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  • The Heroine of Mafeking (1909)
  • Short | Short, Thriller, War
Primary photo for The Heroine of Mafeking
The Heroine of Mafeking (1909)
Short | Short, Thriller, War
Another stirring picture story with the Boer War in the background. The interest centers around the lives of two members of the British nobility: Lord Arthur Ralston and Lady Mary Grey. Lord Arthur and Lady Mary are betrothed and the ...See moreAnother stirring picture story with the Boer War in the background. The interest centers around the lives of two members of the British nobility: Lord Arthur Ralston and Lady Mary Grey. Lord Arthur and Lady Mary are betrothed and the wedding is to take place in Mafeking. As Lord Arthur's regiment is quartered in South Africa indefinitely, rumors are rife of coming conflict with the Boers and on the very eve of Lady Mary's embarkation from England Lord Arthur cables her as follows: "Our wedding here out of question, war certain, postpone until my return." Lady Mary reads the cablegram and proves to have a will of her own. "Father, he is in danger, my place is by his side. I am going to South Africa to marry the man I love." A few months pass. The war has begun and Mafeking is filled with soldiers. Lord Arthur and Lady Mary are to be married at St. Paul's. We see the church crowded with English officers, their wives and the friends of the dashing colonel. Just as the ceremony concludes, a Boer shell crashes through the side of the edifice, scattering death and destruction among the assembled spectators. Lord Arthur carries his bride to a place of safety and rushes to the barracks and takes his place at the head of his regiment. One of the most sanguinary battles of the war is reproduced. Cannon Kopje stormed and captured early in the siege was the key to the whole position, as it allowed the Boers a commanding point from which they could shell the besieged town without fear of reprisal. An order comes to English headquarters: "Cannon Kopje must be retaken." A stubborn resistance is met by the English, but the Boers are at last driven back, but at what a cost. The last drop of water has been drained from the canteens, the wounded beg piteously from thirst. Lord Arthur sees that the end of human endurance has been reached. He calls for a volunteer, and sends the following appeal: "Commissary Department, Mafeking: My men have fought here twelve hours without water. Unless it reaches us soon we must surrender." The water cart is brought to the well, the native workmen start to fill it, a shell bursts twenty feet from the pump. Lady Mary is ministering to a wounded officer in a rough bombproof when the news comes of her husband's plight. She reads his appeal herself, taking the note from the nerveless grasp of a young officer that is killed by a bursting shell almost at her feet. The scenes that follow depict the courage a woman may display when she finds the man she loves is in danger. At the point of a revolver she forces the natives to fill the waiting cart with the life-giving water those gallant soldiers must have if they are to live. Then taking the reins herself, she drives through the line of the Boer fire and reaches the trenches to fall fainting into the arms of her husband. Then later we see the army of relief wading the Tugela on their way to save Mafeking. "London, three months later." Lord Arthur has been wounded and with his wife is home on a furlough. A message from Lord Roberts comes announcing to Colonel Ralston that he has been promoted to the grade of Brigadier General for bravery at Mafeking. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
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Producer
William Nicholas Selig
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Dec 9, 1909
Release date
Dec 9, 1909 (United States)

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