No preface
The book was originally serialised in 14 parts at 7d per issue and could be subscribed to. It was last re-issued 1895-97 by Cassell & Co.
The first chapter (1–14) serves as an introduction to the book and gives a comprehensive definition of heroes and heroic behaviour, including a history of the word hero and its changing meanings from classical antiquity to the present.
[1] “In very early times a hero was regarded as a person intermediate between gods and men, and usually, on one side or the other, of divine descent. Founders of great cities and the ancestors of great races of men were worshipped with divine honours, but the divine origin of a hero was not insisted on. The Heroic Age, properly so called, lasted for an uncertain period (perhaps for 200 years), and terminated with the immediate descendants of the Greeks who returned from Troy. In Homer the word hero frequently occurs, but in a totally different sense; it is applied to warriors, without reference to individuals of peculiar merit; in other instances it is used as a mere expletive, and is applied promiscuously to kings, [2] counsellors, or wise men, and is not limited to warriors. It was in the age succeeding the Homeric poems that the word hero was associated with the superhuman and divine. When the Greeks looked back to the warlike legends of the earlier race who had borne the title – the lays, exploits, and persons were called heroic; and from the combined effect of poetical exaggeration, reverence for antiquity, and traditions of national descent, the more modern Greek use of the word arose, carrying with it notions of mythical dignity, and superiority to the later races of mankind. Past events were magnified, human leaders were transformed in imagination to protecting genii or daemons, and were to be worshipped, appeased, propitiated, as the gods themselves. It need not be said that the use of the word hero in our own time conveys no such idea. A hero may be defined as a man of distinguished valour, intrepidity, or enterprise in danger; heroism, as the qualities of a hero – bravery, gallantry, intrepidity, daring, courage, boldness, magnanimity, self-sacrifice. But even this definition must be placed under certain restrictions and limitations. For example, daring is not heroism when it is mere daring, and courage is not heroism when it is mere brute courage. The acrobat who risks his life to gratify the prurient taste of a frivolous audience may be daring and courageous; the man of science who risks his life in solving a problem that shall benefit all humanity is a hero; the reckless adventurer who, for the mere love of adventure, courts death in a thousand forms, may perhaps command our admiration for his pluck, but the scientific explorer who sets before him some great object, having for its result a definite good, and to accomplish this, sacrifices comfort, health, it may be life itself, that man we designate a hero. Even with these restrictions the subject before us is a large one, for the age in which we live has produced more great men than any age in the world’s history. Exploration, scientific discovery, philanthropic effort, never had so many representatives as they have to day. In religion, science, politics, literature, there stand forth an army of original men who are heroes, men who look ‘through the show of things into things’, men who are leaders of their fellows, modellers of opinion, harbingers of results to which the world aspires, of higher knowledge, more solid peace, better days. One has but to think for a moment, and a hundred names recur to the memory, of men whose deeds are held in universal estimation, whose names are familiar as household words, whose virtues are taught to the new generation springing up around