The 'Trafalgar' and 'Retribution' at the Siege of Sebastopol - ILN-1854-1202-0009, Edwin Weedon, 2 December 1854

The "trafalgar" and "retribution" at the siege of sebastopol. Illustration for the illustrated london news, 2 december 1854. Engraver: frederick james smyth, drawn: edwin weedon, after a sketch by lieutenant montagu o'reilly. Read the iln the "retribution " and the "trafalgar" at sebastopol. During; the attack of the allied fleets on sebastopol, on the 17th october, the retribution was lashed ,alongside the trafalgar; at 3. 40 p. M. A shell struck the mainmast of the steam frigate about twelve feet above the deck; the top part suddenly perforated the upper and main decks, and was secured in that position while the ships remained " under fire. " this scene was, sketched by lieutenant montagu o'reilly, on board h. M. S. Retribution, and is engraved upon the preceding page. Masts shot away in battle generally fall over the side of a ship, but here we have an instance of a lower mast so suddenly snapped, that, belt before it had time to incline much, the incumbent weight of yards, sails, rigging, &c , forced it through two decks, where it lodged, after narrowly passing the boiler. Date: 2 December 1854.