PRISONERS OF WAR. 181 



the case of the funnel when it exploded, 

 and when tons of iron were torn up 

 and cast about, were not only not 

 killed on the spot, but scarcely one was 

 unable to walk, and not one has sus- 

 tained a fracture or dislocation." 



Another occurrence which caused con- 

 siderable excitement in the town, and 

 which was attended with lamentable 

 consequences, I cannot forbear relating, 

 although at the risk of being termed a 

 narrator of horrors. 



Two French officers, who had broken 

 their parole, hired a boat on Gosport 

 beach, pretending they were going on 

 board a vessel at Spithead. The water- 

 man, who was well known to the in- 

 habitants as a steady, hard-working man, 

 had agreed for his fare, without the 

 least suspicion of their character, or their 

 dangerous enterprise. When they had 

 reached Spithead, it is supposed he re- 

 fused to proceed further at their desire; 