us; and it is not presumptuous to say that in no other age in the history of the world could such names as Wilberforce, Andrew Reed, John Williams, Moffat, Carey, John Franklin, Fowell Buxton, Florence Nightingale, Howard, Raikes, Livingstone, Bishop Patteson, Havelock, Elizabeth Fry, Goodenough, have taken such a hold upon the heart of the people. It is not, however, to the men and women whose praises have sounded in every home in the land, that we shall look exclusively for our heroes and heroines. Wherever we find a life that has been devoted to energetic and praiseworthy efforts for the good of others, there we shall find material for our pages. For it is not the brilliant career that constitutes heroism, and perhaps there is a national tendency to pay homage to those whose praises are the theme of general panegyric, and ignore those who, with equal heroism, have toiled and passed away unhonoured. There are many who labour in spheres of usefulness just as important, entailing as much self-denial, as much bravery, [3] as was demanded of those whose efforts have brought them into world-wide celebrity, and yet from the nature of their enterprises have had little or none of the applause, and have never surmised that their names would ever be inscribed on any hero-roll. If the ‘History of Heroic Failures’ were to be published, it would be found that those failures were but the stepping-stones to others’ successes, and that oftentimes the laurels have been placed upon the wrong brows. We read with pleasure of the few who, with Government to back them, have fought the battle of the slave abroad; but how many gallant heroes and heroines have fought the battle of the slave at home? Think of those who struggled for the freedom of poor factory children in our own land, and secured the passing of the Factory Acts; of those who espoused the cause of the dressmaker, and redeemed her from the cruelty of oppressive hours in poisonous atmospheres; of those who fought in the interests of dumb animals and found them protection; of the originators of countless charities; of the organisers of schemes innumerable for the welfare of weaker men. It is not necessary that publicity should be given to such labours, it is no part of heroism that heroism should be known, still this phase of the subject will receive careful treatment in these pages, since the knowledge of great works accomplished by apparently feeble hands, and with altogether inadequate means, may stimulate others into imitation, who might else be repelled by those startling acts of heroism which attract universal attention. Having thus ascertained in what respects the modern Hero differs from the ancient, and in what his Heroism consists – having, in short, ‘defined our terms’, to use one of Dr. Johnson’s favourite expressions – we may now proceed to indicate the scope of the work before us, and the manner of treatment which will be adopted.”
The chapter then characterises the many types of heroes that are the subjects of the subsequent chapters:
Heroes of the Faith/the heroism of religion; Philanthropic Heroes/the heroism of brotherhood; Conscientious Heroes/heroes on behalf of Principle, Patriotic Heroes/heroism on behalf of country, Every Day Heroes/heroism in the cause of duty, Scientific heroes/heroism in the cause of science, Spontaneous Heroes/heroes of circumstance.
Contents
Volume IChapter I On Heroes and Heroism
A Hero Defined – God’s Heroes – Philanthropic Heroes – Conscientious Heroes – Patriotic Heroes – Every-day Heroes – Scientific Heroes – Spontaneous Heroes 1
Chapter II The Slave Trade
