Jack the Giant-killer (1840)/British Intrepidity
BRITISH INTREPIDITY.
The following incident, which took place at Calais in April 1817, is translated from a French newspaper.
On the 17th, the wind blowing from N. N. E. with extreme violence, had rendered the sea frightful, and all approach to the coast dangerous, when about eleven o'clock, a. m., the time of high water, there was seen a small French vessel (the Leonora, from L'Orient, of 72 tons, with seven men, bound from Nantes to Dunkirk, with a cargo of grain), beating up painfully against the fury of the waves.
The captain, Huard, thinking no doubt that it would be safer to attempt entering the port of Calais then standing out to sea, determined on the former;—and although he had neither a pilot on board nor any personal knowledge of the coast, he hazarded an effort to carry it into execution; but overpowered by the force of the winds, currents, and the waves, he was driven on the works to the east of the port, where he stuck. The danger soon became eminent, and the wrecks thrown on shore announced the certain death of the seven unfortunate mariners. Numerous witnesses of this scene of desolation lamented that they could offer no assistance. At this moment there was seen advancing with force of oars, a pinnace-boat sent from the British yacht called the Royal Sovereign, which had carried to Dunkirk the Duke of Orleans some days before. This boat, commanded by lieutenent Charles Moore, who had under him eight sailors from the yacht, advanced with intrepidity, in spite of of the dangers with which it was surrounded. Captain Owen, the commander of the yacht, displaying a zeal worthy of the greatest praise, stood upon the extremity of the pier, and cheered by his gestures and his voice, the brave and intrepid lieutenant and his eight sailors; and although he was incessantly covered with the waves that dashed against the pier, he perseveringly maintained his painful and dangerous position for the purpose of pointing out together with M. Sagot, the port-captain, and some other French officers, the measures proper to be adopted, and of adding, if possible, to the necessary means of assistance. Up to this time the danger had been increasing on board the wrecked vessel, and already had several men lost their lives, when three were seen still to survive, and to implore assistance. Meanwhile, the generous and intrepid lieutenant Moore with his eight seamen, neglected no effort. At last they reached within a little distance of the wreck, and by means of a rope, which they threw out to the vessel, saved two of these unfortunate men. Not being able longer to keep their position, the boat returned to the pier to land these two, when Captain Wilkinson, the master of the English packet, the Dart of Dover, generously threw himself into the boat, at the hazard of his life, to assist in this manoeuvre. There remained still on the wreck another survivor, who had bound himself to the mast with a ropee, that he might not be washed overboard. The desire crowning this fine action by rescuing another victim from the waves inspired regrets into the courageous lieutenant and his crew. They returned to face a danger, the force of which they had already measured, and had nearly reached the boat, the gallant lieutenant standing up and directing the rowers, when a wave, more impetuous than the rest, broke over the pinnace, overthrew, and precipitated into the waters, this generous officer, who instantly disappeared. A feeling of consternation struck with terror and regret the numerous spectators of the scene.—The lieutenant, however, after having passed under his boat, recovered himself and rose to the surface, where he was immediately taken up by the sailors, and replaced in the boat. The courage of this generous man was not slackened by by the threatened death which he had so miraculously escaped; he lost not the presence of mind which belongs to true intrepidity, and he returned with heroic perseverance towards the perishing individual, for whose safety he hazarded his own. The difficulties of the situation increased—the French sailor, too much weakened, had lost courage, but seeing the boat return to his assistance, he unbound himself, and, endeavoured to make an effort for his salvation, he pereipitated himself into the sea, where he was seen to float for an instant, and then to sink for ever! All assistance had now become useless, and the English boat retained to the port, where the generous men, who had given so noble an example of their rare intrepidity, received the testimonies of that satisfaction with which every spectator was deeply penetrated.