Damn it, the last part was cut off.
When Pellew was in the Indian Ocean, a violent storm broke a mast. The drag could have rolled the ship.
Seeing this, a number of the crew broke I to the rum locker and drank themselves I to a stupor.
This an ancient nautical tradition, that is far better to drown drunk than to drown sober.
Howver, the old admiral took a boarding axe and with other crew, cut the mast away. The next morning was a rude awakening.
Pellew had a great career and his bio is a lot of fun..
When General Burgoyne came aboard the frigate, Blonde, midshipman Pellew was skylarking on the main mast by standing on his head.
Burgoyne asked Captain Pownall if the lad wasn't out of order.
Pownall replied that he was doing his head stand on his hat, so was properly attired.
Oh, and when Pellew was made a Baron, his title was Exmouth.
What in heck is an Exmouth?
"These things must be done delicately-- or you hurt the spell." - The Wicked Witch of the West.
"We've got the torpedo damage temporarily shored up, the fires out and soon will have the ship back on an even keel. But I would suggest, sir, that if you have to take any more torpedoes, you take 'em on the starboard side." Pops Healy, DCA USS Lexington.