The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-07-10
CARNAGE AT COPENHAGEN. G



"Nelson In the Battle of Copenha-
gen" Captain Mahan says that the
Danes fought not only with great
resolution, but with an effectiveness
that is really remarkable in view
Of the rawness OF the material hasti-
ly worked up for the occasion. He
adds: A singular picture of the des-
olation wrought on the decks of the
Monarch has been given by mid
shipman on board of her: Toward
the close of the action the colonel
commanding the detachment of sol
diers on board told me that the
quarter deck guns wanted quill or
tin tubes (Which are used as more
safe and expeditions than loose
priming), and wanted me to send
some one, adding his own men were
too ignorant of the ship or he would
have sent one of them. / told him
| knew no one that could SO well be
spared as myself. He, however, OBJ
jected to my going. and as | was
aware of the dreadful slaughter
which had taken place in the center
of the ship was not very fond OF
the jaunt, but my conscience would
not let me send another on an er-
rand I was afraid to undertake my
self, and away posted toward the
fore magazine. When | arrived on
the main deck, along which I had
to pass, there was not single man
standing the whole way from the
mainmast forward, a district con-
tanning eight guns on side, some
of which were run out ready for fir
ing, others lay dismounted, and 9th
4ers remained as they were after re-
coiling.
II hastened down the fore ladder
to the lower deck and felt really
relieved to find somebody alive. !
was obliged to wait a few minutes
for my cargo, and after this pause I
own | felt something like regret, if
not fear, as l remounted the ladder
on my return. This, however, en-
tirely subsided when I saw the sun
shining and the old blue ensign fly
ing as lofty as ever. | never felt
the genuine sense of glory so COM
pletely as at that moment. | took
off my hat by an involuntary mo-
ton and gave three cheers as I
jumped on to the quarter deck. Colo
mel Hutchinson welcomed me at
my quarters as if / had been on a
hazardous enterprise and had re-
turned in triumph The first lieuten-
ant also expressed great satisfaction
at seeing me in such high spirits
and so active. =
The effect Of splinters fragments
of wood, whether large or small, be-
ing technically so called is shown
by the same writer in few scatter
ed but graphic sentences: ''Our sig
nal midshipman was bruised from
head to foot with splinters in such
a manner as compelled him to leave
the deck. Mr.. LIE Vesconte, another
midshipman, who was my compan-
ion on the quarter deck, and who
was as cool and apparently uncon-
cerned as usual, shared the same
fate. I attended him to the lower
deck, but could not prevail upon
myself to set foot on the ladder to
the cockpit. !" (The cockpit is the
place below the water line where the
wounded are taken.)
II left him there to make the best
of his way. AS the splinters were
SO plentiful, it may be wondered
how escaped. The fact is, l die
not escape entirely. When the whee
was shot away, / was in cloud
but being some little distance before
the wheel I did not receive any oi
the larger pieces. Our first ieuten
ant, Mr.. Yelland, had taken care tt
have the decks swept and every
thing clean and nice before WI
went into action. He had dressed
himself in full uniform, with hi
cooked hat set on square" "a toucl
which recalls Collinwood 8 eccentri,
captain, Rotheram, at Trafalgar
who, upon being demonstrated witt
for the exposure full dress entailed