Recollections of my life / by Joseph Fayrer.

  • Joseph Fayrer
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Recollections of my life / by Joseph Fayrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the sick and wounded, and that I could not take service under any foreign Government. The leading men were full of hope of gaining their independence, which they did for a short time ; but subsequently all was changed and Neapolitan rule re-established. During the fighting I had several nar¬ row escapes. One day when on the pier a bullet flattened itself against the wall within a few inches of my head. I had many others, but none so close as this. After things had apparently quieted down somewhat, it was decided that the party should return to the palazzo, the Bulldog having been ordered off to Naples with despatches. Preparations were made to go on shore, and Miss Feilding, Miss Macdonald, the boys and their tutor, and I left the ship. We had hardly landed when a heavy fire was opened by a masked battery near the pier on the citadel, Castel a Mare, which immediately returned it with round shot, shell, and grape. Our route lay across the line of fire. We got safely to the house, when the shells from Castel a Mare began to fall on and near it. The upper story was soon knocked to pieces, the windows were driven in by the concussion of the bursting shells, and the people had to leave it. I got them all near the wall by the fireplace, out of the way of the shells and bits of broken glass which were flying in all directions; and then having barricaded the windows of the ground-floor with mattresses, took them below, where they were safe. As soon as the fire had lulled sufficiently we left the house. We had nothing to fear from the insurgents, and we went through sheltered side-streets to the American Consulate, which was not under fire. Of course the fire had prevented the rest of the party landing, and they were in the greatest anxiety about us. On our way, in turning down a side-street near the palazzo, we came on a ghastly sight. A shell must have fallen on some men, whose blood was lying in pools in the road along which we had to pass. We got safely to the Consulate, where I left them and went back to see what could be done at the house. Soon after this the fire ceased, and I established c