Alick Eunson. Truly a hero.

Scotland surrendered in pretty supine fashion on the cricket field today but that wonderful country has a long and noble history of gallantry.

For example, the remarkable Alick Eunson, 13 years old and truly, but tragically, heroic in September 1897.

"The Dundee People's Journal gives further particulars of the terrible gale which recently caused great destruction among the fishing boats of Fair Isle. The Journal's special commissioner, who took a stock of provisions, blankets and clothes for the widows and children, states that the death-roll of the gale was seven men and a boy. One boat was entirely lost, while of the crew of the other four were dead when the boat was found.
The tale of a survivor is a thrilling tale of heroism. The tide and the wind prevented the boat from making home. All night they battled with wind and waves. Three sank, to die of exhaustion and cold, but the others toiled on at the oars.
The account proceeds: 'The situation was pitiful. The survivors had spent the utmost of their strength, their spirits were depressed with the fatal knowledge the dawn had brought, the sea still ran high, and they were still ten miles from home when a rescuing boat was spied speeding towards them. The sight proved too much for poor John Leslie who, while he saw the approach of succour, also sank down and died.
Let me tell one short story of a boy's heroism that recalls the fate of Casablanca. Little Alick Eunson was placed in the stern to hold the tiller. Things were then at a bad past, but the boy smilingly stuck to it through the vicissitudes of storm. The cold chilled his little body and benumbed his fingers so much that he could not replace his cap when it had fallen from his head. Still smiling encouragement to the others he renewed his grasp of the tiller till his head dropped, and he gave up his young life without a cry or a murmur while still clinging to his post of duty. He was only a child of thirteen.'
There are only 150 people on the island, and the sudden death of seven of their strongest and best men is a very serious matter. It will even be difficult to harvest their crops now. The last tragedy had paralysed the people, rendering them almost physically helpless, and assistance is needed to save the unfortunate families of the drowned men from destitution in the winter."