Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-01
NELSON'S VICTORY.
IL Cost Him His Life, But Gave Him
Fame That VIII Never Die.

philadelphia Evening Telegraph)
Naval battles were known TO the world
long before the means Of recording their
history had been numbered among the in
yentions OF man. The instinct 20 fight
| grew I'D in the Garden Of Eden. but the
location Of combat was not prescribed by
| the limits Of that historic spot, AID the
watery plains of the great seas have been
the scenes of many Of the most famous
| conflicts that have written their dire and
terrible messages as with pen Of light
ming. and clamped them 10 memory by
thunderous bolts OF noise and smoke.
The ancient manner Of sea battle, Wnen
the ships were propelled BY oars. was
either TO sink the ship by artful direction
of collision or to destroy their motive
power by brushing away their oars; and
if these attempts failed of their purpose
the battle became a hand-to-hand con-
hict-one ship having transferred its war
rfors to the other ship-bOarding, as IT.
was called. But the tactics OF marine
warfare were revolutionized with the in
vention OF gunpowder. and the perfection
OF the art OF handling sails.
The last OF the great battles that took
place under the old methods Of warfare Is,
al the same time. the most brilliant naval
quests II was a battle between sailing
vessels. and is the most famous ever
fought between wooden ships. IL was the
battle OF Ira falgar-a word that was. one
of the first that directed the final down
fall Of the greatness OF Napoleon, and
that which formed about the name OF
that ilustrious sailor. Admiral Nisccunt
Nelson, an undying halo OF the reverence
OF a great nation-and the admiration OF
all the world
The conquest OF England was Napo-
Icons scheme at that moment, and he at
tempted to defeat its navy by the com
bined forces Of France and Spain. The
head of the allied overwhelmingly for
the working out of Napoleon's plans--was
the French Admiral, De Villeneuve. Ma
poleon's instructions were 10 force the
Straits OF Gibraltar. land troops on the
Neapolitan coast. sweep the Mediterra-
mean OF all British cruisers and commerce,
and enter the port OF Toulon 10 revictual
and refit And IL was on this errand
that Admiral De Villeneuve led out OF the
harbor Of Cadiz the French and Spanish
battleships under his supreme command.
liz was the 18th OF October 1886. but owing
TO a light wind il was not until the 9th
that the entire fleet got into the long At
lantic swell and showed their line 20 a
pair Of British accommodating frigates. De
Villeneuve took the frigates for scouts, but
did not know that they were telegraphing
detailed news OF his movements 70 the
Commander-in-Chie Of the British fleet,
who, lying just beyond the curve OF the
ocean. had been waiting for this move
ment for many months. Admiral Nelson
had hoisted his flag on his old l0o-gun ship
Victory. He was d little, slight. one
armed man. blind in one eye. and shabbiiy
dressed. The SEAMS OF his uniform fIock
coat were threadbare. the fabric white
with sea salt, the gold lace furnished TO
black. fattened rags. Among he folds
Of the left breast were four frayed, lack
lustre stars-dull caricatures of what had
once been brilliant decorations He was
a most slatterniy admiral There was
little OF him remaining. but OF what there
was. the quality was OF The best. His
solitary eye was as bright as a birds
His brain vas the most perfect sea brain
that ever schemed tactic. In ship s
company. where all were active, none
we're more active than he. He visited
the decks. oversaw everything himself.
and cautioned the men not 10 nre single
shot without being certain that II would
fnd a suitable resting place He spoke
in the rough sea-argot or his DAY, but
VIA, he said went home-to the hearts
~ that rough fighting crew. They knew
what a fight was. and they knew what
a fight that little shabby man would give
them. The joy OF battle was as meat
and drink 20 them. and they licked their
lin. ana made their noises OF giee Ike
dogs held back on chain Their one WISH