THE WRECK OF THE WARREN HASTINGS.—A PARALLEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 23, 28 January 1897, Page 4

THE WRECK OF THE WARREN HASTINGS.—A PARALLEL.

The circumstances attending the v• ■' -<- " the troopship Warren Hastinr.. r_ portedin a Calcutta r__.es.age in last evening's issue, forcibly recall to mind some of the prominent features in tho loss of, the Birkenhead, about 46 years ago. On both occasions thera was a conspicuous display of thab splendid discipline and coolness which distinguish the British soldier in the face of danger and death. The Warren Hastings struck on a dark and stormy night, but by the skilful arrangements made by the officers all bhose ..-ho were unable to swim were passed ashore on a lifeline, after which tho siviramorj W6re ordered to jump overboard and make for she shore, which they . ■■-a.-sfully reached, with the loss.of only bwu . tiros.

Tho Birkenhead waa *.."*• a troopship engaged in conveying reiufo,. -*r*-*-.i__.s composed of detachments from .steal regiments to Algoa Bay and the Buffalo i_iv.. with other troops designed for the Kailk War. , In the darkness of nighb, on tho 7th January, 1852, hugging tho shore too closely, she struck upon Danger Point, near Simon's Bay. The coolness and staady obedience to orders which tbe troops manifested on that awful and trying occasion present an example of most por feet discipline.

ft is recorded by an eyewitness that the troops paraded on deck at the sound of the bugle, and took their stations at the pumps while the ship was rolling heavily and the forepart was breaking up. There was barely time to put the women arid children into the cutter before the entire bow broke off, followed immediately afterward? by tho submersion of the stern. To the last moment the officers and men stood as if on parade, and went down together with a British cheer. Of 638 persons, 45<1 of tho crew and soldiers perished. There is a curious coincidence between these two disasters. It is recorded by Capt. Wright, of the 9th Regiment, that when the Birkenhead was just about going down, the commander called oub "ail those who can swim jump overboard and make for the boats." But tho captain and alieutenantnamod Giradob " begged the men to disobey the order, as the boat with tho women must be swamped." The narrator adds, "Nob more than three made the attempt"—a brief bub eloquent commentary on the heroism of thoso men, whose only disobedience of orders was to sacrifice their own lives in the hope of saving the helpless women and children. Tho indomitable courage which can continue unshaken in the face of such appalling danger is Qf a far higher order than thai; which is exhibited amidst the excitement of the battlefield.