about ten o'clock
He was spared the pain of witnessing the destruction of his vessel . Soon the flames got the mastery , and blazing upward like a mighty torch , threw a strong and appropriate light over the scene of battle . The greater part of the crew of the _ L'Orient _ displayed a degree of courage which could not be surpassed , for they stuck to their guns to the very last ; continuing to fire from the lower deck while the fire was raging above them , although they knew full well the dire and instantaneous destruction that must ensue when the fire reached the magazine . The position and flags of the two fleets were now clearly seen , for it was almost as light as day , and the fight went on with unabated fury until about ten o'clock , when , with a terrific explosion , the _ L'Orient _ blew up . So tremendous was the shock that it seemed to paralyse the combatants for a little , for both fleets ceased to fire , and there ensued a profound silence , which continued for some time . The first sound that broke the solemn stillness was the splash of the falling spars of the giant ship as they descended from the immense height to which they had been shot ! Of the hundreds of human beings who manned that ship , scarcely a tithe were saved .