A BRAVE DEED.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 11

A BRAVE DEED.

HEROIC CONDUCT OF A BRITISH OFFICER.

The Royal Mail steamer Bonny has arrived from West Africa, having amongst her passengers Captain Bower, British Resident at Ibadan, who was so seriously injured some time ago by the explosion of a rocket. Captain Bower is still in a serious state, and had to be removed in an ambulance from the steamer. He has, however, wonderfully improved on the voyage. The story of the accident shows that he displayed remarkable bravery, and probably saved the colony from a descent by the warlike Ilorins. On the day previous to the accident one of the Hausa troops set fire to the men's quarters. These were cohered with a dry grass, and were soon in flames. Seeing the magazine in danger, Captain Bower climbed to the roof, and began tearing the material off to prevent the fire spreading. He was, however, unsuccessful, and in a very few minutes there was a general stampede, the frightened blacks and troops running as far as they could from the magazine At this critical moment the captain dashed into the magazine, and brought nutshells, rockets, ca» fridges and powder, and succeeded in saving even the only Maxim there. Another house used as a prison contained a prisoner who had been tied to the wall of the building. Captain Bower twice rushed in to save him, but, having no knife, could not cut the bonds. Though he called for a knife, the fright ened people would not venture near, and on the roof falling in the man was burned to death. Only a few miles off an army of Ilorins was encamped, and fearing they might attack the British at Oglomoso, if they thought the ammunition was destroyed. Captain Bower next day set about testing the cartridges, shells, and rockets recovered from the niagazne. He had almost finished the task, when one of the rockets exploded, t<arii:g the. fU'sh off his knees and inflicting superficial wounds across the stomach, while two of the fingers were hanging by the skin. Captain Bower has done excellent work in the hinterland of Lagos. His reputation among the nativea was such that the Ilorin army, several thousand strong, dared not attack the British territory while he was in charge. He had as far as possible abolished slavery in the country and broken down the rule of fetish priests.