Henry Sandys (buried 1912)

Henry Stair Sandy - Niger Expedition

Consul McLeod to Commodore Dowell - Lagos, September 25, 1868 Sir, I have the honour to thank you for the services rendered by Her Majesty's ships "Pioneer" and "Investigator", under the command of Lieutenant Henry Stair Sandys, during the Niger Expedition of the present year. On arrival of the expedition at Lukoja, I explained to Lieutenant Sandys the state of affairs at that place during the past twelve months. From the departure of the steamers last year, three piratical Chieftans named Semieoja, Abagee, and Agabadoko, with 1200 men, invested the town, and demanded 200 of the Lukoja people to be sold into slavery, or the sum of 1000L, as the ransom for the Bishop of Niger. The Bishop had been released from the hands of Aboko through the exertions of the late Mr Fell, who in performing this service lost his life. They threatened to sack the factory of the West Africa Company at Lukoja should I not comply with their demands; and as I refused to pay this sum, they invested the town on the north by establishing a camp of 1000 men on the point of land opposite Lukoja, at the confluence of the Niger and Binuwe; and on the south, by a camp of 200 men on Duck Island. From these positions they, from the 31st October 1867, to the 27th July of this year, attacked the town in canoes from three to four times during each week, thereby destroying the trade, and rendering the utmost vigilance necessary to prevent their attaining their object. On the 21st July, I at last obtained the assistance of the Kakunda people with their canoes; and on the 27th July succeeded in dislodging the enemy, when Semicoja, with 200 men, took refuge up the Binuwe, in the villages of Atipo, while Abagee and Agabadoko, the latter mortally wounded, retired to Beaufort Island, with the intention of again attacking Lukoja, when the "Pioneer" and "Investigator" left the river this year. On my requestion of the 22nd August, Lieutenant Sandys destroyed both villages of Atipo; and also, on my requisition of 15th September, 1868, the towns and villages on Beaufort Island. From the punishment these pirates received, I have every reason to believe that they will not attempt any hostile measures against Lukoja during the ensuing year. Also as an old naval officer, I could not help admiring the way in which both ships took up their positions at Atipo; and likewise the manner in which the "Pioneer" was manoeuvred at Beaufort Island, where the very rapid current and the rocky and uncertain nature of the bottom rendered any service most difficult. I would here remark that during our several interviews at Bidda with King Massaba, His Highness most strongly insisted that it was absolutely necessary that at least two white men should remain at Lukoja; in consequence of which, and on Lieutenant Dixon's request, Mr Black, Sub-Lieutenant, has been left as the companion of the Acting Consul. As from personal experience, I can in every way declare that a companion is absolutely necessary, I trust that Lieutenant Sandy's proceedings in leaving Mr Black at Lukoja will meet with your approval. I beg again to thank you, most sincerely, for the very efficient state of the ships composing the expedition, and for the way in which both vessels were officered and manned; but more especially for your having entrusted the command to Lieutenant Sandys, whose exertions were most indefatigable to insure the success of the expedition, and to whose tact and previous knowledge of the river the successful issue of the expedition is mainly due. Should succeeding expeditions be as efficiently commanded and equipped, we shall hear no more of disasters occuring to Her Majesty's ships in the Niger. I have, Etc,  J. Lyons McLeod.

London News 10 Feb 1883

The Rev. William Travis Sandys, M.A., domestic chaplain to the Duke of Devonshire, on the 21st ult. He was the fifth son of Myles Sandys, Esq., of Graythwaite Hall and Tytup, county Lancaster, by Elizabeth, sister of the eighth and ninth Earls of Stair; and married Catherine Elizabeth, only daughter of the late Captain William Wooton Abney, Royal Horse Guards (Blue), of Measham Hall, county Derby. the deceased was formerly Vicar of Beverley, and for the last twenty-six years Rector of Burton le Coggles, county Lincoln.