AN EPISODE IN NELSON’S LIFE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 January 1903, Page 4

AN EPISODE IN NELSON’S LIFE.

An exciting incident in Nelson’* career (says a writerinthe “King”) took place in 1797, when Commodore Nelson was 'flying bis broad pennant in the Minerve. Nelson had weighed from Gibraltar on February 11,1797. Two Spanish>hips immediately slipped out in chase, and all sail was erowded!on. Then came one of those moments of sudden decision which were a splendour of Nelson’s moral onr dowment. A man fell overboard, and Hardy, without a moment's hesitation, was lowered with a crew in the jolly boat to save him. The man was lost, and the towering Spaniards, driving the foam high from their cut waters were coming up astern, while the easterly current was.’ carrying the boat almost into their jaws. “By God, I’ll not lose Hardy! Back the mizzen topsail 1” cried Nelson. It was done, and as the ship's way was stopped, theheadmostßpaniard, thinking Nelson prepared to engage him, shortened sail for his consort to come up. Ho. had lost his opportunity, for while the Spaniard wondered, the jolly-boat was picked up, and the Minerve was forging ahead again under a full press of sail. On the night of February 12, in a fog, she actually passed, in imminent danger, through the midst of the Spanish fleet, and on the next day joined Jervis’s flag off Cape St Vincent, when Nelson chi ted his broad pennant into the Captain.