Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-05-12
GALLANT SEA CAPTAIN
BRITISH NAVY PROUD OF WORK
OF .IEUTENANT coCHRANE.
His Exploits With Small Ship, Poorly
Armed, Are Classed With the
Most Brilliant Annals of War
fare on the Ocean.

A recent writer, Mr.. j. J. Edgar, has
retold the almost incredible exploits
of the Speedy. the first command of
young Lieutenant Cochrane, after
wards Admiral Lord Dundonald, in
ventor, fighter and strategist The
little vessel was absurdly small and
fll-equipped; an over-manned and un-
derarmed craft of 15S tons, carrying
ninety men and fourteen four-pound-
ers. Nevertheless. she soon became
so troublesome to the enemy that a
Spanish frigate was especially dis
patched to hunt her down. But young
Cochrane, foreseeing trouble, had pur-
posely shipped a Danish quartermas-
ter; and instead of avoiding his formi-
dable foe, he dressed the Dane in his
| own uniform, disguised the Speedy.
with the aid of paint and canvas, as
Danish brig. and ran up the quaran-
tine flag. A few questions were asked,
to which an Enthusiastically genuine
and the hoodwinked enemy continued
peacefully on her course.
Some months later, however. they
met again, and an encounter could not
be avoided The action that followed
was unique in naval history. The
/ Speedy made no effort to escape. In
stead, she boldly attacked She had
| at the time only fifty-four men. and
4 her scant crew and fourteen four
/ Founders were opposed to the thirty
| two heavy guns and 319 men of her
six hundred-ton opponent, the frigate
! Ell Gamo. Coming swiftly to close
quarters, she ran in under the fri
gates broadside. which hurtled harm
! lessly above her, while every shot
from her own guns told moment
later the vessels touched, and Coch-
rane, at the head of his crew, actually
boarded and carried the frigate, which
struck her flag after the first rush
Between these two exploits the
Speedy visited Valetta, and Cochrane
enjoyed a little adventure ashore. A
fancy-dress subscription ball was be-
ing given, under the patronage OF
some French Royalist officers, and
this he attended, selecting for his cos
tune the ordinary dress of British
common sailor, A Frenchman, mis-
taking him for a genuine jack-tar ot
dubious sobriety who was intrudins
among his betters. ordered him out
He refused to go. The Frenchmar
collared him; he knocked the French
man down, and the next day they
fought a duel on the sands Coch
rane received ball through the trous
ers and the Frenchman one through
the leg. after which they parted gayl!
! with expressions of mutual esteem.
The Speedy's career ended at las
: in capture but although she surren
dered to one vessel, the French bat
tleship DessaiX. she had been gallant
! ly fighting against several at once
The chivalrous French captain de
clined to accept Cochranes sword
saying he could not deprive of hi
sword an officer who had so man,
> hours struggled against impossible
ties
The Pallas. Cochrane's first reall,
adequate ship, did not achieve 81
! many near-impossibilities as the littl
Speedy; but her return to Plymouth
! after her first cruise was marked by
. uniquely brilliant touch She ha
taken rich prizes. Among the boot
: were some wonderful great golde
: candlesticks from Mexico. They wer
of superb size and workmanship, an
: designed for ecclesiastical use; bu
Cochrane found them equally adapte
to enhance naval triumph WheI
: at sound of the signal gun, the inhab
: tants of Plymouth f1ocked to tn
: wharves, to behold the Pallas swee
. nobly to her anchorage. they wer
> dazzled and amazed to see her ta
: masts aglitter in the sunshine as
: tipped with living fame To eac
mast was proudly affixed a fve-foc
golden candlestick! Youths Compal
ion.