NARROW ESCAPES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1878, 12 August 1874, Page 3

NARROW ESCAPES.

A correspondent, rightly thinking that anything about Captain Sartorious, the hero of the wonderful march with twenty natives through the heart of Ashantee will be interesting, sends us ("The limes") the following sketch of Captain Sartorious's earlier career. It reveals the same combination of coolness and daring which alone made that gallant enterprise possible ; — v Captain Sartorious, 6th Bengal Cavalry, is the second son of Sir Geo. Rose Sartorious, X.C.8., Admiral of the Fleet. He went out to India in January, 1863, and was shortly after attached to the 13th Light Infantry, under Lord Mark Kerr. It was not long before he saw active service, for on the 6th April he was at the seige of Azinghur. The company to which he belonged, and which was commanded by Captain Jones, was in charge of baggage and ammunition, when it was ordered to the rear to help the rear guard, which was hotly attacked. At the very outset Captain Jones was shot dead, and Sartorious led on the company and dislodged the enemy, killing several with his own hand, and amongst them the man who had shot his captain. After this he was entirely surrounded, when some cavalry came to his assistance. The major in command seeing the danger of the situation, was at a loss for means of communication with the colonel, who was in front attacking a fortified village. Sartorious volunteered to carry any message, if the major would lend him his horse, his own having been killed. They did so, and Sarfcorious dashed through the enemy who fired at him all the way. One ball took off the top of his helmet, an other bruised his ancle, but he succeeded in delivering his message lo the colonel, returning to the rear-guard with another company, with the assistance of which the baggage and ammunition were safely brought up under a heavy fire. On the same day Sartorious volunteered to head a storming party against a number of rebels who were firing from a loopholed mosque, but this Lord Mark Kerr would not sanction, he considered it would be certain destruction. It was no small gratification to this young officer, then only 17 years of age, when at the close of the battle,. Lord Mark Kerr publicly complimented him upon the courage and coolness he had shown throughout the day.