BULL-DOG BERESFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 98, 22 May 1909, Page 3

BULL-DOG BERESFORD.

SOME INTERESTING STORIES OF A FAMOUS ADMIRAL. Lord Charles Beresford, who retires on half-pay. is the accepted type ol i 1 British sailor—breezy, jovial, ready to go anywhere and do anything at a mo-1 incut's' notice. Even in his middy days he was always readv to act in an emergency, and n rather funny story is told about a man whose life he saved from drowning. The vessel on which he was serving was in the -Mersey, and visitors from the shore were in the habit of coining on board to look over the ship. One of the visitors, an unusually fat man weighing over sixteen stone, was attempting to clamber up the side of Uic ship, when somehow or other he let go, and down he went plump into the water. Like a Hash of lightning young Beresford was over the side after him. He managed to get a firm grip of the fnl man, but had great difficulty in keeping him above water because of his great weight, and rescuer and rescued were exhausted when they were dragged from the water.

Tlie man uttered not a word of thanks, but turned away after a rather scornful glance at the middy. "You don't appear to be over-pleased at having been rescued from drowning,," one of the officers snapped. "Ugh!" exclaimed the big man, glancing again at the microscopic middy, "He's such a little, 'uu!" A few years later his own life was saved ill a peculiar way. It was at the Battle of Abu Klea, and he was the only man left alive working the guns. Suddenly there came a furious charge of the enemy's horsemen. The British square wavered and broke. A mule, plunging about in its death agony, kicked Itercsford over and fell dead on top of him, while the horsemen surged over them and .put everybody to tie.' sword. In a few minutes, however, the square had been re-formed and the enemy driven back. Beresford crawled slowly from under the mule.

"Now, that," he said, coolly, "that was a .brotherly act." Even the sedate air of Westminster could not damp his exuberance, for iwhen he first entered Parliament lie was still a young man.

There was a certain aged M.P. who suffered acutely from gout. To case the pain he was in the habit of taking off his boots during the debate and going off to sleep. Lord Charles resisted the temptation as long as he could. But one night, the old man having fallen into his usual doze, Beresford crept stealthily towards him and carefully hid one of the discarded boots. A few seconds later the division-hell, rang out, and Bersford marched off with an air of blameless innocence, leaving the gouty member limiting passionately for his missing boot. It appeared to have vanisilicd utterly, and in the end he had to go into the division-lobby hopping on one leg. Since 1834 only very privileged persons have been allowed to drive in Rotten Row, and one day Lord Charles wagered with some friends' that he would drive up and down the Row without being stopped by the police. | The wager was accepted nvith.alacrity. On the day fixed for the experiment a group of friends assembled near the how. They looked in vain for the braggart, and sonic of them came to the conclusion that at the last moment he had "funked." Not a bit of it! As they stood arguing, fi water-cart came* along and splashed them liberally. When they turned ta revile the driver they saw the laughing countenance of the triumphant Beresford.

Lord Charles is extremely fond of a good cigar, and once when staying at .Vi'ndsor Castle lie was enjoying a quiet Vnioke before going to bed.' One of the guards came to his room and told iliim that .smoking was not allowed in that part of the Castle. The man withdrew, but Lord Charles was not going to be done out of his smoke. There was a wide open fireplace in the room, but no lire, and he lav down on his back with his head resting on the bar- of the grate and puffed away up the .chimney.