The Quiver 1/1900

Our Roll of Heroic Deeds

The above illustration depicts a notable deed of heroism performed by the daughter of a Sheffield collier when only seventeen years of age. It happened that early one morning, when the father and mother were absent, Charlotte Morewood awoke to find the house in flames. Escape downstairs was impossible, but, with admirable presence of mind, she awakened the four younger children, and dropped them one by one out of a bedroom window into the arms of neighbours below. Next, by a great effort, she lifted her eldest sister, who had fainted with the shock, and saved her in the same manner. She then endeavoured to rescue some of the furniture and clothes in the attic, but the fire had meanwhile spread so rapidly that she only saved herself by a hurried jump. By the pluck and coolness of this brave, devoted girl, the lives of the six inmates of the burning house were thus saved.

FACING DEATH FOR CHRIST.

BASED ON AN INTERVIEW WITH THE REV. C. H. GOODMAN.

By Our Special Commissioner.

MR. GOODMAN WITH TEACHERS AND CHILDREN OF DAY SCHOOL, TIKONKO.

(Photo: The Rev. W. Vivian, F.R.G.S.)

A terrible adventure befell the Rev. C. H. Goodman, missionary in the Mendi country, West Africa, in the summer of 1898. It is really surprising that he is alive to tell the tale, and, indeed, the marks of great suffering were still visible on his face when, a few months afterwards, he kindly told me the story.

THE REV. C. H. GOODMAN.

(Photo: Mr. Stephens, Harrogate.)

The peril came on him with startling suddenness. No bolt from the blue could dash from the heavens more unexpectedly. He was stationed at Tikonko, about two hundred miles inland from Freetown, Sierra Leone, and had been in charge of the United Methodist Free Church Mission there for about six years. Suddenly, one morning, he heard by chance that his life and the lives of his Mission-workers had been demanded by a neighbouring tribe.

"Is it really true," he asked his friends, the Tikonko Mendis, "that the Bompeh people wish me to be killed?"

"Yes, it is true."

"And you can give me no protection?"

"We fear not any."

"Then I must go back to the coast—to the English?"

"Yes."

"Can you give me carriers to accompany me and my helpers, and to take food for the journey?"

"Yes, we promise that."

But Mr. Goodman could not get the promise fulfilled—whether from insincerity or inability on the part of the Mendis to keep it he could not discover.

What was to be done? He was the only white man there: some coloured people, chiefly from Free Town, and associated with the Mission, were with him; but the tribes all round were in a state of terrible unrest and were ripe for war, while, indeed, hostilities had actually commenced in some districts.

MR. ROBERTS' RESIDENCE.

(Mr. Goodman's house is to be seen in the distance.)

(Photo: The Rev. W. Vivian. F.R.G.S.)

SITE OF MURDER OF MR. ROBERTS, MR. PRATT, AND OTHERS.

(The mark X indicates the well into which their bodies were thrown.)

Mr. Goodman had hoped that the Tikonkos would have been strong enough to keep out of the war, but he was disappointed; and it was now clear to him that he could not rely upon their protection, or upon any assistance to reach the coast. The children and several of the workers had left the Mission and had taken refuge in Tikonko town, which consists of a collection of mud-huts surrounded by a fence, while he remained quietly at the Mission premises and watched.

On Monday, May 2nd, he saw many strange men loitering about the farm in a suspicious manner. It was evident a crisis was impending, and he steeled himself to prepare for the worst.

Suddenly, in the afternoon, he heard a great noise. Rushing out, he found that a lad, named Johnson, who was carrying a box belonging to some of the Mission people, was surrounded by strange men, who were seizing the box and ill-treating the boy.

Johnson and his wife hurried to the rescue, but they were set upon by the "war-boys" and beaten; their clothes were torn off their backs, and Mr. Johnson received such a frightful gash across the face that his nose was nearly severed from his body and fell off next day.

Seizing his gun and calling to others, Mr. Goodman hurried out of the house, and with a yell the "war-boys" rushed to the Mission. Mr. Goodman's little party were hopelessly outnumbered; and Mr. Campbell, the native school teacher and Mr. Goodman, seeing that discretion was the better part of valour, turned to the bush and escaped in different directions.

Mr. Goodman did not proceed very far. Hurrying along, he was soon able to hide in the dense bush, his object being to work his way to the town and enter by the Bompeh road. If he could reach the town, he thought the nominal chief, Sandy, might secretly prove his friend.

Gradually, therefore, he made his way to the road, and then hurried to the gate, but it was shut in his face.

THEO. ROBERTS.

(Industrial Trainer.)

THE REV. J. C. JOHNSON.

(Mission Worker.)

T. T. CAMPBELL

(School Teacher.)

ISHMAEL PRATT.

(Carpenter.)

FOUR OF THE MARTYRS.

(From Photographs by the Rev. W. Vivian, F.R.G.S.)

Back, then, to the friendly shelter of the bush he turned, and now even the elements seemed against him, for a terrible tornado burst, and in a minute he was drenched to the skin.

Alone, wet, weary, and foodless, with savage enemies around him seeking to kill him, his position might well have appalled the stoutest heart. But an Englishman, whether missionary or soldier, must never