1998 Masters Champion - sports
DON BLAS DE LEZO by Pirataraul
After Vernon had taken Portobelo in 1739 with relative ease (because there were more civilians than troops there), he set sail with his invading force destined for Cartagena. The English were very cautious of de Lezo when put on the offensive, but the braggart Vernon in misjudgement wrote de Lezo a letter and a challenge. He answered Vernon's letter in Cartagena: "If I had been in Portebelo, you would not have assaulted the fortress of my master, the King, with impunity because I could have supplied the valor the defenders of Portebelo lacked and checked their cowardice..." It is known Admiral Vernon left Cartagena in bitter defeat and embarassment in 1741 sailing back to England for showers of a hero's welcome.In all, Blas de Lezo had 39 years of superior sea duty that the best Englishmen would be jealous of, even the much heralded Admiral Nelson. In ending this history note, the badly defeated Admiral Vernon was vindicated and was later entombed with other British heroes at West Minister Abby. The tough, victorious Basque from Spain has no known grave. His wasted worn out body with tropical disease finally gave out on September 7, 1741, in the city he saved.When England's Admiral Nelson made his famous but unjustified remark in 1793 that the DONS knew how to make ships and not men, he had left out one truly brilliant Spanish naval hero, Don Blas de Lezo, an equal to any Englishmen who ever sailed the high seas in a SHIP OF THE LINE UNDER FULL SAIL.I also read fairly recently an article in World Coin News by Thomas H. Sebring, April 1998 issue, in which he mentions de Lezo "escaping" England's Admiral Vernon. Well it would be like two prize fighters in a boxing ring where the underdog knocks out the champion, and later the champion after waking up saying "the guy that knocked me out escaped!"There was not much information about de Lezo in English texts. I had to look in Spanish references for translations. Also there is some new info about England's disaster in Cartagena which has surfaced in recent years. Naturally, England will not publish it. They are still not up to giving this man his just dues to this day. I hope by printing this account I have helped history in some way.
