Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1892 — HEROISM REWARDED. [ARTICLE]

HEROISM REWARDED.

Female Convicts Bravely Rescued Drowning Citizens. On November 2 last there passed over tho Andaman Islands, the East Indian penal settlement, a oyolonewhioh caused immense damage to property and great loss of life. Ono or the places which suffered extensively from the gale was Port Blair, the principal port of the islands. Lyiug off this port on that day was tlie steamer Enterprise, belonging to the East Indian murine and used principally for convoying prisoners and provisions and supplies to the islands. The Enterprise was caught by the oyolono with her anchors down and no steam up. In a short time sho was a total wreck. !She had a crow of eightytiiroo officers and men, and one by one they were swept by tho rushing scoa from the places they had sought for safety and found their death in the wild waters about them. There were no life-saving appliances at Port Blair, and though tlio wreck was soon by'tho officials and a number of the convicts, it was seemingly impossible for any effort to ho mado to save the unfortunates from tho wreck. Among thoso who were watching wore a number of fenutle convicts, who had huddled tinder tho leo of tlioir prison walls to escape tho fury of tho gale, which was blowing with such violence that it was impos- - iblo for a human being to stand against it. While the men stood silently by watching tho struggles of the drowning men one of the women proposed to soino of her follow convicts that they try to rescue some of the drowning seamen. Her proposition was that some of the convicts should get to the shoro und there form u human life line from the bench out into tho sea. The inpouring sens were thundering upon tho rocky shore with a violence that, seemed to shake the very earth. Nothing daunted, the female convicts, imoo thoy reached tho shore, linked hands, and their leader, followed by her equally brave sisters, plunged into tho sea to save a man who could he seen struggling helplessly in the water. Tho women were dashed from their foot at tlioir first, attempt and hurled violently upon tlio shore. Again they clasped each other's hands and again they sprung undauntedly into tho raging waters. This time they were more successful ami the leader grasped the drowning umn. Thou they turned und tho almost dead sailor was carried safely to tho shore. Iu this way they rescued nix men. The remainder of the crew perished. The officials at Fort Blair mado a report, of the affair to the Indian government. und no a result it, was announced that tho leader of (lie gallant hand would ho released from imprisonment, and that tlie terms for which the others had boon sentenced would be very materially shortened.—[New York Herald.