The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-02-04
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OET ZTT AZHSD

whole length from the deep. and then, turning
over. she iloated for a few moments on the surface
with her Furnished copper glistening in the sun.
Such was the fate OF the Queen Charlotte. the sec
ond largest ship In the British navy OF her day:
and quite recently an effect almost as striking
was described by those who Witnessed the burn
Ing OF the steamship Nolturno in mid Atlantic.
y 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 OF
fortitude and bravery. and when the iInminence
OF death brings out those noble traits Of character
which havo ever distinguished the seamen. In
the excitement OF battle each man Joins in the
conflict, excited and encouraged by the cheers OF
his comrades and the hopes OF victory. But II Is
when suddenly confronted by the danger OF ship.
wreck. when neither the nimbleness, dexterity or
resource OF the sailor IL OF much avail, that the
moment arrives for him 10 display his self.pos.
session, his devotion, his courage, and seldom has
he failed to prove his merit in these clrcum.
stances. over and over again we may read Of
a gallant fellow who would not desert their com.
panioDs in misfortune, of-the intrepidity OF officers
who could not be persuaded TO quit their ships
while a man remained on board. Quite recently
the British admiralty named a destroyer In mem.
DRY OF Capt. Charles Lydiard. who, with a dis.
tingulshed war record, was commanding the An.
son. a fine 4O-gun ship. In December. 1897, when
in Il hard gale, owing TO the thickness OF the fog,
she ran ashore TO the west OF the Lizard. The
gale was tremendous, and when the vessel took
the ground many OF the men were washed away
by the huge seas which swept the deck. Many
others were killed by the falling spars. the crash.
ing sound OF which. as they came from aloft. min.
gled with the shrieks OF the women on board, was
heard by the spectators on shore amid the rear
OF the waters and the bowling OF the wind.
Calm and undaunted amid the terrors OF the
scene. Captain Lydiard is described as displaying
in a remarkable degree that self. possession and
passive heroism which has been so often the
proud characteristic OF the commander OF a Brit.
ish ship OF war under similar harassing condi.
tons. lie was able TO restore order, to assist the
wounded. TO encourage the tlmld. and TO revive
expiring hope. by the main mast, which In falling
overheard served az "a communication between
the ship and the shore. the captain pointed out
that there was Il means. dangerous certainly, by
which the land could be reached. II 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 un.
dertake the passage, he heard the cries Of some
one In terror, and found a youngster, n prolege OF
his own, clinging In despair 10 d part OF the
wreck, without either strength or courage to
make an EFFORT for his own preservation. Captain
Lydlard's resolution was instantly taken. Throw.
ing an arm round the hoy. with the other he chung
to the spars and rigging and ttempte the peril
Gus passage ashore. But nature was exhausted
by the mental and physical %sunerings he had en-