THE AMAZING STORY OF ARTHUR KAVANAGH
Early in 1831 a little lad was born in County Carlow, Ireland, under
most unfortunate circumstances. He had only the rudiments of arms and
legs; mere stumps instead of proper limbs. It would be safe to say that
few boys have ever had to face life at any time or in any country with
such terrible handicaps as had Arthur McMurrough Kavanagh. Fortunately,
his parents were in comfortable circumstances and they did all they
could to help him, but nothing came of it. Great surgeons and doctors
tried to help, but each operation only resulted in causing the boy
great pain and bitter disappointment.
In spite of predictions that he could not live, Arthur Kavanagh thrived
and the muscles of what arms and legs he had grew so strong with
constant use that he learned to ride a horse, holding it with a strong
rein and even using a whip. He became a first-class rider, and although
he was strapped into a saddle-chair, he learned to ride at a fast
pace and to take fences as well as the best riders in the countryside.
Furthermore, he became an expert angler; learned to write letters more
legibly than most people who have fingers, and even painted pictures.
Of course he was not able to attend an ordinary school, and a
clergyman, Rev. David Wood, became his tutor. Under this tuition Arthur
Kavanagh made such progress that when he went abroad he was generally
the member of the party who acted as interpreter for others of the
party who found themselves unable to speak the language of the country
through which they were passing.
His skill in shooting amazed everyone. Seated in the saddle-chair on
his horse, he would rest his gun on the stump which served as a left
arm and pull the trigger with an attachment made to his right arm. So
expert did he become that generally he could shoot birds on the wing
while his horse trotted along at a good pace.
While still in his teens he travelled in the East with his tutor and
his brother. He visited Egypt and Palestine, and rode hundreds of miles
strapped in his saddle-chair on the back of an Arab steed. Wherever
he went a good deal of curiosity was excited. The sight of this
young man, without arms or legs, but who could ride so well and whose
intelligence was of such a high order, excited wonder and admiration.
On several occasions the party was attacked by robbers and Arthur
Kavanagh’s coolness and courage was responsible for getting them out
of more than one tight corner. On one occasion the girth of his saddle
gave way and he and his saddle-chair were dashed to the ground. He
was picked up unconscious, but fortunately was not injured, and the
following day was riding again.
With his brother he travelled to India by way of Russia and Persia. In
1849, while on this journey, he fell dangerously ill and for some time
lodged in the home of a Persian prince, who showed him great kindness.
After his recovery the party crossed Lake Urumiah and rode through an
extremely difficult country and in the face of blinding sleet and snow
to Mosul. He visited Nineveh, voyaged by raft down the River Tigris to
Bagdad, and then rode by a perilous pass to Shiraz. The dangers and
hardships of this journey almost broke his strong nerve, but he kept
on. He became dizzy with fever, and one day as he rode he saw the mule
in front of him stumble and fall headlong over a precipice. Only his
strong nerve saved him from a like fate, but he managed to pull up his
mule on the edge of the chasm.
Arthur Kavanagh was extremely fond of animals and especially of horses.
He depended so much upon them for getting around that he talked to
them as to friends. Once, while in the East, he had a fine Arab steed
to which he became deeply attached. Often while travelling in the
desert beneath the hot sun he would find shelter between his horse’s
legs while he ate or rested, and the animal would never move for fear
of injuring his crippled master. When the time came for him to say
good-bye to this faithful horse at Cairo, Kavanagh shed many bitter
tears.
While in India in 1851 he had the experience of tiger hunting and
astonished even old hunters by his cool nerve. One day, while separated
from other members of the hunting party, he came face to face with a
tiger which got within ten paces of him, but his years of practice
stood him in good stead and, carefully placing the gun on the stump of
his left arm, he brought the animal down.
While he was in India his brother left for Australia and died while
on the voyage. For a time Arthur Kavanagh found himself in financial
difficulties and maintained himself by carrying despatches in the
Aurangabad District of India. In 1853 his brother, Charles, died, and
he succeeded to the family estates in Ireland, to which country he
returned at once.
Several years before this Arthur Kavanagh had made a vow that if ever
he became a landlord he would conduct his affairs in such a way that
his tenants would honour and love him. At that time it seemed most
unlikely that he ever would succeed to the family estates, but the
unexpected death of his brothers gave him the chance to fulfil his vow,
and he did so nobly.
He practically rebuilt the two villages of Borris and Ballygragget,
which were on his estate. The plans--which won the Royal Dublin
Society’s medal--were all drawn by himself. He arranged that even the
poorest people should have comforts such as they had never dreamed
of before. He gave instructions that there was to be no harshness or
severity in cases where people were unable to pay rents. He loved the
people and he wished them to love and trust him.
Considering the terrible physical handicaps he had to face, his
unfailing cheerfulness was one of the most amazing things about him.
He might easily have become sour and disgruntled. But he was never
heard to complain. Wherever he went he wrote letters of great interest
describing the places he saw and the people he met. These letters
always bubbled over with fun and good nature. When he had completed his
thirtieth year he wrote a long letter in which he reviewed his life.
The letter was remarkable for the constant references to the goodness
of God and for the evidence of his great gratitude to God for all His
blessings. This letter is considered by many to be one of the most
remarkable letters in all literature.
He greatly enjoyed company and looked eagerly forward to the visits of
friends. He had to be carried around the house on the back of a strong
servant, but sometimes, if he wished to cross a room and the servant
were not present, he would cross the room by a series of springs and
jumps, meanwhile keeping an upright position.
He was appointed justice of the peace and sheriff of Kilkenny County,
and, some time later, chairman of the Board of Guardians. For many
years he sat under an oak tree in the courtyard of Borris House and
acted as advisor and general counsellor to the people. The simple folk
of the countryside had great faith in his sound judgement and everyone
knew how anxious to help he was. He made up quarrels and even arranged
marriages. In the winter time he distributed help and blankets to the
poor and made sure that no unfortunate people were overlooked.
In 1866 he was elected to the British Parliament and represented the
people there until 1880. Naturally, a man without arms and legs was
a most unusual sight among such an assembly, and he received great
consideration. He was a man of strong opinions and he was not afraid to
express them. He took a very active interest in everything which went
on and made several important speeches. The great William E. Gladstone
said that he always listened to Mr. Kavanagh with the utmost respect
and appreciation.
Arthur Kavanagh died at Chelsea, London, in 1889, worn out by overwork
and anxiety. His passing was mourned by all who had known him
personally and by a vast number who knew of him by repute. It is no
wonder that a leading magazine of that time referred to him as, “One of
the most extraordinary men that ever lived.”