Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-03-02
BRAVE BILLY SPEkE.

Heroism Of Little Enzlish Boy Who
Died In India.
Among the many stories Of peril and
sacrifice related by Sir william VIII
son Hunter in his history of "The
Thackerays in India" there is none
more pathetic than that of the boyish
heroism and filial devotion Of a little
midshipman, who died in a Calcutta
hospital just after English rule was es-
tablished there. The record of the sad
affair was gathered from the disjointed
narrative Of the ship surgeon, who told
the tale with a sob in his voice.
During the capture of Chandernagar,
the English flagship, the Kent, under
Admiral Watson, was riddled with can
not-shot and swept with grape. Cap
tain Speke and his son Billy, lad Of
IS years, were struck at the same mo-
ment.
Doctor Ives, the surgeon, dressed the
fathers wounds, and then hurried TO
the lad; but the little midshipman
would not allow his leg to be touched
until he had been assured upon the sur
geon's "honor" that his father had been
attended to and Jared we'll After be-
ing satisfied upon this point, the noble
boy said:
Then pray, sir, look to and dress this
poor man who is groaning SO badly be-
side me-"
Il have done what l can for him."
replied the doctor, as he bent over the
young fellow. "Now it is your turn"
"Sir," said the wounded LAD, Il fear
you must amputate above the joint
The old surgeon felt a lump in his
throat as he answered, MY dear, fear
l must"
But Billy Speke uttered not a word OF
fear or dismay. He simply slasped his
hands together, and lifting his eyes to-
ward heaven, whispered softly and dis
tinctly, Good God, do Thou enable me
to behave worthy of my fathers son.
The petition was granted, and
throughout the long torture of amuuta-
ton the heroic boy did not speak.
The next morning father and son
were taken to Calcutta, the father be-
Ing placed in a relatives house, while
the son was lodged in the hospital un-
der the doctors eye.
During the thirteen days Of agony
that followed. the midshipman's whole
thought was for his father. In his de-
nrium he fancied that voices told him
that his father was dead, and this aug
mented his disease and increased mis-
suffering. At last he could bear 1t no
longer. he begged for a scrap Of paper
and a pencil, and by the pickering light
of a rush, and with almost the last eff
fort Of the boyish brain, he scrawled
these incoherent words to the doctor:
"If Mr.. Ives will consider the disorder
q son must be in when he is told he is
dying and is yet in doubt whether his
father Is in as good health. If Me-.
Ives is not too busy to honor this short
note, which nothing but the greatest
uneasiness could draw from me. The
boy awaits an answer"
The boy did not await an answer"
long. The good surgeon hurried to his
dying charge.
And is he dead?" asked the boy.
mo, my dear He is almost well"
A smile illumined the fast glazing
eyes. "Thank God! 1 am satisfied
now, and ready to diew and then the
young martyr begged the doctors par
don for having disturbed him at so ear
" an hour-and died!
He sleeps in brave company, and
among all the graves in India there Is
none worthier the tribute Of tear than
that Of the boy hero, brave Billy Speke.