[TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPRCTATOR."1
Sin,—Among your British heroes I should like to recall to memory my old class-fellow and comrade, Joe Hughes of the 54th Foot. He was Adjutant of the regiment which sailed for China in 1857 in the transport Sarah Sands.' Somewhere in the Indian Ocean the vessel caught fire, and the situation was most desperate. One good thing might be done. Hughes called for volunteers, who quickly responded to his call. They entered the powder magazine of the burning ship, brought out the powder, and threw it into the sea. In a way that seemed almost miraculous, the vessel was navigated into the harbour of Mauritius, and no lives were lost. In the meantime the Indian Mutiny had taken place, and the 54th were diverted to 'India, where they did good service. In one of the earlier numbers of the "Roundabout Papers" Thackeray told the story of how Hughes saved the 'Sarah Sands 'and the 54th Regiment. Brave heart ! He has long gone to his rest.—
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