Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-21
THE EVENING STORY
One of WOrld-Fam Works of Literature

lemonade to alleviate his intense thirst.
He was in great pain and expressed
much anxiety for the event of the &C
ton, which now began to declare itself.
AS often as ship struck, the crew of
the Victory hurrahed, and at every
hurrah a visible expression Of Joy
beamed in the eyes and marked the
countenance of the dying hero.
But he soon became impatient to see
Hardy, and as that officer, though not
often sent for. could not leave the deck,
Nelson feared that some fatal cause
prevented him and repeatedly cried:
"Will no one bring Hardy to me? He
must be killed! He is surely deadl"
An hour and 10 minutes elapsed be-
fore Hardy could come to him. They
shook hands in silence, Hardy in vain
struggling to suppress the feelings of
that most painful and yet sublimest
moment.
well, Hardy" said Nelson, "how goes
the day with us?"
| ships have struck, but five OF the van
have tackled and show an intention to
bear down upon the Victory. I have
called two or three of our fresh ships
round and have no doubt OF giving
them drubbing."
"I hope" said Nelson, none Of our
ships have struck their colors."
Hardy answered, There was no fear
of that"
Then. and not till then, Nelson spoke
of himself.
IT am dead man, Hardy" said he.
IT am going fast. 1t will be all over
Let my dear Lady Hamilton have my
hair and all other things belonging to
me-" (The love affair of Lord Nelson
| and Lady Hamilton Is one of the most
famous in history)
Hardy observed that he hoped Mr..
Beatty (the surgeon) could yet hold
out some prospect of life.
ooh, no." Nelson replied; sit is i'm
possible. My back is shot through.
Beatty will tell you So"
Hardy then came once more and
shook hands with him, and with
heart almost bursting fastened upon
deck.
BY this time all feeling below Mel
sons breat was gone, and Nelson, hav-
ing made the surgeon ascertain this
said to him:
"You know I am gone. I.know it.
feel something rising in my breast"
he said, putting his hand to his left
side, which tells me so.'
And upon Beatty's inquiring whether
his pain was very great, he replied:
so great that I wish I were dead.
Yet" said he in lower voice, lone
would like to live little longer, too"
Capt. Hardy, some so minutes after
he had left the cockpit, returned, and
again taking the hand of his dying
friend and commander, congratulated
him on having gained a complete vic
tory. How many of the enemy were
taken he did not know, as it was i'm
possible to perceive them distinctly, but
II or Is at least.
b. That's 1T 3ats we Eel In cried Nelson "but
And then, in a stronger voice, he
said:
Anchor, Hardy; anchor"
Hardy, upon this, limited that Admit
raj Collingwood would take upon him
self the direction of affairs.
Not while I live, Hardy said the
dying Nelson, Intellectually endeavoring
to raise himself from the bed. do
you anchor
His previous orders for preparing to
anchor had shown how clearly he fore
saw the necessity for this. Presently,
calling Hardy back, he said to him in
a low voice, Don't throw me over
board" and he desired that he might
be buried by his parents unless it should
please the King to order otherwise and
then said: "Now am satisfied. THANK
God have done my duty''
Hardy stood over him In silence for
moment or two, then knelt again and
kissed his forehead. "Who is that?"
said Nelson, and being informed, he re-
piled, God bless you, Hardy!" And
Hardy then left him-forever.
Nelson now desired to be turned upon
his right side and said, ct wish 1 had
not left the deck, for I shall soon be
gone" Death was, indeed, rapidly ap-
preaching. He said to the chaplain,
Doctor, I have not been a great sin
ner." His articulation now became
difficult, but he was distinctly heard to
say, THANK God, have done my
dutyl" 2f g -sI
These words he repeatedly pronounced
and they were the last words which he
uttered. He expired at 80 minutes
after 4-three hours and a quarter after
he had received his wound.