Rescue of Sir Charles Wilson's Party

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 128, 14 April 1885, Page 3

Rescue of Sir Charles Wilson's Party

■ «, The. Daily Chronicle's correspondent says : that Lord Charles Beresf ord left Gubat on February 1. The steamer was within three miles of a smallisland, where Sir Charles Wilson' and his comrades', were anxiously waiting die' rescuing party. Despite tiie danger Lord Beresf ord resolved to peneveve <m his course, and putting on steam ran the gauntlet of the fort. Before the vessel could getclear a murderous fire. .from the heayy guns,, admirably served by the rehels, was opened, accompanied by a perfect hailstorm of well-directed Remington bullets. This terrific fire immediately took effect.' ' Lieutenant Van Kougnet ef the Eoyal Navy, was wounded in the thigh, and petty officer Edwin Curnow was killed. Almost at the same moment a couple of Krnpps were unmasked, in the fort, and were brought: te bear with accuracy upon the small craft. To this f usilade the guns of the steamer replied, while the picked shots .on » board covered the hostile gunners. So well was discipline maintained, add so firm were our brave fellows, that their guns produced almost an instantaneous effect, and the fire being sustained the steamer was soo_t able to make some progress, and a' few moments later a cheer from the crew announced that Sir Charles -Wilson and his party had been sighted but the exolamation had scarcely left their lips when a shot from the battery crashed through the vossels's side. A loud explosion followed, and for afew minutes all waa confusion. Dense volumes of steam burst from the hold, and the cry went up that the vessel was sinking. Even at this terrible moment, discipline wae not found wanting. Bursting through the clouds of steam, $he officers penetrated tha engineroom, and an examination showed that a missile' from the battery ) had ton! through the boiler, and Ihat two oi the English stokerVand severs! of the natives wer^ severely injured by }he explosion. Ih. the meantime ' ihe vessel! drifted oh a sandbank £0# yards from the fort, and there Lord Bereeford decided to anchor while the engineer-repaired the boiler. On deck the guns- were briskly, served and- a ( wel&ustained fi*e was poured, into the, battery, ahd aftei" a: while the hostile 4r* totally ceased. The boi|er 96 *! '^W&ki* '«W?S*ful effort was made to get up steam,' and." theisteampr slipped silently away and passed .out. This movement was quicMi^. discovered ' by lhe enemy, and extremely heavy volleys of musketry were sent %fter the boat. Th^i English fire, however, was reseryed for .200/ yards, wlien the 'dardner guns replied with «ff£ct., , StUl the.Aj»bs sfuck,.to their guns' but the steamer soon got beyond their range; and -shortly after? warda dropped ■ anchors .- 'Lord ■■ Beressoon afterwards embarked Sir Charles Wilson and hiß^party, when the greetings between &e£wo conunandeitf and their (mnrades were of the-heartieat. .. :c; -:\^a_Z_^_Ai_i_^_A' ■ ''■ ■■l', ■[...'.•:■'