The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1909-04-30
Pluck and
Adventure.
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LUCKNOW KAVANAGH, v. c."
The present political agitation in
India turns ones thoughts naturally
back to the great Sepoy Mutiny of
1857, when countless deeds of heroic
self-sacrifice were performed by white
men. But of all the brave men who
came to the fore in India then, one
of the bravest was an Irishman-the
late T. B. Kavanagh, Assistant Com
missioner in the province of Oudh,
and the only civilian who has ever
been decorated with the Victoria
Cross. I say the only civilian, be-
cause this cross is a purely military
decoration which was instituted by
the late Queen Victoria after the
Sepoy rebellion of 1857 had been
quelled; and Kavanagh would not, in
all probability, have received his v.
c. had he not at one period of his
teer corps.
However, it was for his extreme
heroism during the second relief of
the beleaguered white garrison in
historic Lucknow that he was deemed
worthy of this distinction, and ever
since 1859 he has been known as
Lucknow Kavanagh, v. c."
One day the mutineers, besieging g
the Lucknow Residency, were heard
mining in the southern corner of the
quarters allotted to the Sikh soldiery,
who remained perfectly loyal to the
British. The engineers resolved up
on counter-mining to stop the en-
emy, and Kavanagh went down with
pistol, conjecturing that the mu-
tineers would send in some one to
see what had disturbed the miners.
Now, fighting above ground is not
agreeable, but how slight matter
compared with a death grapple in
the bowels of the earth! What try
ing ordeal must have been that first
crawl on all fours through a long,
narrow, damp mine, appalled, by the
darkness and fancy that some saw
age wretch might be at hand!
After a while mutineer descend
ed with musket and advanced to
Kavanagh's end of the gallery, where
it was pitch dark, whereas some light
fell on the mutineer. Kavanagh let
the latter come in about arms length,
and then shot him through the shoul-
der. He pursued the Sepoy and fired
again; but the cap snapped and the
man escaped, roaring with pain. The
enemy then let water into the gal
lery and it fell in
Another time Kavanagh heard the
mutineer miners at work again, with
vicious intent, doubtless, of blow
ing up the Residency at all hazards.
For two hours he sat watching for
them. At length a small hole was
made through which Sepoy thrust
a crowbar to try what it led to-for
the enemy knew nothing of Kava-
nagh's listening gallery.
AS the mutineer withdrew the bar
Kavanagh broke down the narrow
partition and put his pistol to the
mans breast. The pistol missed fire
again, and the Sepoy scrambled out
screeching with fear.
After few moments of squabbling
another mutinecr descended, cau-
tiously keeping back from the mouth
of the gallery. IT was a hazardous
moment, because whoever fired was
sure to hit.
The Sepoy advanced his musket,
and as he stopped his left arm and
shoulder became exposed, and he was
a dead man!
|. So much for the mines; but now
ensues a remarkable act of heroism
on the part of this man. g.
James Outram, Chief Commission
er in charge Of the beleaguered white
garrison, had, it is true, furnished
the general, now advancing to the
relief of Lucknow, with accurate
plans as to the best method of ap-
preaching the Residency. But it was
very important that General Colin
Campbell-then on the other side of
the Gumptce River-should have a
reliable white guide.
Swayed by this consideration,
Kavanagh impaired to native spy,
named Kanojee Lal, his wish to ac-
company this native, who was just
about to carry a secret despatch to
the general across the river.
At first tie spy positively refused
to incur any additional risk to which
the company CT another, and he a
white man, must expose him. But
after listening to Kayanagh's very
pure Hindustanee and the offer of a
fit reward, Kanojee Lal consented to
the proposal.
Colonel Napier expressed great
surprise at the offer, and deemed the
feat not only impossible but insane,
knowing only too we'll that Kava-
nagh's wife and children were starv-
ing with the rest in the Residency!
Nothing impossible" unused our
hero; and one memorable night a
''native" appeared at the officers
mess, with his sandals on! But. de-
spite this act of outrageous disre-
spect, Kavanagh's disguise was not
detected until he broke out in his
own tongue. Then, amid much con-
sternation and excitement, his tur-
ban was tenderly readjusted, his
Hindu garments were scrutinized,
and a pistol-to blow out his own
brains, if need be-was placed in his
waist cloth. Stealthi1y Kavanagh
crept through the enemy's lines, de-
ceived the searching gaze of the over
vigilant mutineers and swan the
Gumptee River.
After which the Highlanders ad-
vanced to the rescue; and then "the
sweetest of all music, the pipes at
Lucknow, played. Robert Ryan, in
Harpers Weekly.
THE STORY OF A FLAG.