I came across an article in the British North Borneo Herald for March 16, 1906 entitled “Plucky Conduct of a Police Sergeant.” I had to check the meaning of “plucky” as it is not a term I use often. Plucky is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “having or showing determined courage in the face of difficulties.” That certainly fits its usage in this article. To quote,
On 15th ult. [i.e., Latin “ultimo” meaning “last” month in this case] a batch of coolies arrived in Jesselton by s.s. Darvel and one absconded. On 17th Sergt. 108, Raidollah Khan received certain information and in the early morning about 3 o’clock he visited a Chinese gardener’s house (behind the Chinese Cemetery) and found two Chinamen, apparently asleep; in rousing them he was suddenly attacked by one of the men who seized a meat chopper and cut the Sergeant across the head. The other Chinaman never attempted to help the Sergeant but on the contrary encouraged his friend to strike.
The Sergeant had a long struggle but pluckily succeeded in overpowering his assailant, not, however, before he had received a deep stab in the left leg above the knee—this did not prevent him, single handed, bringing both Chinamen to the Civil Police Station together with the chopper.
The two men were identified—No. 1 (the man who attacked the Sergt. ) as “Ng Pau” the absconded coolie—and No. 2, Wing Yin, a discharged prisoner who is well known.
The Sergeant, after securing his men in the lockup, went to the Hospital where his wounds were sewn up. The leg would is a bad one and will confine him to Hospital for at least a fortnight.
We understand that Sergt. Raidollah Khan has received in substantial form acknowledgement of his bravery in bring his two prisoners a distance of one mile being himself wounded severely in the leg and head.