Slavery in Early Ages – Slavery consequent on the Discovery of America – Heroic Efforts for the Abolition of the Slave Trade – Description of the Slave Trade – Methods of Capture – The March to the Coast – The Middle Passage, or Conveyance in Slave Ships to Destination – John Newton – Alexander Falconbridge – Mortality – Landing of the Slaves – Sales by Auction, by “Scrambling,” by Purchase in Bazaars – Separation – “Seasoning” on the Plantations 15
Chapter III Heroes of the Slave Trade Abolition
Opinion of York and Talbot, Attorney-General and Solicitor-General of England – Slavery in England – Granville Sharp and Runaway Slaves – The Ship Zong – Clarkson and his Prize Essay – The Anti-Slavery Society – Wilberforce – A Twenty Years’ Battle on behalf of the Slave – The Slave Trade Abolished – Thomas Fowell Buxton – Zachary Macaulay – The Slaves of the West Indies Emancipated – The Day of Release 24
Chapter IV Efforts for the Extinction of Slavery
The “Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and for the Civilisation of Africa” – Prince Albert’s First Public Address in England – Modern Aspects of the Slave Question – African Explorers – Expedition of the Khedive of Egypt under Sir Samuel Baker – Difficulties in Starting – Dangers of the Enterprise – Opposition of Officials – Capture of Slave Ships – The Slave Establishments of Abou Saood – Kabba Réga - The Poisoned Cider – A Night Attack – Escape – A Perilous Journey – Failures and Successes 41
Chapter V The Gospel in South Africa
The Pioneers of Missions to South Africa – The Moravian Brethren – Schmidt’s Narrow Escape from a Tiger – Vanderkemp – His House left unto him Desolate – John Campbell: his Bravery and Timidity – William Threlfall, Jacob Links, and Joannes Jagger – Treachery and Murder – Robert Moffat – Teaches the Boer a Lesson – Settles among the Bechuanas – Moffat’s Wife – The Translation of the Scriptures into Sechuana – Moffat with the Tiger and the Serpent – An Encounter with the “Rain-makers” – David Livingstone – His Adventure with a Lion – His Heroic Labours as Explorer and Missionary 53
Chapter VI Colliers and Collieries
Dangerous Callings – Every-day Heroism – Unrecorded Lives and Deaths – The Barnsley Colliery Explosion, 1866 – Parkin, Jeffcock, Civil and Mining Engineer – His Death with the Brave Band of Explorers in the Mine – A Startling Incident and a Gallant Rescue – Scene in the Rhondda Valley, 1877 – The Flooded Mine – Buried Alive – Cutting a Passage through the Coal – Dangerous Gases – Imprisoned Air – The Last Grand Effort – Release of the Five Men buried for Ten Days in the Mine – Story of George Jenkins, one of the Saved 70
Chapter VII Perils of Scientific Discovery
Sir James Young Simpson – Experiments with Sulphuric Ether and Chloroform – Opposition – Battles of Science, and Men who Fought them – Peter of Abano – Cecco d’Ascoli – Columbus – Mgalhaens – Copernicus – Bruno – Roger Bacon – Boyer – Jenner – Palissy – Pyre Smith – Sir Humphry Davy – Experiments with Nitrous Oxide and Carburetted Hydrogen – The Safety Lamp – Michael Faraday – John Macgillivray – Attacked by Savages – A Martyr to Science – Dr. Anstic – His Heroic Labours – His Death 84
Chapter VIII Life-Boat Heroes
Lionel Luckin – The Royal National Life-boat Institution – A Scene on the Coast of Cornwell – A Gallant Rescue – The St. Ives Life-boat Men and the Emperor of the French – The Mincing Lane Life-boat – A Twelve Miles’ Pull on a Rocky Lee-shore – The Life-boat Men of Ramsgate – The Fatal Goodwin Sands – Wreck of the Fusilier and Demerara – A Fearful Night’s Work – Gallant Rescue of a Hundred and Twenty Lives 99
Chapter IX Eldred Pottinger, The Hero of Herat
