Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: July 19, 2025
Meanwhile Riou, in spite of a ship without a rudder, and with the water in her up to the orlop deck, succeeded, as the boatswain's letter shows, after a voyage of nine weeks, in bringing his command to the Cape. A letter from Capetown, written on March 1, 1790, tells us she arrived there "eight days ago in a situation not to be credited without ocular proofs.
'Come, then, my boys! cried Riou, 'let us die all together! The words had scarcely been uttered before a raking shot cut him in two. Except it had been Nelson himself, the British Navy could not have suffered a severer loss."
About half the crew remained with Riou, some because they determined to stand by their commander, and others because they could not get away in the boats, which, to avoid being overcrowded, had put off in haste, for the most part insufficiently stored and provided. The sea, still high, continued to make breaches over the ship, and many were drowned in their attempts to reach the boats.
One of these put forward in 1861 by Olivier Riou deserves mention because it provided for two boats, one driven by steam and one by electricity. Both of these submarines were built, but inasmuch as nothing is known of the result of their trials, it is safe to conclude that neither of them proved of any practical value.
'Yes, yes, said the crowd, 'yes, certainly! and some added, 'It is the only safeguard, it is our protection, and some signed themselves. In the crowd I saw Riou, who had done this at the octroi. But the sign did not surprise me now. M. le Curé stood by my side, but he did not smile. His countenance was dark, almost angry. He stood quite silent, with his eyes on the ground.
This allowed the Danes to take better aim at them, and so tremendous was the fire opened on them that there seemed every chance of the frigates being sent to the bottom. Just then, Sir Hyde Parker's signal was seen flying. Captain Riou judged that he ought to obey it.
'You won't forget that in a hurry, she said, smiling grimly to herself, but in a moment they were back again with large pots of water, which they poured on the fire. Then they joined hands and danced round it, singing: Wicked traitress, Barne Riou, Our poor toes are burned by you; Now we hurry from your hall Bad luck light upon you all.
"I was telling you about the brave Captain Riou and his frigates. The `Amazon, his ship, had suffered much, and was so surrounded by smoke that he could see nothing of the batteries to which he was opposed. He ordered, therefore, his men to cease firing to let the smoke clear off; that they might see what they were about.
Riou gave orders to stand towards it in order to renew, by collecting lumps of ice, the supply of water, the stock of fresh water having run very low in consequence of the quantity consumed by the cattle. The Public Advertiser of April 30, 1790, describes what now happened. As the ship approached the island, the boats were hoisted out and manned, and several lumps collected.
'M. le Maire has seen a what there is outside? Riou cried, stammering in his excitement; and the other fixed upon me eyes which were hungering with eagerness if, indeed, it is permitted to use such words. 'I have seen nothing, Riou, I said. They looked at me with the utmost wonder. 'M. le Maire has seen nothing? said Riou. 'Ah, I see! you say so to spare us.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking