The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-03

1--WE will attack that ship!" cried Graf,
ton. recklessly turning the Prov of his
vessel toward her. Fire upon her. Let
her have it, menu ,g @
But there was no response to his COM
mand. His guns were silent.
Beg pardon, sir, the magazines were
flooded and all our powder was wetted
when we came so near laundering" re-
ported the gunner who had Just come on
deck. 70. 80, > .......4.-.. 49,
"Ah, had rather have gone down ON
the Cardinals than be thus helpless.'f
murmured the young commander, quite
beside, himself with the disappointmentS
and .anxieties Of the hour. -s- ~
"Sir. sir, some dry powder is found!"
! cried another, running up on the instant.
Engage! Engage, then!' screamed
Grafton fiercely. His mind was SO over-Ik
| whelmed by the catastrophe that he could
find no relief save in action, and pres
emily from the iron muzzles Of his hot
guns once more rang out the deadly dis
charge. A savage desire to slay, to KILL
had supplanted every other emotion In
Graftons heart He stood, wild-eyed and
despairful, mailman on his own deck.
melting his men to action.
| After half a dozen broads1des Le Juste,i
badly riven and shattered, sheered or and
attempted to withdraw, having had
enough Of it.. Grafton, however, was not
to be shaken off. He pursued the REL
treating French ship with inplacabIe
lferocity, working every gun that woul6
/ bear upon her.
AS the two ships swept along before
the wind Grafton suddenly found himseln
! mixed up with six other ships, one OF.
which happened to be LIE Tonnant, car-
rying de Beauffremont- Having had
enough Of the fight. the vice admiral
not greatly to his credit-had called Theses
ships about him, and they were all en-
deavoring to escape to the southwark
through the narrow pass between La
Four bank and Pofnte de Croisic on the
Eshore. But the young Englishman's blood
was up now, and he followed hard on
their heels, and the singular spectacle Of
lone water-logged and sodden ship pursu-
ing six ships of the enemy was presented.
In their wild haste to get away this
French neglected the opportunity afforded
to capture him.
AS they swept around LIE Four ana
headed for the south. Grafton. who was
4 ignorant OF these waters, as were all the
q English captains, headed straight for
4 them, firing on them with his chase guns
q at the same time, the French making
4 but a feeble reply. He had gone only q
8 few cables lengths, however, when, with
. out any warning. in the darkness his ship
a took ground She struck with tremend-
Gus force upon the rocky shoal Of Le
-Four. and each succeeding wave lifted
hers higher and higher and hurled her
II farther upon the shore. The light spars
snapped like pipe stems at the first blow,
and as the ship pounded upon the reef.
q mast after mast went, until she lay
grinding on the sands total wreck, the
waves breaking over her and sweeping her
& from stern to stem.
4. The last shot from LIE Justo struck the
! Torbay on the quarter Just as she hit tho
I reef It sent a shower Of splinters In
! board. one Of which struck Grafton In tho
Z breast and hurled him over the rail to
: windward. He caught feebly at a back
stay, shouted q command and the next
moment falling spar dashed him into
! the sea.
!. For him and for all the rest the battle
, was over.
Go be continued Monday.)