The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-03
HARTLEY's GREAT NERVE.
An Historical Incident Of the Siege
of Gibraltar.

The most memorable siege of Glib
raltar. indeed, one OF the most memoir
able OF all sieges. was that which the
fortress sustained from the combined
sea forces OF France and Spain during
the years 1879 20 1888. The great attack
on the place was all made on the 18th
OF September. 1882. and all the le-
sources of power and science were ex-
hausted by the assailants in the fruit
less attempt.
IL was on this day that an humble
private performed an act which his
tory has handed down TO us The busi-
ness OF the siege progressed. The rock
by the batteries sent forth it's splinters
TO deal destruction around at every inn
pact OF the Spanish shot, but the re-
turn fire was OF the most telling de-
scription and most steadily kept up by
the British.
But removed from the smoke and din
in the laboratory OF the garrison. sur
rounded by the chemistry OF war, sat
one man, an humble private. His IL was,
while his comrades worked the guns in
the suffocating easements OF the COW
cred batteries. to prepare the shells for
-
task--so dangerous. i'm fact, that even
the examination of the deadly missiles
is considered sufficiently perilous on
board ship 10 warrant a stage being
slung over the side to be occupied by
only one or two men, the others being
at a distance. But familiarity with
peril fobs men of their fear, and Hart
ley sat busily making feady shell after
shell, filling them with the explosive
composition. and afterward fitting in
the fuses. driving them home and rang
ing the prepared shells In cases till they
should be fetched To be sent i'm fiery
arcs 10 deal death and destruction
among the enemy.
The laboratory was at that time full
OF explosive material. every grain of
which was of inestimable value TO the
beleaguered garrison: and IL had been
accordingly placed I'm a position which
rendered IL impossible for the shot or
shell OF the enemy to reach IL. But now
the danger guarded against from with
out threatened. If possible more terri
bly, from within-threatened 10 destroy
at one blow the whole Of the explosive
compounds stored for defense. and this
at a time when such loss would have
been irreparable.
Shell after shell had been filed. the
grim black spheres. as they lay ready.
giving but small signs Of their deadly
power-the force that should rend them
into innumerable shreds of cast-iron,
each to MAIN or slay.
Suddenly, while calmly proceeding
with his work. and driving a fuse into
a fresh filled shell the fuse took fire.
kissing loudly as il discharged it's rain
of sparks. and burning rapidly away.
There seemed hardly time for thought
much less for action. and the first feel
ings OF Hartley were those OF blank
dismay.
He had seen the discharge and flight
Of shells so often. that he knew ifv
could only reckon upon its burning for
a few seconds. and then would come a
dire explosion that would act upon the
part Of the fortress where he was like
an earthquake-the bursting OF the
shell being. as IL were. but the flash in
the pan that would prelude the blow
ing up of the laboratory. But with the
calmness OF the man whose trade was
one which brought him daily faCC to
face with death. Hartley seized the
shell In both hands, hurried out into
the open air, and then with a tremend-
Gus effort huredl the deadly globe far
into SPACE where a couple of seconds
after il harmlessiv burst. 1t was not
until some time after that tho perform
er Of this daring act could thoroughly
realize the great danger that had
threatened him with destruction. and
though the peril was past. II was some
time after.an then only with unstrung
nerves that he returned 10 his peril
Gus task.-London Chronicle.