A GIBRALTAR ANECDOTE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1174, 26 August 1885, Page 3

A GIBRALTAR ANECDOTE.

A strange story is going the rounds of the Home papers regarding the 100-ton guns sent to Gibraltar. Some time ' ago the Ordnance Department dispatched two of the 100-ton guns to Gibraltar for the defence of that fortress. Tie Luge weapons were July mounted, but the batteries were constructed by the Engineer authorities in so fragile a manner that it was deemed expedient not to put the monsters to the test of firing them lest the foundation on which they rested should give way under them. However, it chanced that a few weeks ago a detachment of artillery, under the command of a young lieutenant just fresh from Woolwich, and burning to distinguish himself, was on guard at the 100-ton battery. During the day .there appeared on the scene~a very tiny Spanish gunboat, engaged in chasing one of the numerous tobacco smuggling vessels. The Spanish commander, carried away no doubt by the thought of the prize*money, miscalculated his distance and continued his course of pursuit to a point well within the 300 yards radius, inside of which according to convention, no chasing is permitted. The young R. A. saw the blunder of the Spanish skipper, and eagerly seized the opportunity; for he promptly ordered one of the guns under his charge to be loaded and fired at the offending ship. This was done, and the huge shot, though it went near the Spaniard, fortunately did not hit her, or else the boat must have gone to the bottom. The Dons, however, were so alarmed at the projectile, that they all bolted below, including the man at the wheel, and consequently his Spanish Majesty's ship had a narrow escape of going on, shore. The aspiring subaltern naturally expected praise for his » doughty deed, instead of which he received, first a severe reprimand for firing a gun without orders; secondly, , an order to pay, £30, the cost of the powder and snot ; thirdly, a demand for compensation from the inhabitants of the houses adjacent to the battery, as broken glass, damaged walls, roofs and ceilings, were ail due to the concussion caused by the gun. The total of the claim was about £100, and this also the unfortunate sub. was ordered by the Government to pay.

•' Good counsel has no price," says the proverb. Hasn't he 1 Get into a lawsuit which requires his services, and you will toon find ho has.