The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-04-30
HAVE RECORDS FOR BRAvELY.

HAVE RECORDS FOR BRAVELY. Members of Parliament Who Have
 Played The Part of Heroes.
 The British House of Commons is eminently peaceful looking assembly, yet it includes among it's members men who have had their full share of dead ly peril and daring adventure, writes a correspondent of the Pittsburg Gazette. The fighting in South Africa proved that there were politicians who were quite as ready to do their part in battle as in Parliament. Several honorable gentlemen who have now re- turned to peaceful pursuits saw des- perate fighting on the veldt, and one, lat least, was recommended for the coveted Victoria Cross. This was front with the Imperial Yeomanry, acted as aid-de-camp to Sir Charles Warren, and rescued a comrade under a terrific fire during the fight at F'aberspruit. Winston Churchills ad- ventures during the war are fresh in peoples minds. But the member for Oldham had seen hard fighting long before Brition and Boer appealed to the arbittrament of the god of battles. He fought with the Spaniards in Cuba, saw service with the Malakand field force land was at Omdurman with the Twenty-first Lancers, whose famous charge on that memorable day will not readily be forgotten.
 Another member of Parliament who distinguished himself greatly during the late war is Major J. E. B. Seely, who represents the Isle of Wight at St. Stephens. Major Seely gained the Distinguished Service Order during the campaign, and the manner in which he and a handful of Yeomanry covered the retreat of their comrades, who had suddenly come upon a large party of concealed Boers, won them unstinted praise.
 Major Seely is also one of the crew of the Holland bay lifeboat, and it is not strange that in the Isle of Wight they think Highly of his courage. Some time back he swan with line from the lifeboat to a sinking French ship, and
 
 lives. For this act of gailantry he re- ceived the thanks of the French Government, and he enjoys the dis tinction of being the only lifeboatman in Parliament. John Burns, however, has saved a man from drowning. In his younger days the member for Bat terson was engineer on board steam er in the Niger, and on the cry of Man overboard!" being raised he jumped into the river and effected a rescue.
 Sir William Allan, the veteran mem- Der for Gateshead, once made the ac- quaintance of the inside of a prison as a result of his love for adventure. When a young man Sir William, then a marine engineer, saw a good deal of the world, and faced many perils of the sea. During the war between the Northern and Southern State the young Scot enganged in the exciting yet dangerous pursuit of blockade run ming, but on one eventful night the steamer of which he was chief engineer fell a prey to a Federal cruiser. The engineroom where Sir William remained awaiting his fate was invaded by a Yankee officer, who, hearing an ominous rush of water, jumped to the erroneous conclusion that the young engineer was sinking the ship. With a fierce gesture the Federal officer leveled his revolver at the head of the Scot, but it was not fated that the latter should die that day, and though he suffered imprisonment for his blockade running exploits, he was ultimately lit tie worse for the experience.
 No man in the House of Commons has more adventurous career than MT. J. J. O'Kelly, the member for Ros- common. Forty years ago MT. O'Kelly enlisted in Frances Foreign Legion and saw fierce fighting with the Arat | tribes of Algeria. A year or two later his regiment was ordered to Mexico tc
 support the ill-fated Emperor Maximil- 1 ian, and here, after taking part in a number of engagements, the young Irishman was made a prisoner by the enemy. MT. O'Kelly, however, escaped
 and after many exciting adventures succeeded in reaching United States territory. His next exploit was g journalistic one. Cuba was in revolt 1 and an American newspaper intrusteG
 MT. OKelly with the perilous task oi
 penetrating the insurgent lines in order l to gather at first hand the reasons fol
 the insurrection. The Spanish mili- tary authorities in the island were DO lite but ,, firm. They intimated to the
 correspondent that if they captured him in attempting to join the enemy they would have him shot. This die
 not deter MT. O'Kelly from making tht | attempt and ultimately he succeeded
 On his return he was taken prisoner b.
 the Spaniards and thrown into a dun
 geon. Threats and cajolery were ap piled with the object of inducing hin
 to betray the military disposition O the insurgents, but he remained re ] solutely silent. Eventually he wa
 sent prisoner to Spain, and there hi
 friends were able to obtain his release
 But MT. O'Kelly adventures were no
 yet over. He accompanied the Unite,
 States troops in their campaign agains 1 the redoubtable Sitting Bull and h
 saved the life of the Emperor of Braz