A SEA FIGHT BY MISTAKE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 34 (Supplement)

A SEA FIGHT BY MISTAKE

The Russian outrage in the North Sea recalls (says the “Liverpool Daily Post") a curious adventure of Captain. Crowe, alleged to be “as brave a sailor and as odd and eccentric a man as ever walked the quarter-deck,” in his good ship Mary, when he fell in with two English sloop-of-war “somewhere in the middle passage where Liverpool ships were engaged upon in these times.” They cook his trim-looking vessel for a French cruiser, and he took them tor a, couple of the same craft. It mattered nob that they were two to one. Night came on, and they could not distinguish each other’s flags so they kept at it until daylight showed the Engiisn colours on all their masts. The cruisers had made several efforts to board him in the dark, and been repulsed with terrible loss. Firing ceased as soon as the mistake was discovered, and the senior commander of the man-of-war sent an officer on board with a sulky, civil message to know if thev could do anything to help repair damages. “I want nothing but a certificate to my owner that I have done my duty,” was the reply.

Dogs in Hamburg are taxed according to size. England lias, on an average, sixtv-six gales a year.

1. Siaohoushan. 11. Wangtai. 2. Laolichui. 12. Liautishan, 1512 ft 3. Petoushan. 13. Inner Port. 4. Ortong. 14. Clungshan. 5. Takushan. 15. Chikwaushan. 6. Keekwan (620 ft.) 16. Mantaushau. 7. Sungshoo. 17. Singtzeying. 8. Santihiau. 18. Weiyuen (330 ft.) 9. Antszshan. 19. Tiger’s Tail. 10. Etseslian and High Hill.