BUXTON GALLANTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 4884, 26 October 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

BUXTON GALLANTRY.

Bravery at Buxton does not seem to be of the highest order, to judge by the facts disclosed at an inquest held at that place on the body of a little girl, aged eight years, who was drowned in the "Wye. It was shown by the evifive men watched the unfortunate child being carried towards them by the stream without rendering any assistance. The coroner, after observing that it was one of the most '" peculiarly heartless" cases he had ever investigated, went on to say that " they could hardly imagine that they were living in'a Christian civilised country when they heard of so-called men standing on a bridge crossing a river at a point where the water was only, 2ft in depth, watching the approach of a ; child' from a distance, Rearing the poor thing's eries for help, and yet quietly walking away, without attempting to render any assistance. Such .conduct was cowardly, eontemptible} and mean to a degree, and he hoped most sincerely that it would never again be his duty to speak of a similar proceeding by beings who were a disgrace to any community. It was a painful case p every respect, and he hoped, that if those men had either heart or soul, the. thought of their conduct would occasion bitter reflection for years to coma" The jury concurred in these strong observations, and returned a verdict of accidental drowning. Notwithstanding the coroner's just indignation, it is, however, only fair,to remember that such conduet as that of the men referred to is, perhaps, mainjy attributable to civilisation. ■ The noble savage is not burdened with clothing,, and ean wade through water only two feet in depth without injury to his .-war-iirebe.