AN IRISH HERO.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1083, 2 March 1883, Page 3

AN IRISH HERO.

♦ A few days ago the London correspondent of the Irish Times referred to the tact that a hero, whose name had once been upon every lip, had left London, after a sojourn in a public hospital, and there were few who were aware of the fact that “ Lucknow Kavanagh” had been amongst them, had come and was g dug without recognition or acknowledgement. In the fearful days of the Mutiny this Irishman’s name was of note throughout India and throughout England for having performed, albeit only a civilian, an othcial in the “ uncovenanted service,” an act of daring which for courage, endurance,Jand self-devo-tion is not surpassed in the annals of war. It was at the time of the siege of Lucknow, during which he had exhibited generous enthusiasm and heroism. Indeed his courage so often outran discretion, trenching on the severe 0 ‘dinanc s of military di-cipline, that he more than once got into a scrape, and once at least was put in arrest for firing without orders. At length there came a time when a man was wanted to perform a duty of more than ordinary danger. To the beleagured garrison there had come the we come tidings that Sir Colin Campbell was marching to. their aid. It was necessary that some one should go forth s" meet the general and infmm him of of the peculiar difficulties of the situation The adventure was encompassed with extraordinary difficulties and danger. The volunteer who dared to undertake it should make up his mind to hold his life in his hand and face perils from which even the most foolhardy soldier of fortune might draw back without shame. The Irishman felt no fear; he offered his services without hesitation to Sir James Outt'aui) and that splendid so.dier welContinued on fourth page,

corned the devotion arid tb« “help of one whom he n cognised ns a kindred spirit. The native spv, we are told, unable to comprehend the g-i luntry of the European, drew back in presepco. of the.manifest, dan" rs of tho enterprise, but his fi art were appeased, and Kavaungh proceed'd to ad >pfc an Oriental disguise He borrowed an appropriate dress, and disguised himself as « native, tire General himself in painting his beard and dying hi-. to co. “ A t huff-past eight o’clock on the evening of the 9th of November,” says the anther of “ Soldier’s and the Victoria Cross," a most interestin'? volume by the way, Kavanagb darted on his atduons mission, followed by the prayers and best wishes of all who were entrusted with the secret. His most anxious thoughts were of his wife and children, who. bel'eved that he was to spend the night in the mines. The darkness of the hour was favour, able to the enterprise. On reaching the river Goompty they had to strip and wade across. After crossing the river they crept up a trench for about three hundred yards, till they came to a grove of trees, where they stopped to dress. A man came down to the river to wash, but fortunately he did not observe them ; they regained their confidence, and advanced towards th huts of the enemy in front. Kavunagh exchanged greetings with a matchlock man, taking care to be the first to speak. On proceeding about seven hnndied farther they reached the iron bridge across the Goompty and were challenged by a native officer. Kavasagh remained a little in the shade; ihe officer, satisfied with the answers of the guide, allowed them to pass They continued to advance along the leit bank of the river, where they were mot by numbers of Sepoys, till they readied the stone bridge, where they glided past the sentry and tound themselves in the principle street of Lucknow. Asdt was part of their policy to court rather than avoid observation they advanced along the main street, where no one challenged them, till they reached the open country, when a watchman inquired who they were. Th rough the pickets of tho enemy, through native viiliages, surrounded by the implacable foe, wading through -Bwsmps and rivers, escaping in s, manner little short of miraculous fiom extraordinary dangers, encountering Xtative guards and pickets, Havanagh sod the spy kept on their wav, and at length met s-nne •villagers, who said that they werefeeing from the Eng'ltth. They inferred from this that Sir Colin Campbell’s encampment must be dose at hand, and after losing their way, again nearly falling into the hands of tho rebels, they reached a grove about four o’clock in the morning, and Kavanagh, regardless of the remoustrauci s of tho guide, threw himself on the ground to sleep for an hour. Be * fore be had closed his eyes he was Startled with the challenge, in his native accent, “Who curies (here]’’ and sprang to his feet. Perhaps these threesimpio English words, pronoir'ced by native lips, were the sweetest words he ever heard in his life. They had stumbled upon a picket of Sikhs anil the officer in charge requested two Sowars to conduct them to the advance guard Kavanagb was almost dead with cold and fatigue, but a kindheaited officer of the 9tb Lancers supplied him with clothes and refreshments. ihe adventures of the past night seamed to him like a fearfui dr am; now that they wore past he i del scarcely realise them. The whole English camp was struck with adin ratio i of a deed unsurpassed in the annals of heroic ages, and each vied with the other in doing honour to one whom they were proud to call their countryman. Even the stern and impassive old Scottish chief— usually so sparing in his praise, so severe in his reproof was touched by the unselfish heroism of such a deed In the darkened tent unseen by human eye, Kavauagh knelt down, and expressed his gratitude to Him who had taken from the miry clay, and conducted him in safety through the hosts of the enemy. On the 14th of November he guided the army towaids Lucknow, in the attack Kavanagh leaped from his horse to save a man who was shot, and bore him to a place of safety. Later on, owing to his peculiar dress, he had a narrow escape of being shot as a spy. But such reward as is dearest to the heart of a brave man was his before long. Dashing forward under fire c f the enemy he reached the spot where stood Sir James Ouirum and his staff, .and v'as received with hj warm greeting, “It is Kavanagh,” they cried, “ three cheers for him ; he is the first .man to relieve us." The tears stood .In the eyes of the hero who had left wife and children at the call of duty, and his heart must have risen high with pride as tho cheers and praises and thanks of tho besieged rang in his •tars. His after history is of a part with fhe glorious feat fie had so successfully accomplished. Through ail -hi* manifold adventure? while attached to the army ho escaped such a multitude of perils as it would take columns fto recount. He was given the Victorian Gross, appointed Assistant Commissioner in Guide, and presented with L2bUO, not too great a recognition of ■his very reinai kanle services. That such a man could come to London to take up his abode i a a private ward of an hospital, and receive scarcely more attention than an ordinary civil servant ia India, ia a curious and significant