The Brothers Zeman, Mahmoud, and Soojah, and their Doings – Eldred Pottinger – His Boyhood, and Gunpowder – Goes to India – Appointed to the Political Department – Volunteers to Penetrate through the Countries between India and Persia – Starts, disguised as a Cutch Horse-dealer – Then as a Mahomedan Syud – Captured by Yakoob Beg – Stratagems and Narrow Escapes of Detection – Enters Herat – Interview with Shah Kamran – Volunteers to Assist in the Defence of Herat – Goes as Envoy to the Shah of Persia – His Heroic Conduct – Shames the Cowardice of the Vizier – Saves the City 117
Chapter X Heroes of Cabul in the First Afghan War
War Proclaimed against Dost Mahomed – The Army of the Indus – The Bolan Press – Siege of Ghuznee – Captain Thomson Blows up the Gate – Colonel Dennie’s Storming Party – Flight of Dost Mahomed – Shah Soojah Enthroned – Life at Cabul – Insurrection in the City – Murder of Sir Alexander Burnes – His Adventurous Life – Progress of the Insurrection – The British Envoy, Sir W. MacNaghten, Murdered by Akbar Khan – The Retreat from Cabul – The Massacre in the Khoord-Cabul Pass – Heroes 128
Chapter XI Heroes of the First Afghan War
Jellalabad – Sir Robert Sale – His Gallant Disobedience – Heroes of Jellalabad – George Broadfoot and his Remarkable Regiment – “Tools or your Life” – Approach of Akbar Khan – The Great Earthquake – Henry Havelock – His Military and Religious Life – A Sunday Service in the Camp – The Attack on Akbar Khan – Victory – Arrival of General Pollock and the Army of Relief – Successful March of the Combined Armies – Utter Defeat of the Afghans – Story of the Hostages – Their Deliverance – Reunion of Sir Robert and Lady Sale – Triumphal Entry into Cabul – Subsequent History of the Actors in the Drama 139
Chapter XII Heroes of the Victoria Cross – Crimea
Design of the Victoria Cross – Granted for Individual Heroism, and for Heroism of Bodies of Men – First Distribution of the Victoria Cross – Gallant Rescue by Sergeant-Major John Grieve – The Battle of the Alma – Royal Welsh Fusiliers (23rd) – Storming the Great Redoubt – Death of Young Anstruther – Luke O’Connor and the Regimental Colours – Captain Bell Capturing a 32-pound Howitzer – Lieutenant Loyd-Lindsay’s Gallant Defence of the Colours – The Battle of Inkerman – Sir Charles Russell Dislodges the Russians from the Sandberg Battery – Naval Heroes – Captain Peel and the Live Shell – John Sullivan Planting a Flag-staff under Heavy Fire 152
Chapter XIII A Prison Hero
Prison Treatment in the Eighteenth Century – Early Life of John Howard – Marriages – Sorrows – Bedford Goal – State of English Prisons – Howard becomes the Champion of the Prisoner – Receives the Thanks of the House of Commons – His Perseverance and Fearlessness – The Bastille and Dungeons of the Inquisition – Quells an Insurrection – In Foreign Courts – The Plague – Travels Abroad in Disguise – Voluntarily Enters a Plague-stricken Ship – Endures Quarantine in Venice – the Last Journey – Death 163
Chapter XIV Prison Heroines
Abuse of Capital Punishment – State of Newgate Gaol – Elizabeth Frye and Anna Buxton Visit Newgate – Story of Elizabeth Fry’s Life – “Association for the Improvement of Female Prisoners” – Character of Elizabeth Fry – Story of Sarah Martin, the Yarmouth Dressmaker – Her Labours in Workhouse and Hospital – She Visits a Prisoner in Yarmouth Gaol – Her Labours in the Gaol – Sunday Services – Establishes a School – Her Account-book – Her Death and Memorial 177
Chapter XV Early Arctic Heroes
Sir Hugh Willoughby – Frozen to Death – Sir Martin Frobisher – The Gold Land – Henry Hudson – Mutiny – Left to Die – Behring: His Shipwreck and Death – Sir Edward Parry – The Croker Mountains – Wreck of the Fury – To the North Pole in Boats – Captain Lyon – Preparing to Die – Mr. Felix Booth – Captain John Ross – Abandonment of the Victory – Providential Escape 191
Chapter XVI Sir John Franklin and His Companions
