New-York tribune., 1905-04-16


For valour" are the words Inscribed under the
royal crown and the Hon which occupy ths
centre OF the bronze Maltese cross forming the
noble decoration Instituted by the Iats Queen
In 1856 As the reader turns the pages OF this
book he realizes keenly that this ~yaIour-
means not only reckless courage. but often an
heroic devotion TO others that stirs an his pride
In humanity. For. over and over again, these
simple records set before US a man who on
field Of disaster turns back from safety 70 res
cue. IN the face Of fearful odds. a wounded
cOmrade. Caste does not count in these deeds:
officer or private. each risks life for the other
with equal ObliyiOUsness Of self
Charles Davis Lucas. mate. on board H. NJ s.
Hecla. in the Crimean War period. received the
first Victoria Gross 1t was during the bonn
bardment OF Bomarsund that live shell was
thrown by the enemy on to the deck Mate
Lucas picked it up and threw it overheard as
cOOlIy as if it were football-showing a spirit
which afterwsrd carried him through the ser
vice to the rank Of rear admiral A similar
deed is recorded Of Captain William Peel. who
lifted a shell with its burning fuse from among
several powder cases outside the magazine at
SebastOpO8 and threw it over the parapet. saw
ing the magazine itself and the lives OF many
men. The shell, it is said burst as Il left his
hands The Crimea furnished a long list OF
Victoria Cross men-EngIish. Scotch. Irish
who more than met the necessary qualification
OF conspicuous bravery or devotion to the cOun-
try in the presence of the enemy" A fine thing
is remembered Of Lieutenant (afterward Major
GeneraD Teesdale who. after calamity leading
the final charge at Kars eat terrible risk to
himself flung himself among several infuriated
Turkish soldiers. and prevented them from kill
ing wounded Russians lying outside the works.
Mr. Wilkins notes that this act Of courage and
humanity was witnessed and gratefully ac-
knOwledged by General MouraViefE. the Russian
commander.
The Indian Mutiny added largely to the num-
Der of Wearers OF the decoration One Of them,
William Mclean. OF the 93d H1ghIanders, was
the man who. unsupported. attacked and killed
eleven of the enemy in the main breach of the
Begun Bagh at Lucknow. thereby winning the
Victoria Cross.
Mclean was an Inverless-shire pIOughrnan be-
fore he enlisted. and rose from the ranks To
nland the regiment. and died major general It
ment he walked WITH a rolling gait. and the dTilI
corporal was rather abusive with him when learn
very poweTfgI man, that thev should cali the I COR
poraI behind the canteen in the barracks yard and
give him a good thrashiug- to which proposal Nc
Bean replied: "Toots, tOots man that would
never do. I going to command this regiment
before leave it. and it would pc an i'll beginning
TO De brought before the colonel for thrashin the
drill corporal" Mclean kept his purpose and did
I'VE 70 command the regiment going through
every rank from private to major general
Another winner of the Victoria Cross at that
place and period was Lucknow" Kavanagh, a
civilian. who. stealing in disguise through me
SepOy lines, carried to the relieving force GU
trans plans for concerted action, and who
guided its columns to the residency BY a safer
route than they would otherwise have taken A
more thrilling story than his is told OF an
other civilian who won the decoration in a night
of dauntless herOism. This was Ross Louis
Mangles. a magistrate at Patna, who vOlun-
teered to serve with little force sent to relieve
the garrison at ArTah-a garrison OF sfxty-fve
men holding out against four thousand mu-
tineers- The relieving party fell into an am
bush and was obliged to retreat under merci-
less fire from the SepOys. MangIes was wounded
at the first attack. but disregarded his own hurt
to help the surgeon in caring for the others who
were injured.
He was magnificent shot. and kept hot fire
from his post upon the enemy. little knot or
he kept together handing him loaded muSketS-
During the retreat a soldier OF the 3lth had been
shot and as ne lay on the ground implored Mangles
not to leave him. we'll knowing that death not in
too fast painless manner. would be his the
arrival OF the mutineers.
Under a hail OF lead MangleS turned 60 the man.
bound up his wounds and though food had
passed his lips for twentyfOUr hours. and sleep
had he had for fOrty-eiSht. yet he lifted him
upon his back and marched away with HIM
The man he carried big himself the
ground over which he marched sWampy rough
and dangerous yet for six long hours did he tramp.
him while firing at the harassing enemy 70 keep
them in check and enable him TO accomplish his act