The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-09-06


3l9 men. She left Barcelona IN search
of the Speedy. The Speedy was wait
ing for her. In broad daylight Coch-
rane ran alongside the big ship, boarded
and carried her. The prisoners were
eight times as numerous as the prize
crew put aboard the Ell Gamo, and
were only kept flom rescuing them
selves by Cochrane loading their own
maindeck guns with canister and
pointing them down the hatchway.
This brilliant exploit was never re.
warded. The commanding officer at
Port Mahon held Cochrane's report for
month, until the impression was
gained that the Gamo was taken by
surprise. 1t was said by the admiralty
that promotion for this feat was not
warranted because the number of men
killed OH the Speedy (four) was too
small. Young Cochrane testify re-
piled that there were more casualties
on the Speedy than there were on the
Victory in the engagement for which
First Lord of the Admiralty Vincent
was made an earl anal his first captain
a knight From this time began the
young captains long list Of victories
for, and difficulties with, the admiralty.
The Speedy in thirteen months took
fifty vessels, carrying 1872 guns. She
was, however. finally captured by three
French line of battle ships, although
not until after "a very remarkable dis
play of seamanship" on Cochrane's
part. The plucky captain was sooa
exchanged, but found no employment
in the navy, and started to attend
school. Two years later he was ap-
pointed to the command of an old COL
lier called the Arab, with which he
was kept year and half cruising off
the Orkneys protecting alleged fish
eries-a distinct mark of displeasure
on the part of the admiralty.
''pAssED BY WITHOUT NOTICE."
When Lord Vincent retired, Coch-
rane got command of the Pallas, thirty
two guns, and was sent to the Azores.
Here he promptly again did business" :"
making several important captures
and cleverly escaping from squadron
of French battle-ships by brilliant
ruse and getting back to England.
He next cruised in the Bay of Biscay,
where, operating alone, he captured
and burned many merchant ships and
destroyed three French corvettes, each
more than a match for the Pallas.
This achievement was warmly COM
mended by Vice Admiral Thornbrough,
but "passed over by the admiralty
without notice" Neither prize money
nor head money was awarded, and no
promotion, except that Cochrane was
elected by the people to Parliament.
Once in his scat, he brought forward a
motion on naval abuses which was
negatived, and he was ordered to the
Mediterranean in the Emperieuse.
Here he again distinguished himself,
and with this one frigate brought a
pressure on the French which largely
modified their plans OF aggression.
His superior, Admiral C Collingwood, re-
ported him enthusiastically for 'zeal,
activity, skill, ability, and success. ="
At AK he was in command of an effort
to destroy the French feet by explosion
vessels. Cochrane commanded one in
person. 1t destroyed boom in front
of the French ships and produced such
alarm that the enemy attempted to es-
cape, and many ships ran aground.
The feet under Gambler, which was to
have supported Cochrane, was fourteen
miles away. In vain did Cochrane
signal that The French ships could
be destroyed. Gambler came up to
three miles distant, but did nothing.
Then Cochrane, with the Emperieuse
alone, attacked the nearest French
ships, some of which were still aground.
Four Of the enemy's vessels were de-
stroyed, when Gambler ordered Coch-
ran to withdraw and sent him home
with dispatches. On arriving in Eng
land he declared in the Commons that
Gambler had neglected to destroy the
fleet when clearly within his power
Gambler applied for a court martial.
The historian says: "Tried by friend
ly court, and supported by the whole
influence of the admiralty, Lord GAM
bier was most honorably acquitted
and thanked by Parliament for what,
under the most favorable aspect, was
a gross error Of judgment. The ad-
miralty virtually adjudged Cochrane
guilty of falsely libeling his command
ing officer on point of service. From
a naval point of view he was ruined"
For the next three years he was out
of service, and, after having had his
requests for duty refused, he began to
expose gross abuses of the admiralty
in Parliament. His attacks ultimately
led to great reforms. but only led to
an increase of hostility to him. Finally
came famous stock exchange fraud,
the Berenger report that Bonaparte
was killed, which, when found false,
caused great losses in stocks. Beren-
ger had been with Cochrane in service,
and one of Cochrane's uncles made
much money on the fluctuations. The