Franklin’s Early Passion for the Sea – How he Spent a Holiday – Fights under Nelson at Copenhagen and Trafalgar – Wrecked on a Coral Reef – The Coppermine River – A Perilous Journey – Starving to Death Back’s Desperate Adventure – Dr. Richardson’s Gallant Attempt to Swim the River – The Murder of Hood – A Cannibal – Righteous Retribution – A Melancholy Reunion – A Turn in the Tide – Deliverance – The Erebus and Terror – Into the Unknown 204
Chapter XVII The Fate of Franklin and His Companions
Search Expeditions – World-wide Interest in the Cause – The Graves and Relics on Beechey Island – The Eskimo of Boothia Felix – Their Story of the Fate of the Crews – Dr. Rae – Lady Franklin sends out the Fox – McClintock – A Terrible Suspense – Narrow Escape – Traces of the Missing Crews – Sledge Parties – Hobson’s Wonderful Discovery – The Record of the Fate of the Erebus and Terror – Hobson and Allen Young – The Arctic Pantheon 215
Chapter XVIII Searches for Sir John Franklin
Captain M’Clure – Sails to Behring’s Straits by way of Cape Horn – A Dangerous Coast – Fast in the Ice – Discovers the North-West Passage – Lost in the Snow – Gallant Conduct of Sergeant Woon – A Tussle with a Wolf – Starvation – Thirty Men go forth to Die – A Marvellous Apparition – Help at Hand – Bellot – Dr. Kane – A Midnight Surprise – Frozen and Dying – A Relief Party – The Brig Abandoned – Safety at Last 232
Chapter XIX Aeronauts
Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier – Descent of the First Gas Balloon – First Balloon Ascent in England – Sadler’s Attempt to Cross the Irish Channel – Mr. Green’s Voyage to Germany – Cocking’s Parachute – A Tragedy – Glaisher’s Travels in the Air – A Narrow Escape – Coxwell – A Cling for Life – Balloons in War and in Arctic Exploration 248
Chapter XX The Source of the Nile
Krapf and Rebmann – Captain Speke – Burton – Their Illness – The Expedition of Speke and Grant – Rumanika – King M’tesa – The Victorian Nyanza – Meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Baker at Gondokoro – Mr. Baker’s Expedition – His Wife – Opposition – Failure to obtaining Escort – The Turkish Traders – Mutiny – “Food for the Vultures” – Attack of Latookas – Fever – King Kamrasi – Mrs. Baker’s Illness – Success! 259
Chapter XXI An African Hero – Cameron
Object of Cameron’s Journey – His Companions – The Start – Death of Young Moffat – Attacks of Fever – A Sad Farewell – A Gloomy Christmas – Secures the MSS. Of Livingstone – Vexatious Delays – Portuguese Slave Dealers – A Brush with the Natives – Bloodless Victories – Cameron’s Patience and Endurance – “The Sea! the Sea! – Benguela Reached – Results of the Journey 280
Chapter XXII Victoria Cross Heroes – India
Outbreak of the Mutiny at Delhi – The Nine that Kept the Magazine – The Blowing up of the Storehouse – Willoughby, the Hero of Delhi – Sattara – Lieutenant W. A. Kerr believes in his Own Men – Tests their Pluck and Proves his Own – Attacks the Garrison of the Enemy – Drives them from their Position – Wins the Day – Dinapoor – Mr. Wake, Mrs Vicars Boyle, and the Defence of Arrah – Private Dempsey’s Heroism – Gallant Conduct of Mr. Ross Lewis Mangles and Mr. M’Donnell – Delhi – How Lieutenant Hills Fought and Fell, and Major Tombs Rescued him from Imminent Death – Major Renny – The Victorious March of Havelock – Young Havelock at Lucknow – The Perilous Journey of “Lucknow” Kavanagh – Narrative of his Adventures and Successes – The Storming of Delhi – Blowing up of the Cashmere Gate – Officers of the Medical Staff – Private Ward’s Intrepidity – Bravery of Privates Ryan and McManus – Dr. Home’s Splendid Defence – Dr. Bradshaw’s Gallantry – Devotion of Surgeons M’Master and Jee – Concluding Remarks 292
Volume II
Chapter I Some Heroes of the Coast
