MODERN PLUCK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8074, 9 January 1888, Page 4

MODERN PLUCK.

The story of Lieutenant Fegen's fight with a slaver is good reading, so is the tale of Inspector Bassett's courage at a fire. It was in May that Lieutenant (now commander) Fegen, with a pinnace and seven men, went patrolling the East African coast near Zanzibar. He had live blue-jackets, an interpreter, and a marine. "To him enter" a dhow, a peaceful looking dhow. Lieutenant Fegen sent his dingey, with his co.xswain, his one marine, and his interpreter, to speak with the dhow. That vessel opened the parley with a fire from a score of Snider riiles. Tlic marine answered in their own language with a Martini-Henri, and the nine-pounder in the pinnace joined in tho conversation. Thereon the dhow, which was, of course, a slaver in disguise, bore down on the pinnace to ram her. Lieutenant Fegen issued the order to " prepare to resist boarders," and himself rushed into the thick of the action. The Arabs were four to one, and Lieutenant Fegen accounted for two with his revolver, and for a third with his cutlass ; while Pearson, one of liis men, gave another tho point. But Lieutenant Fegen's swordarm was disabled, throe of his five werelving wounded, and 11 out of 20 Arabs appeared to have an easy chance over -ur remaining force of two. Guys and Fred Russell fought while they could stand ; am. the dhow tried to sheer off. But Lieutenant Fcgcn, his coxswain, his interpreter, and his marine were not content with a Cadmeian victory. They proved bad men to run away from. Arabs were attracted to tho shore" by the sound of firing, and they took the side of the slaver. Luckily some one in the dingey or the pinnace sljot the helmsman of the dhow; she dri'ted into shallow water and there sank. The unwounded men of the crew took to the water, and only four or five of them reached land. Lieutenant Fegen, shipping his marine, his interpreter, and his coxswain on board the pinnace, played with his nine-pounder on tho Arabs, who withdrew. He was able to save 53 out of G5 slaves, nnd of his men he lost only one killed, a seaman named Benjamin Stone. The others are reported to be doing well, and they deserve every reward that tho admiration of their countrymen can give them. Mr Bassett, an inspector of the metropolitan police, has already received some recognition of civic pluck not less than that of Lieutenant Fegen, Stone, Russell, Pearson, Guys, and the others whose names also sliould bo known. Bassett's action was not less dangerous than that in whicii they were engaged. He walked through a burning house and rescued* a half-stifled and helpless inmate. He had actually to drag this gentleman downstairs, through tho flame and smoko, to the drawing-room iioor, where it is written, " ho reoeived an ovation from tho crowd." He has received more permanent* and valuable reward than an ovation—aud a compliment from Lord Charles Beresford. These things are consolatory to read at a time when neither valour nor gratitude is precisely the most obvious and common virtue of English society. They confirm the hope that Englishmen, so gallant in almost desperate enterprises like those of Lieutenant Fegen and Mr Bassett, may not collectiyely prove -wanting in conduct when they are called on to be worthy of their fathers. The noble behaviour of a man seriously endangered by an accident to the Forth Bridge is also worthy of record. He was hanging over the water in a most dangerous position, bnt declined assistance when it came till another man who was "dazed" had been rescued.—Saturday Review.