Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-07-29
A STORY OF HER0ISM
Showing How Brave Men Can
Calmly Meet Death.
WRECK or THE BIRKENHEAD.
The Way This British Vessel Went
Down or the Cape Of Coed Hope.
Hest Of the Crew Were Lost and All
tho Women and Children Saved.

most Of the Crew Were Lost and Al
tho Women and Children Saved.
Visitors % Use hospital OF the old
pensioners az Chelsea win perhaps have
noticed ~ the c0ionnade a simple me.
mortal table,, placed there bv order CO
The late Queen Victoria Go record the
heroic constoncy and discipline OF the
officers and soldiers who lost their
lives In The wreck OF the transport Biz
kcnhead OF the Cape OF Good Hope on
Feb. % 1852. On Jan. IN that year, aft
or cmbarklng ro-cnfoycements amount
Ing 90 dftecu officers and 47G men for
the troops engaged In the Kaffr war.
the Birkenhcad left Ireland for o.,
cape. on board were also 1CG women
and children. The wives and families
OF soldiers. al went vvcu tu the
transport reached S;mon-s Town. where
ten officers and eighteen men were
landed. The ship continued her course
on the evening OF Feb 81 Rut the
captain in his anxiety frs quick pas
sage unfortunately Kept $50 c'osc 60 the
shore that during the night the ship
got among The rocks ulirh Tire the
coast About three mics oT Danger
point at . O'Clock IN the morning 90 the
2Gth. while all except those on watch
were sleeping peacefully ED their ham
mocks. the ship struck WITH violent
shock. The huib ~ the men az board
were young soldiers.
The rush O. water on tie I.irkcnheaf
striking was SO great shat most 90 the
soldiers on che lower troop teci. were
drowned 81 their Eaumocss Tho ~.
mainder. With 81. the officers. appeared
on deck. many only partly dressed. uud
fell 10 ~ orderly and gs quietly c~ on
the barracs square Calling thp or.-.-e
round him. Lieutenant Cc'.1a' seton
OF thc Scvcutr-fourth hi-h'ou1crs. trc
senior officer cn board. impressed oa
them The necessity FOR urcservin- or.
der and silence among tlc mon. The
services or the next senior. Ca0taip
WRIGHT. N..rtr- FIRST higLlanGers. were
placed 80 t.c disposal Of the command
or OF tic ship 20 carry ont whatever
orders he might consider essential.
Sixty men were put on tic chain
pumps on the lower after deck AMI
told or IN three relicfs Sixty moro
were put o. 20 the tackles OF the pad-
die box boats. and the remainder vvcre
brought on 10 the poop 20 ease the
Tore part Of the ship. rs chc was roll
ing heavily. The commander next or
dercd the officers chargers 10 DO pitch
cd out OF the cangvvay. The p'unrin-
and terrified horses were got M and
cast over, Eve OF them managing 20
swim ashore. The cutter was then cot
ready for the women and children.
who had been collected under the pooD
awning. and they were passed IN one
by one. There being room I'm the boat
Tor one or two more. the order was
given for any trumpeter or buglcr
boys TO be taken. young drummer
standing near was told 10y 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 of IN charge
or 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 of of
the foremost. 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
1ackles. The paddle box boat capsized
on being lowered. and the large boat
in the center OF the ship could not be
E)t 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 10 i'll. In this
extremity the commander called out,
Those who can swim jump overheard
ana make FOR the boatsw but the Of
hcers 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 and lower sank the vessel into
the deadly sea. The old transport
shivered. gave final plunge and dis
appeared, carrying with her the band |
~-S-NNo vi N|NA anu llOSG WORKING !
below Mt 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 /
workshop, the pillow and the mine, but /
all animated with the same heroic /
resolution. fortitude and chivalry-as /
sool as though they had been on their /
parade ground, with as much courage |
rs In action in the field. A few man |
lged 10 cling to the rigging of the 4
nainmast, part Of which remained out !
II water, while others got hold of float /
ng pieces Of wood and were eventually
'escued, but OF fourteen officers and
i5S men no fewer than nine officers
ND $40 men persisted, many falling
'rey to the attacks of the sharks.
which surrounded the ship in shoals.
Waiting for their victims. Every wo-
nan and child was saved.
Perhaps the greatest compliment ever
aid to the memory OF the brave was
he order of the king of Prussia for
be account Of the wreck of the Birken-
iead 10 be read on three successive
arades at the head of every regiment
n his army, and it was spoken Of in
very school in Prussia and Germany.