The Fame of our Coast Heroes – The Story of John Ellerthorpe – Saves Thirty-nine Lives – Narrow Escapes – Gallant Exploits of Coastguard men – William Jennings – Strange Adventure of John Mantle – Gallant Exploits of Coastguard Officers – The Wreck of the Ann Mitchell – Captain Wasey – Residents on the Coast – Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton and the Cromer life-boat – Major Festing – Major Elyard – Lighthouses and Lightships – A Noble Sire and a Worthy Son – The Longstone Lighthouse and its Inmates – Story of Grace Darling – The Wreck of the Forfarshire 1
Chapter II A Christian Soldier – Sir Henry Havelock
Early Adventures – Family – “Old Phloss” – Contemporaries – A “Saint” – Obtains a Commission in the Army – Arrives in India – His Marriage – A Liberal Spirit – Slow Promotion – The Persian War – A Gallant Deed – News of Indian Mutiny – Wrecked off Ceylon – Battle of Futtehpore – “The March of Fire” – Battle of Bithoor – Moral Heroism – Supersession – Sir James Outram, the “Bayard of India” – His Noble Self-Sacrifice – Havelock Enters Lucknow – His Death 19
Chapter III Great Engineers
The Eddystone – Henry Winstanley – The Fatal Storm – Heroic Failure – John Rudyerd – The Lighthouse of Fire! – John Smeaton – Dangerous Labour – Driven out to Sea – Sir Walter Scott – Unknown Heroes – A Terrible Strait – John Metcalfe – Stories of Blind People – Metcalfe’s Wonderful Courage – His Walk from London to Harrogate – His Labours and Amusements – Takes to Road-making – Builds a Bridge – Makes a Name – Brunel and the French Revolution – His Courtship and Marriage – Witty Inventions – The Thames Tunnel – Flooding of the Works – Heroic Conduct of Young Brunel – A Fatal Occurrence – Isambard Kingdom Brunel – Constructs the Great Western Railway – The Great Eastern Steamship –The Napoleon of Engineers 34
Chapter IV Florence Nightingale
Noble Philanthropists – A Childhood of Promise – The Home at Lea Hurst – Miss Nightingale Visits the London Hospitals – Volunteers as Nurse in the Kaiserwerth Institution – Visits Continental Hospitals – Establishes a Home for Sick Governesses – The Hospitals at Scutari – Defective Arrangements – Terrible Mortality – Gigantic Difficulties and how they were overcome – The “Sisters Quarter” – Testimonies – Her Extraordinary Influence over the Sick – The Nightingale Fund – The Influence of Example – New System of Nursing introduced – Brave Volunteers – Perpetuity of her Work 51
Chapter V Pioneers and Pathfinders
Non-scientific Explorers – China and Japan – The Jesuit Missionaries of China – Mr. Cooper’s Search for a Trading Route between China and India – Pigtail and Petticoats – In Peril of Discovery – Household Gods – Passports – Mountain Passes – Reaches Eastern Tibet – Attacked by Brigands – Imprisonment – “The Dauntless Spirit of Resolution” – Augustus Raymond Margary – Saves Forty-two Lives – Appointed Guide and Interpreter of British Mission – Passes through China – Fêted at Bhamo – Massacred at Manwyne – The “Land of the Rising Sun” – Assassinations – Mr. Rutherford Alcock – His Daring Journey – Attempt to Massacre the British Legation – Marvellous Escape – Scene after the Attack – The Hour and the Man 61
Chapter VI David Livingstone
His Early Career – Linyanti, the Capital of the Makololo Country – Sekeletu, the Chief – Up the Zambesi – To Loanda – Christian Influences – Attacks of Fever – A Pleasant Picture – The “Smoke-resounding” Falls – Returns to England – His Reception – Again Visits Africa – The Ma-Robert – Poisoned Arrows – The River Shire – Arrival of Livingstone’s Wife – Her Death – In Memoriam – The Lady Nyassa – Returns to England – The Third and Last Great Journey – The Nile Sources – Reported Death of the Great Traveller – A Search Expedition – Lost and Found – Mutiny and Desertion – Disappointed Hopes – At Ujiji – “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?! – Stanley’s Timely Help – Journey to the Coast – In Westminster Abbey – The Heroism of Suffering 78
