The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-07-03
THE DEED OF A HERO.

died lately in Calcutta who performed
a deed which contributed greatly TO
save the Indian Empire. At that time,
in 1857. he was mere lad, employed
as an assistant in the telegraph SER
vice. His name was w. Brendish,
and he sent, at the risk of his life,
despatch from Delhi to Umballa,
which bore the first news of the out
break. This message. repeated TO
= every town which could be reached,
proved of priceless value Colonel
Edward Wharf, in his "Sepoy Mu-
tiny, tells the story of how, to quote
the judicial commissioner of the Pun
jab, the electric telegraph saved In
dia."
It was the custom to close the tele-
graph offices on Sunday between the
hours of and 4. On May 10, 1857.
as the operator at Delhi was about
to close his station, he received a
message from the Meerut Office an
nouncins an uprising in that section.
At 4 O'Clock. when the Office was re-
opened, connections with Meerut
were found to be interrupted.
The telegraph force at Delhi con-
sisted of the chief and two Young
assistants, Brendish and Pilkington.
The office was situated outside of the
city, about mile from the gates.
On discovering he break in the
connections, the chief sent the two
lads to test the cable across the river
They found that they could signal
to Delhi, but not to Meerut. and re-
ported the fact on their return. 1t
was too late TO do anything that
night, but the next morning Mr..
Todd. the chief. went out himself to
investigate the line He never re-
turned, and although his fate is UNI
known, there is little doubt that he
was murdered.
The office was thus left in charge
of the two lads. Signs of trouble be-
gan to be evident close at hand.
Brendish, stepping from the door,
met wounded officer, who cried to
him, For Gods sake get inside and
close your doors"
The revolt crept closer and closer
The boys felt that their lives were in
danger: soon they became sure of
it. But before they fled TO a place
of comparative safety they waited to
send out to the Indian world the
news of the revolt.
Brendish licked out the message
which caused Sir Edward to say:
An1~ % r.
little boy! With shot falling all
round him, he stayed to manipulate
the message that was the means Of
saving the Punjab."
The government rewarded Bren.
dish for his services by giving him a
life pension, and the other day the
old man died in the India he had
helped to preserve.
CUSTER AND THE BIRDS NEST.
Not many soldiers have proved so
daring in fight as was brave General
Custer.
Few leaders not having command
OF great armies have captured more
flags, guns and prisoners than were
taken by him.
Though SO dashing and brave when
he met an enemy in arms, General
Custer was gentle and tender to help.
less dumb creatures.
Once General Custer was riding
over the wide Western plains and
behind him came his troops Tramp,
tramp went the feet OF the horses.
At a certain point the generals
sharp eye caught sight of fright.
ened little bird. He saw her nest
and the young birds in it. 1t was
directly in the pathway in which he
was leading his men.
No, he would not bring sorrow to
that harmless mother bird. He
would save her young from the iron
tread of the horses.
Instantly refining his horse aside,
he commanded change in the line
of march. The troops obeyed, of
course, but wondered.
AS they advanced they saw the
nest on the ground and helpless
pretty creatures II the nest. The SOL /
diers knew then why the leader
passed them.-Henry Tamke, in the !
Brooklyn Eagle.