The Delta independent., 1908-07-10
A STORY OF HERO|SM
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 Were 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 Bir-
kenhead off the Cape of Good Hope on
Feb. 26. 1852. On Jan. in that year. aft
er embarking re-enforcements amount
ing to fifteen officers and 476 men for
the troops engaged in the Kaffir war.
the Birkenhead left Ireland for the
cape On board were also 166 women
and children. the wives and families
of soldiers. All went well till the
transport reached Simon's Town. where
ten officers and eighteen men were
landed. The ship continued her course
on the evening of Feb. 25. But the
captain In his anxiety for 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 at = 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 a violent
shock. The bulk of the men on board
were young soldiers.
The rush of water on the Birkenhead
striking was so great that most of the
soldiers on the lower troop deck were
drowned in their hammocks. The re-
mainder with all the officers. appeared
on deck many only partly dressed. and
fell In as orderly and as quietly as 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 Ninetyfirst highlanders. were
placed at the disposal Of the command
er 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 reliefs. Sixty more
were put on to the tackles of the pad
brought on to the poop to 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 trumpeter or bugler
boys to be taken. young drummer
standing near was told by an officer
to get into the boat. but dra wing 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 or at
the foremast. the bowsprit going up in
the air toward the foretopmast. 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 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 boatsw but the Of
flcers 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 foar escape them.
Lower and lower sank the vessel iii 70
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 at the pumps.
Men of all ages and ranks they were
the colonel and the drummer boy. Of
icers of gentle birth and men from the
WOTksuoID, iuc piOW anu tnc Illne. Dut
all animated with the same heroic
resolution. fortltude and chivalry-as
cool as though they had been on their
parade ground. with as much courage
as I'm action In the field. A few man
aged TO cling to the rigging OF the
mainmast. part of which remained out
of water. while others got hold OF fioat-
ing pieces of wood and were eventually
rescued. but of fourteen officers and
458 men no fewer than nine officers
and $40 men perlshed many falling
prey to the attacks of the sharks.