Chapter VII Gallant Soldiers
The Tailor’s Apprentice – Admiral Hopson – Laconic Sailors – Brave Benbow – His Last Flight – Off Corfu – A Curious Cargo – Lord Cochrane – His Early Life – The Speedy Attacks the Gamo – Novel Expedients and Fertile Inventions – Daring Adventures – Commands the Arab, a Tub – Then the Pallas – Tries Politics – “Go at them!” – The Cruise of the Impérieuse – M.P. for Westminster – The Fortress of Rosas – The Greased Ascent – Lord Gambier Loses the Day – Cochrane Fights new Battles Ashore – A Court-martial – The Stock Exchange Fraud – A Villainous Plot – Wrongly Punished – Commands the Chilian Fleet – A Noble Wife and a Brave Son – Commands the Brazilian and Greek Fleets – Restoration to Rank and Honour – The Merchant Service – Captain Wilson and the Emilie St. Pierre – A Gallant Exploit – Perilous Voyage – Home at Last 99
Chapter III Australian Heroes
The Story of Exploration in Australia – Edward John Eyre – Opposes a Proposed Expedition, and starts Another – Meets with Obstacles – Baffled – In a Dry and Thirsty Land – Searching for Water-holes – A Crisis – Dangers and Difficulties – Murder – Footsteps Dogged – Succour – The “Burke and Wills Expedition” – The Start – Disaffection – The Party Re-organised – Cooper’s Creek – The Journey to the Gulf of Carpentaria – The Return in Hope – Abandoned – A Terrible Situation - Death of Wills – Death of Burke – King among the Natives – The Relief Party 123
Chapter IX Great Inventors
Different Phases of Heroism – Duty – Josiah Wedgwood – His Early Labours – His Successes – James Watt – A Prophecy of the Future – Struggles for a Livelihood – Investigations in Steam – His Great Discovery – Roebuck – Matthew Boulton – The Soho Works – Epitaph by Lord Brougham – George Stephenson – Neglected Education – Inventive Genius – The Turning-point in his Career – Step by Step Upward – Success of his Locomotive – His Manly Courage – Rowland Hill – The Penny Post – Curious Statistics 143
Chapter X Heroes of the Victoria Cross – Colonies and Elsewhere
The Persian War – Gallant Conduct of Moore and Malcolmson – The Abyssinian War – Bravery of Private James Bergin – Tang-ku, in China – The Taku Forts – A “Human Bridge” – A Daring Young Ensign – Thrice Wounded – The New Zealand War – Captain F. A. Smith and the Maori Rifle-pits – A Desperate Leap – Deadly Conflict – The Rangiriri Pah – William Temple, a Noble Surgeon – Through Double Lines of Fire – Lieutenant Colonel McNeill – In the Hands of the Enemy – A Gallant Rescue – The Disaster at the Gate Pah – A Trap – Flight – Samuel Mitchell and Assistant-Surgeon Manley – Their Coolness in Danger – The Zulu War – Disaster and Failure – Isandula – Commandant Lonsdale – Lieutenants Chard and Bromhead – The Splendid Defence of Rorke’s Drift 164
Chapter XI Every-day Heroes
On Land and Sea – The Wreck of the Queen Victoria – A Noble Captain – A Brave Lad – Stopping a Plug-hole – The Loss of the Birkenhead – Marvellous Discipline – Every Man at his Post – The Burning of the Kent – Captain Cobb Scuttles his Ship – Labouring and Waiting – A Railway-van on Fire – Private Timothy O’Hea – London Watchmen – London “Peelers” – Gallantry of the Police – The London Fire-Brigade – Conductors Sunshine and Chapman – Splendid Exploits – The Royal Humane Society – The Ice and the Parks – Cases of Rescue cited – The Quiver Life-boat at Margate 186
Chapter XII Heroic Men of Science
