A. PLUCKY OFFICER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 9

A. PLUCKY OFFICER.

DASHING EXPLOIT IN A WEST AFRICAN RIVER. A correspondent of the Daily News, '.vriti-xg from Sierra Leone, and referring co the massacres that have been perpetrated by the natives, says that the most brutal of the outrages occurred at Rotofunk, a mission station some 55 miles from the coast. No reliable information of the massacre was received at Freetown until two or three days after the occurrence, and then "it transpired that 'four of the white missionaries had been literally hacked to pieces by the natives, while Mrs Kane, the wife of the superintendent of the mission, has escaped into the_ bush. Every effort was made to rescue this lady, and a force was despatched with orders to push through to Rotofunk without delay. On arrival at the Bibbi River, however, the force found that the natives had collected at Mabang, a town on the opposite bank, and had withdrawn all canoes and boats. As the river is over 150 yards broad and six fathoms deep, a serious obstacle presented itself. The only officer who knew this part of the country was Lieutenant W. R. Howell, of the First Glamorgan Volunteer Artillery, and a member of an old Cornish family, who had raised a force of volunteers at the commencement of the rising. He appealed to the volunteers to swim across the river and bring back as many canoes as possible, but there was no response, as not only would the swimmer have been exposed to | FVLL FIRE OF THE ENEMY, | hut the river was known to swarm with alligators. At length Lieutenant Howell, in spite of the protestations of his fellow officers, resolved to make the attempt himself. The enemy, evidently seeing what he was about to do, assembled in force on the opposite bank, but were driven back some distance and kept at bay by the firing of the British volunteers over Lieutenant Howell' s head. When the lieutenant had just reached midstream, and was in the full current, he was seen to swing round rapidly on his back, and it. was not lyjtil his return that it was found hia leg had boon seized by an alligator. It was only by swinging sharply round that ho succeeded in freeing himself, but not before his thigh had been torn and lacerated in a shocking manner. Notwithstanding this, and the fire of the enemy, the gallant officer continued his perilous journey, and at length reached the opposite bank, but only to find that his errand was fruitless, as all the boats and canoes had been destroyed. For more

than half an hour he continued his search, but, finding the enemy again pressing him, and feeling weak from los 3 of blood, he was compelled to take to the river again, and got back in safety. It is stated that the officer commanding the troops at Sierra Leone has recommended Lieutenant Howell for some special mark of recognition from the Imperial Government.