The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-08
a RsmARxABLs AFRICAN nnBRE
The Career aud Last Flight OF Smith Pomner.
tho Famous Gritria Chief

Prom Ne Lon,ion World
We copied recently from South African
paper little paragraph relating to tho killing
OF Smith Pommer. Some Of our renders may
wonder who Smith Pommer IL. or rather was
He was g remarkable man. Although a natu-
blood ~! inherited tie crs;; Q; his race. His
father. who was. one Of the Kat RIVER people.
was an industrious man, who did his best to
But tho boy. when only 4. joined the Kat Rver
rebellion. and after its defeat escaped into
companions established themselves sur
rounded by hostile neiRhbors Smith Pommsr
diminuiiyc figure his droll behavior. his native
wit. and his inventive faculties made him
distinctive character. and great superior to
recognized as u speech maker and diplomat.
His dash. above. all. dazzled the Griquas and
Cuilres both, and those who distrustnd him for
his tricks admired him for his boldness. White
people who became acquainted with him called
IL impudrncc and buster. but he was gcnu-
inely feared by the Caffres. and regarded by
others with something like superstitiQn.
Inc C9Ires IN time believed that ne bore a
shot. and seldom using weapon himself IN
nght. 30 could show legs and arms scarrod with
wounds. With n lofty idca ~ cifcd he always
let those wounds show themselves. ana cuti-
vated the Impression that with all those scars
no bullet had ever entered his skin. which was
vagabOnd. warning life, Smith Pommcr mar
ried the pretty !tripun girl. Wilhclmlna Buru-
down" by turning transport rider. While on
one Of these trnding Journeys. the Amahaoas
swooped down upon his place n Bles River.
surrounded those who could Ofler resistance.
md in tho fight Smith POmmcr's young wife
was shot dead. Smiths career then took pre-
datory turn again. and for some time he was
In Adam Kok's time he ngaln married. this
time into one OF the most respectable and VOL
TO do of the settled Griqua fainilies-the u
lrechts. Ii IL spoken of us "a remarkable we'd
dlng. Having gone through me, ceremony nj
Rivor from which he had sent out invitations TO
every one In tho region. OF oil colors and occu-
pations. The bride. u good looking young wo-
man. with but little dark blood ~ her veins
was mounted on n rude throne in the open air.
and before her every guest. white and black.
passed separately. bowed his homage and laid
mony was gone through by hundreds Of people
from far and wide, and the wedding was kept
bridegroom acquired. It Is said a considerable
amount Of property in the shape Of wedding
gifts. Smith now returned more steadily to his
transport riding. but still maintained his pres.
commanlant in CAN'T kok's, army, His inge-
ence or gain n point was we'll known. and many
Of the. Griquas at last had learned 10 hold aloof
The part no took in the outbreak which
brought his reckless life 10 close has been told
IN mo colonlal papers since the hokstad DIS
turbancc. His excuse for being among the
rebels which may or may not have had n
| foundation--was that his name had been falsely
his way 10 bring In Adam MUS to prove him
self Innocent II is said however that he en-
trapped numbers into rebellion 10y telling them
L. como 10 u certain meeting armed, and when
thcy got there made them believe their act had
already committed them To- rebellion. II T. also
said that he led on other men Of influence who.
he know. would draw many after them. by
writing fictitious Letters 10 Capt Blyth and read
Ing out imaginary replies Tho fight in which
he and Adam kok's BON were routed from the
old lnager near Kokstad ended In the death Of
the latter and Smith himself with few at
tached followers. fled at dusk ~ the mountains
toward PondolAnd.
1t was u weird place that Smith Pommer and
his band had chosen to die In. High up in tho
thunder beaten peaks Of tho Ingell. where the
last blum Of that rugged range stands out like a
terrible hattlcment. where the beacon waves on
through the deep valleys Of Natal on one side,
the bushy hills u Pondoland in front and still
over the upland slopes Of GriQualaud ON the
other side-here in a steep raylne Smith and
his followers hid through tho day Toward
night the sound OF guns was hoard in the
krantzes. and some ~ his men fell at the hands
of his Caffre pursuors. Caffre shot at Pom
mer, but missing was shot at in return, and
! fell down rock out OF sight as II wounded.
Watching his chance this Cairo again shot
where he saw a bush stirred. aud tco next
/ morning tho body OF Smith POmmer was
| brought out with bullet through the hip.
Smith Pommer met his death by the hand II
ono OF q race against whom his cnMity had been
nurtured from infancy.