DARING DEEDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6065, 31 December 1897, Page 3

DARING DEEDS.

■ (Cassell's Family Magazine.) The cutter Swallow was cruising off the south end of Zanzibar Island one autumn day, when a boat was sent off to Uzi Island. Several of the men went ashore to cook supper, and the- two left in charge thought the circumstances favourable enough for a bathe. The boatswain (Thomas M'Dennott) was idlj watching their elephantine gambols when he suddenly espied a large shark making for one of the men, and only a few feet away. For the glory of the English name, it is to be hoped that any other sailor would have done what M'Dermott did then, but doubt is pardonable. There was no time to give an alarm ; there was time, in fact, for nothing except one desperate thing, and the boatswain was the man to do it. He wasted no time in a plan of campaign; he simply obeyed his instinct. With one huge leap he sprang right across the shark and dropped with a terrific splash in the water almost on the top of the fierce monster. The sudden noise alarmed it. With a rush it shot away, and before it had time to realise the truth the men were all safe in the boat. This is one of those shark stories which sound extravagant enough for elementary fiction, but it is gospel truth, and if after reading it anyone is mad enough to say that British pluck is a forgotten quantity, he deserves as bad a fright as the brave boatswain administered to THE BAFFLED SEA-TIGER. There are curious well stories in connection with the famous Stanhope medal. One relates to a feat of great daring on the part of one officer, and of exceptional strength in another in India. A trumpeter crossing the compound of Captain Holmes 1 bungalow fell into a well. An alarm that was raised brought Captain Holmes and likewise Captain M'Rae upon the scene. They had been anticipated by another gentleman, a Mr Grose, who had let down a rope long enough to reach the soldier, but it seemed that he was unable to take advantage of it, for he had made no attempt to secure a hold. From this it became evident that he was seriously injured, and it was seen that the only chance of rescuing him was a swift descent on the part of one of them. The well was fifty-five feet deep, and contained twelve feet of water, so that there was great danger that the man would drown unless help went quickly. Captain Holmes claimed the right to go, but he was a man of great size and weight, and as the rope was only a one-strand tent-cord it was practically certain that it would not bear him. Captain M'Rae therefore established his claim. The officer went down hand over fist, and found when he reached the bottom that thesoldier wasinsensible. He wastherefore compelled to hold on to the rope as well as he could, and at the same time carry the body of the helpless man. Owing to the confinett space and the lightness of the rope,. the task of raising the. men was a somewhat, embarrassing one. It was solved, however, by Captain Holmes, whose enormous strength came in well.. He alone did the heaving, and the others, standing behind, held the successive hauls. Bit by bit the two men rose. The rope was groaning ominously, and at each heave of the hauler's powerful muscles it creaked as though the strands could hold out no longer. They got to within twelve feet of the top before THE DREADED CATASTROPHE happened, then crack ! the rope parted and down plunged the men into the depths of the well. Those above heard a tremendous splash, and listened anxiously for other sounds. Happily Captain M'Kae l-etained his senses, and when they came to the surface he was still able to cling on to the insensible man. Another', rope had been sent for, and when it arrived it was quickly sent down. This time all went well. The rope was strong enough to withstand the weight of the men as well as the ponderous strength of the officer at the top. In a few minutes they were brought to the top, and willing hands dragged them into safety. On the whole, there are not likely to be many who will cavil at the decision of the Court to award a Stanhope medal to gallant Captain M'Kae. The second well story is of a somewhat different character. It is also, however, an Eastern one. In this case some coolies were at a work in a cylinder under water in connection with the municipal works at Seng Bridge, Singapore. They were accustomed to ascend a^d descend in buckets only three feet in diameter. One day a rush of foul gas took place, and the men in the cylinder fell insensible. Their fate was almost a matter of seconds, but, immediately, a gentleman named Meyer offered" to descend. He was let down by means of a rope, and brought tip one of the coolies on it. He then took a good breath and went down again after number two. Short as the interval was it proved fatal to the man whose turn came second. Hi- ileyer brought him up still breathing, but lie died two minutes after. The other man recovered. The fatal termination to the accident is proof of the danger run by Mr Meyer.