The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-06-17
A STORY Of HEROISM
Showing How Brave Men Can
Calmly Meet Death.
WRECK OF THE BIRKENHEAD.
The Way This British Vessel Went
Down Off the Cape of Good Hope.
Most of the Crew We're Lost and All
the Women and Children Saved.

the Women and Children Saved.
Visitors to the hospital of the old
pensioners at Chelsea will perhaps have
noticed in the colonnade a simple me-
mortal tablet, placed there by order of
the late Queen Victoria to record the
heroic constancy and discipline Of the
officers and soldiers who lost their
lives In the wreck OF the transport Biz
kenhead off the Cape of Good Hope on
Feb. 26, 1862 On Jan. Z In that year, aft
er embarking re-enforcements amount
ing to fifteen officers and 47G men for
the troops engaged In the Kaffir war,
the Birkenhead left Ireland for the
cape On board were also 1G6 women
and children, the wives and families
OF soldiers All went well till the
transport reached Slmon's Town, where
ten officers and eighteen men were
landed. The ship continued her course
on the evening of Feb. % But the
captain in his anxiety for a quick pas
sage unfortunately kept so close to the
shore that during the night the ship
got among the rocks which line the
coast About three miles off Danger
point Mt 2 o'clock in the morning of the
26th. while all except those on watch
were sleeping peacefully In their ham
mocks. the ship struck with violent
shock. The bulk OF the men on board
were young soldiers.
The rush of water on the Brkenhead
striking was so great that most of the
soldiers on the lower troop deck were
drowned In their hammoeks. The re
mainder, with all the officers. appeared
on deck many only partly dressed and
fell In rs orderly and as quietly rs on
the barrack square. Calling the officers
round him. Lieutenant Colonel Seton
of the Seventy fourth highlanders. the
senior officer on board. impressed on
them the necessity for preserving or
der and silence among the men. The |
services OF the next senior, Captain |
Wright. Ninety first hlghlanders. were
placed Mt the disposal OF the command
err of the ship TO carry out whatever
orders he might consider essential
Sixty men were put on the chain
pumps on the lower after deck and
told off in three reiefs. Sixty more
were put on to the tackles Of the pad
die box boats, and the remainder were
brought on TO the poop 10 ease the
fore part of the ship. as she was roll
ing heavily. The commander next or
dered the officers chargers to be pitch
ed out of the gangway The plunging
and terrified horses were got up and
cast over, five of them managing to
swim ashore. The cutter was then got |
ready for the women and children, |
who had been collected under the poop |
awning. and they were passed in one
by one. There being room in the boat
for one or two more. the order was
given FOR any trumpetcr or bugler
boys to be taken. A young drummer
standing near was told by an officer
to get into the boat, but. drawing him
self up, exclaimed that he drew mans
pay and would stick by his comrades.
The cutter then showed off In charge
of one of the ships officers. and the
women and children were safe.
No sooner was she clear than the
entire bow of the vessel broke eff Mt
'ht 'oiNihtot. NV poNoliit HVihS W. III
the air toward the forctopmast The
funnel also went over the side, carry
ing away the starboard paddle box and
boat and crushing the men ON the
tackles. The paddle box boat capsiZed
on being lowered, and the large boat
In the center of the ship could not be
got up
The men were then ordered on TO
the poop, where they stood calmly
awaiting their fate. Within n few
minutes the vessel broke In two. cross.
WISE just abaft the engine room. and
the stern began rapidly to fill. In this
extremity the commander called out,
"Those who can swim jump overheard
and make for the boatsr' but the of |
ficcrs begged the soldiers not to. as the
boat with the women and children |
would be swamped. They were young |
men In the prime of life. with all be-
fore them yet no one moved. nor did |
any sign of terror or fear escape them. |
Lower aud lower sank the vessel into
the deadly sea. The old transport |
shivered. gave final plunge and dis
appeared. carrying with her the band |
of heroes on deck and those working |
below ut the pumps.
Men of all ages and ranks they were
the colonel and the drummer boy. of
ficers of gentle birth and mcu from the
workshop. the plow and the mine. but |
all animated with the same heroic |
resolution. fortitude and chivary as |
cool as though they had been on their |
parade ground. with as much courage |
as In action IN the field \ few man
aged TO cling to the rigging of the |
mainmast, part Of which remained out |
of water while others got hold of float |
ing pieces of wood and were eventually |
rescued. but of fourteen officers and |
d5S men no fewer than nine officers |
and $40 men persisted. many falling |
prey to the attacks of the sharks. |
which surrounded the ship In shoals.
waiting for their victims Every wo-
man and child was saved.
Perhaps the greatest compliment ever
paid to the memory of the brave WAS
the order Of the king of Prussia for
the account of the wreck of the Birken-
head TO be read on three successive
parades at the head of every regiment
In his army. and ii was spoken of In
every school in Prussia and Germany.
London Globe.
There are some women who seem to be per-