Contempt for Cowards,

Manawatu Herald, 25 October 1898, Page 3

Contempt for Cowards,

An amusing illustration of; the:con- . tempt which even a crowd of, city larrikins feel for cowardice of the 'currish type is supplied from America. . The survivors fron the ill-fated Boufgogne were landed a few days ago at' • NtewYork, In this case, out of a total of 7xß persons on board, 165 weresaved H. and only one of these was a woman I '■•'. The story of the Bourgogne, in brief is the blackest sea tale on record. It is not merely that women and children were Mft 1 to perish while strong men 1 saved themselves ; they were, to borrow a phrase from one account of scene, " stabbed like sheep " to prevent them struggling in the scanty boats, in order that strong men might have room. f '.The 195 survivors "were landed in due course at New York, where an immense crowd met them with a tempest ot imprecations and threats. The air was thick with curses and shouts of <• Brutes," " Cowards," and yells of •« Lynch them," But for the presence of a strong body of police, indeed, some of the newly-landed survivors might have Iteen actually lynched. But, with caps pulled over their faces, and slink- '■ ing gait, they hurried across the pier, vigorously defended by., the police and reached the ship which was to convey them to France." The wrath of a crowd knows of course, no distinctions. Even in the blackness of the Burgogne disaster there were some shining gleams of courage ; and perhaps amongst the 160 survivors who stood on the pier at. New York, cowering . under the furious contempt of the crowd, there were some brave men who • had not purchased their own lives at the cost of baseness. But it is well that the v general contempt of the race 'should pursue with,. undying hate such Snfctches ' asthose Who cut the fingers -ofwomett cHntftag to the side of the

p boat in order- to increase the chances 1 of safety for themselves. A nation is r to be judged by the things it admires or I hates ; and it will be an evil day for the world when such a story as that of } the Burgogne fails to stir the healthy r blood with anger.— •• Exchange "