New-York tribune., 1908-04-11

moment of his landing. Here in villa on the
heights he took his ease whenever he could for
little shed the responsibilities of empire. Here
lived, for the last nine years of his reign, the
tyrant Tiberius. the substructures of whose great
palaces can yet be visited. Legends of his
cruelties abound in the island-legends which
Mr. Vaughan is inclined, with various other
modern writer's. to distrust An almost for
gotten incident in the life of modern Capri is
related in lively fashion. 1t was in the year
after Trafalgar, while the British fleet was
blockading Naples on behalf of the frightened
Ferdinand, that Capri was captured from
Murats garrison and Colonel Lowe (afterward
Sir Hudson Lowe was placed in and.
Fortifications arose, about fifteen thousand
troops were provided and Lowe complacently
called the island Little Gibraltar" He held It
Ior TWO years, much to the disgust of Murat
VINO finally sent expedition that managed
TO seize the western half of the island. The
French general was preparing to take the town
py storm when the British ships suddenly ap-
peared bearing down upon the island But
before they could draw near a sudden storm
drove them southwark and left the British gar
rison to repulse unaided repeated disastrous
assaults
With the retirement OF the relieving fleet and the
contnuance of foul weather Lowe deemed II use
IeSs 10 resist further, and like sensible man de
SEatn. IN return for his immediate SURRENDER of
capri the British commandant accordingly stipu-
ialed thaI his garrison should be allowed to en-
Dark ana sail for Sicily unmolested, and that the
persons and property OF the islanders, who seem
70 nave appreciated the British occupation, should
ne ne respected But Lanarque, on communicating
colonel loves request TO King Murat, received
peremptory orders to demand unconditional
surrender, whereupon aide de-Camp of the
Kings, a certain Colonel Manches sent TO
interview Lowe with the royal letter in his pocket.
had the misSlve been delivered 10 him the British
Governor would in all probability have decided 10
hgIt 10 the bitter end rather than to submit 10
such severe and humliating conditions. Happily,
so terrible a catastrophe, which must have in
VOWED heavy loss of life both sides followed
ny sack OF the town, Unexpectedly averted
at the last moment. for while Manches was actu-
ally advancing with a nag of truce, the approach
or the British feet was again stgnaNed from the
outlook on the hill called the TELEGRAPH. Be
fore the Governor could be made aware OF this
piece of news Colonel Manches. cunnngly keeping
his masters imperious letter in his pocket, told
Colonel Lowe that King Murat ready TO ac
cept the terms Of surrender offered. The weather
being propitious. the british feet would have heen
able this time TO reach the island, but its nearer
approach prevented by Colonel Lowe himself,
who sent to acquaint the admiral. much 10 his
chaPrin. Of the oomnact already concluded with
the tesiegers. a con1Dact which, Hudson Lowe
himself very properly pointed out, was ondlns
upon the British government. On October d. three
weeks from the date Of the first attack the English
trCons embarked for Sicily. end the island was
formally HANDED over 10 the French and Neapolt
forces. who held II undstUrbed until the close
OF the Napoleonic wars.
II this story has moral ii is perhaps that
one signal station IS worth great deal of con-
fdence In little Gibraltars.