The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-30

on all the ships was an air Of un- usual excitement that was not caused by the familiar business of war. A sombre tragedy was to be enacted soon in that glorious bay, and it seemed to cast forbodding shadow ahead as it was to cast gloomy shadow back ward over the fair fame of Lord Nell son.
 Prince Caraccioli, the famous Neapo1- itan admiral, affronted by the King of Naples, had entered the service of the republic declared by the French in = vaders. With a few ships he had op- posed the landing of the British and Neapoltans. When Ruffo finally took the town Caraccioli was captured and tried by junta of his countrymen on the charge of treason. The trial was held in the cabin of Nelson's own , ship the Foudroyant and there, with hate that even his enemies acknowl- edged to be indecent he was sentenced not merely to death, but to a most shameful death, that of hanging from thu yard arm.
 Nelson had indorsed the proceedings. , Deeply as his officers loved him, they shook their heads and openly wished that his hands had remained free from all connection with the matter. On every ship men deplored the dark in f1uenfe that cast a scandal over the whoh navy-Lady Hamilton who was accused, rightly or wrongly, of hav- ing played no small part in the result of tie trial.
 On the day set for the execution the Bay of Naples was filled with boats that hung arohnd La Minerva, which ship had been selected to serve as the place of punish- meht. Every craft that could float had bea1 pressed into service, and the lowest as well as the highest of the city were on tht water awaiting the dreadful cere- mdny.
 little before the hour set for the Ad- mIrals death a short boat brought Ghita and her uncle to the Foudroyant. They were admitted to Nelson's presence, where Ghita told him amid tears that she was the Prince's granddaughter though he had never seen her, as he had cast his son off for marrying her mother.
 In the days of his pride and power she and her uncle had advanced no claims. Now, with his estates seized and a shame full end before him. they implored his life.
 Sternly Admiral Nelson shook his head. He granted them permission to visit the prisoner, but no more. Sobbng bitterly Ghita was led to the side of the ship by an officer, who looked around for a boat to convey her to La Minerva. In answer to his hail boat shot alongside as if it had been waiting there. Its occupant was clad in the Phrygian cap and the cotton trousers terminating at the knee of the local boatmen.
 Ghita had already entered the craft before she recognized the boatman as Raoul. He made a sign for silence and rowed her through the maze of other craft to the Neapoitan warship, where she was admitted immediately on showing the order of the British admiral.
 It was a sad and dramatic meeting. Prince Caraccioli, almost 70 years old, was making his peace with the world when the girl was announced. He did not know who she was. When she told him and he learned that this, his near kin, had come to him in his disgrace to be near him he was affected far more deeply than by his impending death. He folded her in his arms and said to the priests And this being, holy father, is made known to me an hour before I die! God punisnes me sufficiently for the wrong I have done heW il letting me thus know her worth when it is too late.'
 He kept her with him till the Foudroy- ants bell struck one and all the sur rounding ships repeated the stroke. Then he knew that he had only half an hour left to live, o'clock being set for ms execution He put Ghita away from him gently and bade her leave the ship while he prayed with the priest.
 Raoul received her on board again ana pulled his boat to within third or cables length from the British admiral ship A solemn and expectant silence fell on the great bay. The seamen gath cred to the sides of the ships. Every part of the marine ampitheatre appeared set with watching eyes. And over all these watchers seemed to lie an expression of gloom.