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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
During the last war, a Frenchman invented a cork horse to set fire to British ships at Portsmouth. He tested it in Dunkirk but failed at sea; the horse washed ashore, but the inventor vanished.
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Jacket as to make a Cork Horse, on which he intended to set Fire to a
Fleet of Ships at Portsmouth. He performed several extraordinary Feats
upon it in the Basin at Dunkirk; from whence, in full Confidence of
Success, he went to Sea. But God overthrew both Horse and Rider in
the Sea; the former was found next Day on the Shore, the latter never
more was heard of. The Horse is still to be seen at Dunkirk, but the
French are both ashamed and unwilling to make a Show of it.
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Dunkirk
Event Date
In The Last War
Outcome
the inventor disappeared at sea; the cork horse washed ashore.
Event Details
An ingenious Frenchman created a cork horse to set fire to a British fleet at Portsmouth. He tested it successfully in Dunkirk's basin before setting out to sea, but both he and the device failed; the horse was recovered on the shore the next day, while the man was never heard from again. The horse remains viewable in Dunkirk, though the French are reluctant to display it.