Survivors' Tales of Great Events. By Walter Wood. (Cassell and
Co. 3s. 6d.)—" Each of these stories," writes Mr. Wood in his preface, "is based on one or more personal interviews with the survivor of the event described. Colonel T. A. Thompson's narrative of Gettysburg is, we gather, so far an exception that it was told in Paris to the editor of the Royal Magazine, and has been put by him at Mr. Wood's service. First comes the story Of the Calliope,' which was taken out of Apia Harbour in Samoa in the teeth of a tremendous hurricane. Mr. Marshfield, who tells it, was afterwards in the wreck of the ' Victoria,' and narrowly escaped going down in the Captain' (he was transferred just in time to the Excellent'). He tells us that his presentiment of disaster was so strong that he had resolved to leave the Service sooner than go. Mr. Howton relates how he fought at Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, and Sobraon, four great battles in seven weeks. Among other events described are the battle of the Alma, the defence of Rorke's Drift, the mutiny at Meerut, the storming of the Redan, and the wreck of the Birkenhead.' This last is told by Corporal Smith, who was then a private in the 12th Foot. This is a most fascinating book,—a very happy idea, excellently carried out.
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