The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-02
CHAPTER XxxlIl.
The Battle In the Storm.

The men of the leading English ships
had been waiting with feverish innpatience
for this signal. Before they could fairly
show their answering pennants their sides
were wreathed in flame. and smoke, and
the first three ships poured in a furious
fire upon the Formidable. At the same
time Howe, in the Magnanme, sheered in
to close with the French rear admiral,
with whom he at once joined in fierce
engag cement.
The Warspite and the Dorsetshfre, after
the first broadside, kept on after the
French van, pouring their shot into
L'Heros and, LIE Thesee as they came
within range. At the same time the Tor
bay to leeward of the line, opened fire.
AS she swept along she hotly engaged
LIE Magnifique and LIE Glorieux, who were
to leeward of the other three. Grafton,
however, kept working to windward all
| the windward all the time to reach LIE
| These, which was heroically supporting
the rear admiral and furiously assaulting
the English ships as they approached.
| 1t was half after 2 o'clock. Not much
more than two hours of daylight were now
| left them, but the battle was at last be-
gun. There would be time for much.
"You would better send the men to their
quarters now, Captain Campbell, and
| make preparations for action, as we are
overhauling them FAST said Hawke,
quiet, quietly, his face filled with light as
he marked the splendid behavior Of his
captains. ~. .. n.-,, T..
The drummers had been waiting below
on the quarter deck in anticipation of
| lust such an order. AS the captain
nodded his head, the stirring beat to quar-
l tiers which had called men to battle for
centuries-and which calls them still when
need, requires-rangs out over the great
decks Singular, that the beat upon
the stretched skin Of the most cowardly
| lie an
as followed: @<.@ e..
1 In an instant the schip was Gene Of
i apparent confusion, out Of which, with
d marvellous speed, the trained and disci-
Il plined officers evolved the fighting prop
! critics Of the formidable machine. The
/ guns were cast loose and provided, the
u men armed, and everything made ready
for the approac ching conflict. This done,
e they settled down at their stations and
:, waited; those whose position aloft or on
| deck permitted them to do so watching
the battle ahead. +. Il
Montagu joined in the melee which now
involved a half dozen Of the French ships.
Selling an opportunity, the Magnan1me
swung to leeward, and. crossing the bows
of the Formidable, raked her fearfully as
she passed. At the same time the Swift
4 sure and the Revenge, sweeping along to
4 leeward, enveloped the unfortunate rear
admiral in another terrific discharge
: Then, as the ships drove ahead their
place was taken by the Resolution, which
chung to the windward side of the fighting
admiral with a bulldog tenacity, and could
not be shaken off in spite Of the furious
fire of the lower ship The English had
made chopping block Of the unfortunate
b Frenchman, yet his courage was mag
nif1cent-he fought on.
Meanwhile the Warspite temporarily
disabled by an unlucky shot, drifted bacl
& through the line, and as the Montagr
4 burst into the smoke of the conflict the
q unmanageable ship drove into her, an6
81 both together fouled the Magnanime II The
& Firmidable from her lee guns poured &
S DAMAGING fire uDon the group grinding