HEROISM IN SIMPLE LIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 236, 5 October 1935, Page 37 (Supplement)

HEROISM IN SIMPLE LIVES.

All those of us who’are interested in reading history will know that many of the greatest deeds of the past have been done by men of the humblest origin, and this story of a young apprentice who had a love of the sea is no exception to the rule. Somewhere about the year 1680 this small boy, who was a pauper orphan, and had been apprenticed by the parish authorities, much against his will, to the tailoring trade, had dropped his needle and was gazing out to sea, wishing he was anywhere in the world but in that shop. And just then a squadron of British warships came .into sight round a bend of the coast. It seemed so much like an answer to prayer that without hesitation he threw down his work, ran out of the shop and was soon on the beach, where he jumped into a boat and rowed an hard as he could to the admiral’s ship. It was not very long before he saw active service, for soon the British ships fell in with a. French squadron, and a grim fight began. The boy did his duty well, running hither and thither, as he was bidden, and taking a keen interest in the exciting events about him. At last, when fighting had been going on for some time and there seemed no sign of a definite result, the boy asked a sailor, “How shall we know when t*he«eneiny has given in to us?” “Oh!” replied the man, pointing to the flag flying at the masthead of the French admiral’s ship, “as soon as that flag is hauled down the enemy will have given in, and the victory will be ours.” In those days, of course,-vessels did not fight as they do now,- with miles of sea between them and almost out of . sight of. one another. They ran up side by. side,'and tjie crew of each tried to board the other to engage in personal combat. The tailor’s boy sprang upon the deck of the French, admiral’s ship, which, was alongside his own, and, unnoticed in the excitement, climbed with great agilityup a rope ladder, and seized the French admiral’s flag. Then,, wrapping it round his -body, he, descended with it to the deck, still unperceived by either the F re .nch or th® English sailors. No one had seen the daring action, but presently the English sailors noticed that the French flag was gone, and supposing that the enemy had given in, they rushed upon the declc of the French ship with such impetuosity that the enemy was filled with consternation and dismay. The French gunners fled from thejr guns, and within a moment dr two the ship was actually in the possession of the English. Just as victory was assured the apprentice sprang forward and showed the captured flag to his comrades, who received it with astonishment. The news soon spread, of course. The boy was led with his prize into the presence of the admiral, who praised his bravery and promoted him to the rank of midshipman on the spot. And thus began his naval career, one which was to .end .in great distinction, for he was promoted again until he reached almost the highest rank in the navy and became known in history as Admiral Hopson.