Read Free Books

Chapter 2 - Old Sea Dog -
From There Go the Ships by George Shirley

Page 36
1801, before breakfast, Lieutenant Staines gave me a gunner's warrant, for the Tartarus bomb-ship at Alexandria. These bomb-ships carried two mortars on a large platform that threw shells. I saw one moored off Aboukir fort, and having got the range, that is, the exact distance, threw every shell into the fort, whilst the French kept up a heavy cannonade, but every shot fell short; not one reached the bomb ship. I was ordered to take a passage in the Seampavia gunboat to join my ship, which I did in three days. Whilst on board saw the crocodiles

 
Your Ad Here
 

Can't find it here?

Custom Search

Books - Factual

Sociology

Poverty - by James Platt

Your Ad Here

fast asleep floating down the Nile with the current. Lying here some time I saw Pompey's Pillar and Cleopatra's Needle. One feat of the sailors was to fly a kite across the Pillar, getting the string over the top, let the string go, so as for the kite to fall the other side, then fasten some ropes to the string, and pull them over until there were enough for them to climb up, enjoy the scene, and drink the king's health and confusion to his enemies.

Soon after sailed for Malta, thence to Cephalonia, Corfu, and Zante, where the currants grow that we are so fond of in our puddings, thence back again to Malta, parted with our anchors in a gale, and went on shore, but was speedily towed oil' by the Tigre, was hove down and repaired, then sailed for Gibraltar with two bomb tenders, but parted with them in the passage. On arrival found the Foudroyant with Lord Keith's flag and several other ships, took in water, and sailed for England.

Off Cadiz we fell in with some Portuguese men-of-war, who were on the look-out after some Algerines

© Peter Smith 2008