THE MAN WHO BRAVED THE FLOOD.
THE STORY ON CAPTAIN LENDY"S BRAVE DEED.
In the autumn of 1893 a police force of forty men, under the command of Captain E.A.W. Lendy, Inspector-General of Police, in Sierra Leone, was sent to open a road to Koinadugu, which, owing to the war with the Sofas, had been closed.
It was no easy task to perform. The men had to cut their way through a dense jungle. This was heavy and tiring work, and, owing to the fact that for a month past they had been obliged to exist on a small quant.i.ty of rice, they were not in the best condition to undertake such labour.
However, so as to get the road finished as quickly as possible they worked from sunrise to sunset. Even the night slid not bring them rest and peace; for the rain descended in such a manner as to add to the discomfort of their situation.
On the 4th of November the force arrived at the Sell or Roquelle river. The stream was eighty yards wide. There was no bridge over it, but only a creeper rope tied across from bank to bank.
The river was very full, and a swift current was running; two hundred yards below, the noise of falls sounded a warning note, and it was known that alligators infested the district.
No wonder, then, that the natives were terrified at the idea of attempting to swim across.
Yet the river lay between Captain Lendy"s force and the food and rest it needed. So, though owing to the privations the men had endured their vital powers were at a low ebb, yet, with starvation staring them in the face they must make the pa.s.sage--alligators and falls notwithstanding.
The first to cross were two policemen, who, after a difficult journey, got safe to the other side.
Then followed a scene of excitement and danger. Private Momo Bangura and Sergeant Smith were the next pair to start. Hardly had they reached midstream when Bangura"s rifle band, slipping over his arms, pinned them to his side.
Smith gallantly went to the rescue; but it was difficult enough for him to get along alone; and, with Bangura to support, he quickly became exhausted. After shouting for help, he and his companion disappeared from view beneath the waters.
At once two other men went to Bangura"s a.s.sistance, giving Smith an opportunity of looking to his own safety.
But it seemed a hopeless struggle. Worn by their previous exertions, the men were unable to give any permanent help to Bangura, and were in their turn dragged under several times in their efforts to afford him a.s.sistance. Indeed, it now seemed that, in spite of all the bravery shown, Bangura"s fate was sealed, if not that of his would-be rescuers also.
It was a terrible predicament. Four men were struggling in the seething waters in deadly danger. Too brave and resolute to leave their comrade-in-arms, too feeble to procure his safety, they were wearing out their strength in futile though heroic efforts, whilst the object of their solicitude was at his last gasp.
At this moment their brave commander came to the rescue, and at once changed the aspect of affairs.
Diving into the stream he soon reached the drowning man; and the others, released from their burden, were now able to give their undivided attention to self-preservation.
The supreme moment had arrived. Would Captain Lendy"s efforts end as the others had done? If so, it is probable that all would have found a watery grave in the Roquelle; for, exhausted though they were, the three other men were far too fond of their commander to have left him to perish alone.
It was for a time a stern fight with death. But Lendy was cool, calm, resourceful. Yard by yard the distance between the further sh.o.r.e was lessened, notwithstanding the race of the waters toward the falls.
Foot by foot he drew nearer to safety, though the man lay like a log in the grasp of his rescuer, unable to a.s.sist in the struggle that was going on.
At length the shadow of death was dissipated; for the gallant soldier managed to land his burden on the further sh.o.r.e, which the others had already reached.
The end of the stern combat with the waters was particularly gratifying, as several men had previously lost their lives in crossing the same river.
The silver medal of the Royal Geographical Society was awarded to Captain Lendy, and a bronze medal given to his brave followers.
But, alas! Lendy did not live to receive his medal. Ere it could reach him he had fallen in a night attack which the French made by mistake upon our forces, supposing them to be natives whom they were seeking to punish. Ere the error was discovered the loss on both sides was serious, and in the conflict her Majesty was deprived of the services of a devoted and faithful servant by the death of heroic Captain E.A.W. Lendy.
The little block in this page is a reproduction of Momo Bangura"s statement forwarded to the Colonial Office, duly witnessed by his companions" signatures.
Pte Momo. Bangurah"s Statement.
My name is Pte Momo Bangurah. I am a private in the Frontier Police Force. On the 4th instant I tried to cross over the Seli River. I slung my rifle across my shoulder half way across, the sling slipped and so I could not use my arms. I sank but Sergeant Smith caught me. I dragged him down twice and called out for help.
Corporal Sambah and Parkins then kept me up but the stream was so strong, that we were taken under several times. I thought my last moment had come. I remember Captain Lendy seizing me and then I forgot everything till I found myself being rubbed on sh.o.r.e. If it had not been for Captain Lendy Sergeant Smith Corporals Samba and Parkins, I know I should have been drowned and I thank them for their a.s.sistance.
(sd) Momo Bangur
his mark.
Witnesses
(sd) Benoni Johnson Sub Inspr. F.P.
" R.W. Sawyer Sergt " S. Jenkins c.o.ker Sergt " Emanuel R. Palmer Sergt
A TEMPERANCE LEADER.
THE STORY OF JOSEPH LIVESEY.
The leader of the great temperance movement in England--Joseph Livesey, of Preston--had a very bad start in life.
He was quite poor; he lost both father and mother from consumption when he reached his eighth year; he was frail and delicate; his brothers and sisters all died young; so that he seemed ill fitted to make any headway in the race of life.
His grandfather, who adopted him, failed in business; and Joseph Livesey commenced his career by doing the work of a domestic servant, as well as toiling at the loom.
"As we were too poor to keep a servant," he says, "and having no female help except to wash the clothes and occasionally clean up, I may be said to have been the housekeeper."
But, whilst he was weaving in the cellar where his grandfather and uncle also worked, he was at the same time gaining knowledge day by day.
When his pocket money of a penny a week was increased to threepence, he felt himself on the high road to wealth, and ere long he was the possessor of a Bible and a grammar, which he set himself to study whenever he could get a spare moment.
One can scarcely realise the difficulties that lay in the way of a studious boy in those days. A newspaper cost sevenpence; there were no national schools or Sunday schools, no penny publications, no penny postage, no railways, no gas, and no free libraries, and no free education! Yet so resolute was he in his desire for education that, though he was not even allowed a candle after the elders went to bed, he would sit up till late at night reading by the glow of the embers.
It is sad enough to see the number of families that are ruined by drink at the present time; but in Livesey"s early days people suffered even more from drunkenness than they do now.
The weavers used to keep Monday as a day of leisure; and the public-houses were crowded from morning till night with men and women, who drank away their earnings to the last penny.
In the church to which Joseph Livesey belonged the ringers and singers were hard drinkers, the gravedigger was a drunkard, and the parish clerk was often intoxicated!
Living amidst so much sin and misery, this frail lad determined to strive his hardest to a.s.sist others. He found Sunday a day of rest and rejoicing to him "a feast of good things," and became a Sunday-school teacher and preacher.
So far as worldly matters went he was not at all successful in early life. Weaving was so badly paid that he tried several other trades, but only to meet with failure.
At the age of twenty he received a legacy of a few pounds; and soon after, having saved a little money, married a good and true woman, who helped him much throughout life.