Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
HEROIC FEMALE CONyICrs,
They Rescue Shipwrecked Sailors on the
Coast of the Andaman Islantis.

Ahoy nescue SnlpWreckef sailors on the
Coast of the Andaman Islands.
On the % of November last there passed
over the Andaman Islands, the East Indian
penal settlement, cyclone which caused i'm
mense damage to propertysand great loss of
life. One Of the places which suffered exten-
sively from the gale Port Blair, the princi-
pal port of the islands.
1t was at this place that deed was performed
during the cyclone which will long live as an
example Of the heroism of women and which
the Indian government has now suitably recog-
nlzed. Lying off the port on that day was the
steamer Enterprise, belonging to the East In
dian marine and used principally for conveying
prisoners and provisions and supplies to the
islands. The Enterprise was caught by the
cyclone with her anchors down and no steam
up. At the height of the storm she began to
drag and in a short time she was dashed. broad
side On. upon the rocks Immediately opposite
the female convict prison. A tremendously
high sea was running and Boon the Enterprise
began to go to pieces. She had crew Of
eighty-three officers and men and one by one
they were swept by the rushing seas from the
places they had sought for safety and found
their death in the wild waters about them.
There were no lite-saving appliances at Port
Blair, and though the wreck was seen by the
officials and a number Of the convicts it was
to save the unfortunates from the wreck.
Among those who were watching the wreck
were number of female convicts, who mad
huddled under the lee of their prison walls to
escape the full fury of the gale, which was
blowing with such violence that It was impossi-
BILE for a human being to stand against it.
While the men stood silently by watching the
struggles OF the drowning men one OF the
women proposed to some of her fellow-convicts
that they try to rescue some Of the shipwrecked
seamen. Her proposition was that the con-
victs should get to the shore and there form q
human life line from the beach out into the
sea. Leaving their places of shelter they crept
on their hands and knees, holding to whatever
offered itself to their grasp, and in this manner
they succeeded in reaching the shore in the
very teeth of the gale.
The importing seas were laundering upon
the rocky shore with a violence that seemed
| to shake the very earth. The spume from
rollers was caught up by the wind and car
RED inland. making it impossible to see but
short distance and bitterly singing the
faces of every one exposed to it. Nothing
daunted by the warning clements, the female
| convicts, once they reached the shore. linked
hands, and their leader, followed by her
equally brave sisters, plunged into the sea to
save man who could be seen struggling
helplessly in the water. The women were
dashed from their feet at their first attempt
ard hurled violently upon the shore. Again
| they clasped each others hands and agar,
they sprang undauntedly into the raging
waters. This time they were more success
full, and the leader grasped the drowning
man. They then turned and the almost dead
sailor was carried safely to the shore.
Again and again did the heroic women enter
the water. and each time they returned with a
man, who, had it not been for their almost
superhuman efforts, would either have been
drowned or dashed to death on the rocks. Six
men were thus rescued, and these six were the
only persons Of the eighty-three on the Enter
prise who reached the shore alive.
1t was said at the time that these women,
convicts though they were for violating some
of the British laws. were deserving of better
fate than serving terms of imprisonment in a
penal settlement They had done a deed at
which men might have hesitated with no fear OF
being accused of cowardice. and it was felt that
their bravery should be rewarded with some
| thing more substantial than words.
The officials at Port Blair made q report of
the affair to the Indian government, and rec
commended that the authorities take such steps
as they deemed proper to show their apprecia-
ton OF the women's heroism.
The government looked into the matter and
as result 1t was announced today that the
leader of the gallant band would be released
from imprisonment, and that the terms for
which The others had been sentenced would be
very materially shortened.
This decision meets with the hearty ap-
provai OF every one acquainted with the facts
Of the case.