found, perhaps. in
any similar spot In the world. From
the earliest times it has been place
of sh;pwreck ard death. One of It's
bays Is believed by many Of the people
who live on the mainland Of Brittany
and upon the islands to mark the site
of the sunken city Of u, whose ghost
ly church bells the mariner, II he but
listen intently enough, may atill hear
ringing from the depths far beneath
his keel as he passes above the spot at
the hour of the angelus.
Standing upon the summit Of the
headland OF Cornouaille, which juts far.
out into the Atlantic, one is, though
2s2 feet above the water. not beyond
the reach Of It's spray. and the ground
is felt to shake as the mighty waves
dash against the promonotory. Into
the Enfer. Z great hollow at the foot
of the ei:1x the waves dash with
sound like thunG>r. and at the bay OF
Trepasses, not far away, the people
fancy that they perpetually hear the
cries Of the drowned rising above the
tumnlt Of the waters.
This sound was familiar to the pagan
Inhabitants Of Brittany They be-
Ia - a - "a
sent nine Druid maidens to propitiate
the divinity by life devotion on tire
stormy island Of Sein, near by.
To the neighboring island Of Ushant.
treeless and shfubless, and scarcely
less desolate than Sein. there recently
came an English naval party on ro-
mantle and picturesque errand.
In June. 1896, the British packet,
Drummond Castle. returning from the
cape OF Good Hope with large num-
Der Of passengers, struck rock off the
island of Molene. and in few minutes
went to the bottom. Two hundred and
fifty lives were lost, and but single
passenger was saved.
The calamity was SO sudden that the
hardy people Of Molene and Ushant
could do nothing to save life; but they
turned out en- masse to rescue the bod
les of the dead from the "eater of men," !"
as they call the sea, and performed nets
of great bravery in this work.
In recognition of the service the Eng
lish queen ordered that medals should
be struck and given to the people Of
Ushant and Molene who had part in
IL; and lately the British man-of-war
Australia carried these medals to Brest.
the nearest large port. From there the
officers and men charged with the duty
Of distributing the medals were taken
to Ushant by the French gunboat.
Epervier.
On the way. not far from the lower.
ing shores Of Molene, the Epervicr's
pace was slackened, while the officers
of the gunboat regarded with interest
space at sea. The French admiral,
Barrera, who was IN command, ad.
vanced on the bridge and gave the or.
der: "All hands on deckt" Instantly
every man was st his post, the guard
OF marines under arms. the gunners at
their pieces. The English officers,
8touPSo AokrthNAs Souiu = S<Gu ~ loON
with moistened eyes at the preparations
for what they knew vas coming, and
their breastp heaved vIsihly.
The admiral took OF his hat and all
the rest of the officers followed his ex-
ample.
my friends" )" he said. addressing the
men Of the Epervier. .'last year, in the
month of June, a great British ship. re-
turning from long voyage. almost n,
home, was lost at this spot. The sailors
Of all nations are brothers. To honor
those who died here we shall salute
them and say prayer"
The officer Of the watch commanded:
"To prayer!" Every sailor uncovered
and bowed his head. A simple helms
man repeated impressively the Lord,
Prayer and the Ave Maria.
Then three times the gunners Of the
Epervier doomed out in salute Of the
dead and the gunboat moved on.
At Ushant all the population Of the
island had come out 10 meet the expe
dition. The simple ceremony Of the
presentation Of the medals was soon
over. The village priest and his two
assistants, all Of whom were among
those who received medals, chauted th4
De Profundis at the church, and the
| graves Of the victims Of the wreck In
the churchyard were strewn with
fowers.-Youth's Companion.
1