Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-01-29

whole length from the deeD, and then. turning
over. she Heated for few moments the surface
with her FURNISHED copper glistening in the sun
Such the fate Of the Queen Charlotte, the sec
ond largest ship in the British navy of her day;
and quite recently an effect almost "a striking
was described By those who witnessed the burn
ing of the steamship Voltnrno in md-Atiantic.
l. is on the heroic aspect OF shipwreck that one
would prefer to dwell when the awful peril i'm
pending gives opportunity for the exhibition or
fortitude and bravery and when the iunminence
OF death brings cut those noble traits Of character
which have eyer distinguished the seamen. In
The excitement Of battle each joins IN the
conflict. excited and encouraged by the cheers OF
his comrades and the hopes of victory. But it is
when suddenly confronted by the danger OF ship
wreck when neither the nimbleuess. deXterity or
resource of the sailor IS of much avail that the
moment arrives for him to display his seifPos-
session, his devotion his courage, and seldom has
he failed to prove his merit IN these Clrc;lCi-
stances Over and again may read OF
a gallant fellow who would not desert their com
panions in misfortune, OF the intrepidty Of officers
who could not be persuaded to cult their ships
while a man remained board. Quite recently
the British admiralty named a destroyer in mem
ory Of Capt Charles Lydard, who, with dis
tinguished record was commanding the An
SON. a fine 4Qgun ship in December 1907. when
III a hard gale owing 10 the thickness Of the log,
she ran ashore 20 the west OF The Lizard The
gale was tremendous, aud when the vessel took
the ground many of the men were washed away
bv the huge seas which swept the deck. Many
others were killed by the falling spars the crash
ing sound of which they came from aioft, min
gIed with the shrells Cf the on board.
heard by the spectators on shore amid the roar
OF the waters and the bowling OF the wind.
Calm aud undaunIed amid the terroTs of the
scene Captain Lydiard is described as displaying
in q remarkable degree that selt-possession and
massive herosm which has been SO often the
Drond characteristic OF the commander OF Brit
isb ship OF war under similar harassing condl-
lions He was able 20 restore order to assist the
wounded TO encourage the timid and to revive
axpiring hope. BY the main mast, which In falling
overheard served a communication between
the shin and the shore. the captain pointed out
that there was q means, dangerous certainly by
which the land could be reached. 1t WAS fated,
however that he should not himself ENJOY the re-
ward OF his humanity. When seemingly every
one had left the vessel. and he was about to I'M
dertake the passage. he heard the cries OF some
one In terror and found yCuRgster, protege OF
his own. chngng in despair TO d part OF the
wreck without either strength or courage TO
make an effort for his own preservation. Captain
I.ydiard's resolution instantly taken. Throw
ing an arm round the boy. with the other he chung
10 the spars and rigging and attempted the peril
Gus passage ashore. But nature exhausted
by the mental and physical sufferings he had en-