Small-pox – Edward Jenner – Bethlehem Hospital – Treatment of Lunatics – Haslar Hospital – Progress in Medical Science – John Fothergill – William Hunter – Thomas Bateman – James Hope – Down a Well – Edward Bartlett, Surgeon, to the Rescue! – Naval Duel between the Kearsage and Alabama – Noble Heroism of David Herbert Llewellyn – Heroic Philanthropy – Sir Alexander Armstrong – Scurvy in the Polar Regions – In the Merchant Service – Michael Faraday – His Character and Work – Mary Somerville – Her Ceaseless Work – The Higher Education of Women – James David Forbes – A Resolution – Among the Glaciers – Buried Cities and Modern Discoveries – Charles F. Tyrrwhitt Drake – In the Desert – Faithful unto Death 204
Chapter XIII A Group of Martyrs
The Ironmonger’s Apprentice – John Williams – In the South Sea Islands – Among the Raiateans – The Messenger of Peace – Visits Erromango – Murdered by the Natives – Contrasts – Henry Martyn – Sails for India – A Sad Love-Story – Failures and Successes – Sabat the Apostate – A Fearful Journey – A Lonely Death – Allen Gardiner – Adventures in Zululand – Among the Indian Tribes – Fuegians and Patagonians – The Pioneer and Speedwell – Wreck, Accident, and Disaster – Hope Deferred – Starvation – Desertion – Discovery – A Tale with Two Morals – John Coleridge Patteson – His Character – Commodore Goodenough – His Noble Life – Treachery of Natives – Poisoned Arrows – Death – The Universities Mission to Central Africa – Bishop Mackenzie – Liberation of Slaves – a Painful Position – A Fatal Journey 223
Chapter XIV Great Philanthropists
John Pounds and Ragged Schools – Dr. Guthrie – Sheriff Watson – An Obscure Hero, James Davies, of Devanden – Robert Raikes and Gaols – Sunday Schools – Rev. Thomas Stock – Progress of the Sunday School Movement – Philanthropy and Beneficence – Miss Johanna Chandler – Disease and Death in a Poor Man’s Home – The National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic – Miss Adeline Cooper – The Slums of Westminster – Some Rough Customers – The Costermonger’s Club – The Quakers – Joseph Sturge – Anti-Slavery Labours – The First Oyster-Eater and the First Umbrella – Jonas Hanway – The Foundling Hospital – The Marine Society – The Slaughter of the Innocents – Chimney-Sweeps – David Nasmith – The City Mission – Young Men’s Christian Associations – Edward Denison – In the East End – The Ideal Philanthropist 248
Chapter XV Some Heroes of the Indian Mutiny
General Heroism – Individual Instances – Adventures of a Brave Surgeon – A Perilous Expedition – Mr. Allan Hume – Two Men Storm a Fortress – A Scene in a Field-Hospital – Gallant De Kantzow – A Noble Chaplain – Preaching and Fighting – A Fatal Boat-Journey – Splendid Heroism of Mr. David Churcher – Promptitude and Coolness – A Brave Lady – The Ladies of Delhi, Lucknow, and Cawnpore – Their Sufferings and Patience – A Regiment of Dorcases – A Night at Agra – Mrs. Moore, of Cawnpore – Mrs. Inglis, of Lucknow – Motherly Heroism – An Amazon – Brave Chaplains – A Fearful Tale – Pluck in the Presence of the Enemy – The Captain of the Well – Captain Scot – Macdougal, the Band-boy – Some Boys at Agra – Thornton, of the Civil Service – Young Berrill – Ensign Napier and Quentin Battye – Dying Words – Colonel Case – Captain Beatson – Dying Deeds – The Heroism of Patience – The Heroes of Cawnpore – Captain Moore – “Number One to the Front!” – Delafosse and the Burning Gun – Ashe, the Stout Gunner – Vibart, Whiting, and Mowbray-Thomson – Sterling, the Deat Shot – The Massacre – The Last Boat – Fate of the Heroes 276
Chapter XVI Brave Missionaries
A Missionary’s Labours – In the South Sea Islands – “Jack of all Trades” – One against Millions – The Northamptonshire Cobbler – A Hero among Heroes – Alexander Duff – Freedom of Action – Twice Wrecked – Schools and Colleges – Opposition – Success – Dr. Morrison – George Piercy – The Power of Persistence – Alone in the Fijis – Barbadoes – Persecutions – Troublous Times – Jamaica – Barnabas Shaw – A Good Wife – John Eliot and the Red Indians – David Brainerd – Closing Remarks 303