Heroism is not yet extinct among English-speaking people, though it
may be dying in the House of Commons. In December last the American ship Cleopatra ' was descried by Captain Hughes, of the Liverpool steamer 'Lord Gough,' near the St. George's Shoal, with her colours at half- mast, and evidently sinking. The gale and sea were so terrible, that it seemed madness to help her ; but volunteers came forward, and a boat was manned, when suddenly the colours were hauled down. Captain Hughes, however, persevered, the desperate adventure succeeded, and the crew of the Clec- patra ' were saved. The United States' Government forwarded thanks and rewards to Captain Hughes and his men ; but noble as their conduct was, Captain Pendleton, of the Cleopatra,' had done a nobler thing. He was asked why his colours were hauled down, and replied, "Because we had no boats, and thought it wrong to imperil other lives in a hopeless at- tempt." The Cleopatra' was then waterlogged, and Captain Pendleton and his men faced the certainty of death by drown- ing, rather than tempt others—strangers—into danger. Honour to the name of the brave. That deed on the Cleopatra' is equal to the conduct of the soldiers on the Birkenhead,' and should live like it in song.
Previous page
