THE LAST MAN IN LUCKNOW.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8781, 8 April 1907, Page 4

THE LAST MAN IN LUCKNOW.

ilenili cii the veteran soldier, olti Sandy Maepberson, who died _ last, mouth from exposure on the road near Glasgow (saya the Scotsman), recalls an incident of undoubted authenticity as marvellous as any in tho annals ofjhe British Army. Alexander Maepherson (who, though in humble rank, was of good family, not very distantly related to the Cluny Macphersons), having enlisted when a young man in the 93rd Regiment, was at the time of the Indian .Mutiny a sergeant in that distinguished Highland corps. The fortunes of war found him amongst the devoted band of-soldiers whose lives were in deadly peril within the barracks of Lucknow when Bir Colin Campbell came to its relief. Instructions had been received by the garrison from Sir Colin to evacuate the place, and orders were issue! to the soldiers to be ready at a given hour of the night to leave Lucknow, secretly and silently. Sorgt. Ivlaopherson was one of the non commissioned officers who wens round to warn the men to keep awake and to be in readiness when tho call to leave would be given. Alas l on his return to his own quarters, Maepherson himself fell sound a deep. When the whispered command came a brother sergeant shook him by the shoulder, saying : “ Waken, Sandy ; we’re off!” and never doubting but that his sleepy comrade would follow, took his departure with the rest of tho company. But Sandy slept on, and did not waken till it -was broad daylight. When he got up and looked around, he realised his position—ho was loft alone in Lucknow barracks, with a horde ot bloodthirsty Sepoys waring to attack. He could see tho walls of the fortress lined with armed S'.poys, and eveiy loophole glistening with muskets. To use bis own words in relating the occurrence: “I said to myself, ‘ I fear it’s all up v/itli you this time, Bandy Mscpher- ; on, my boy, but it’s better to be shot than stabbed, so I tightened my belt and shouldered my musket, and esme out in full marching order in fa os of tho blacks." The Sepoys appear to have been so taken aback by the spectacle of a solitary Highland soldier appearing right in front of them, a thousand strong, and proceeding to walk across the barrack yard as calm and unconcernedly as if be were on parade, that they did not fi-e. Probably tb< y thought it was some ruse of the garrison, sending out one man, and then a rush of others would follow. Bandy was half way across the barracks befo'e a singl-. 1 shot was tired at him. When the Sepoys had recovered from their surprise, they sent volley upon volley after him, but only one shot hit him —it was a ricochet bulled which merely grazed his.leg. Bundy now ook to bis heels, and ren his hardest, with a pack of Sepoys after him, yelling and shouting, and firng their guns. Bandy had a notion cf the direction in which his friends had letired, and, following it up, found a breach in the wal l , and got out in the open, with his enemies the blacks in full cry after him- He made for a swamp in the neighbourhood, and eventually found a hiding place among the (all rushes, where I he lay in concealment till darkness | cams on. He then ventured out in rearch of the British camp, and, after wandering about for hours, he was fortunate-y discovered by a picket of friendly Bikhs, who took him into the camp. Great was the astonishment and delight of his comrades at seeing Bandy once more, for he had been given up as lost. The English officer before whom he was taken by tho guard refused to believe his story, and hnd it not been for a subaltern ; ot his own regiment who appeared on his own behalf, he would have been summarily dealt with on a charge of wilful desertion. Eventually he was taken before Sir Colin Campbell. Sir Oo'in appeared greatly amused at the incident, but got some valuable information from the belated soldier as to- the time the Sepoys discovered the evacuation, their probable strength, and the position thiy were occupying when bo left. Thu Commander-In-Chief then dismis!cd him with the admonition: “ Go row to ycuricgiment, Sergeant Maepherson, but take care you never sleep in again. You were the last man to leave Lucknow; be tho first man to enter it when you are called!”