NELSON'S FATAL WOUND AT TRAFALGAR.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3228, 3 November 1881, Page 4

NELSON'S FATAL WOUND AT TRAFALGAR.

A ball fired from the mizentop of the Redoubtable, only fifteen yards distant from where Nelson was standing, struck the opaulotte on his left shoulder, about a quarter after nine, during the greatest heat of the action. It passed through the spine, and lodged in the muscles of the back on the right side. Nelson fell on his face, and on that part of the deck where there yet lay a pool of his secretary's blood ; and Captain Hardy on turning round saw three men— ; a marine sergeant and two sailors —raising him up. ' Hardy,' said he, faintly, ' they have done for me at last.' ' I hope not,' replied his old shipmate. ' Yes —my backbone is shot through.' As Sergeant Seeker and others bore him down the ladder, he saw that the tiller-ropes had been shot away, and ordered new ones to be rove. He then covei-'d hid face and his stars with his hanlki rcitiof, that the crew, who leved him so woii, might remain ignorant of his fate. Through the horrors of the cockpit, which was crowded by the wounded and the dying, be was borne with difficulty to a pallet in the midshipmen's berth, where it was soon discovered that the wound was mortal; and though aware, by the gush of blood every moment in his breast, that no human skill could avail him) he never lost his presence of mind for a moment. Nothing could be done to lessen his agony, and all his attendants could do was to fan him with paper and give him lemonade to alleviate his intense thirst: and there lay ' the mighty Nelson,' weaker than a child, with the roar of his last and greatest victory in his dying ear. —British Battles on Land and Sea.