Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-10
SURROUNDED by ZULUS.
Hide for Life Down = Rocky Pass
swarminE with the MereiIcss sayages
An English Victory.

Ii
worthy source the following graphic
description of the terrible encounter ON
the Iiobana mountain, South Africa, by
one who participated in IL:
On March 81 we started from our
camp at Kambula Hill, in Iululand, To
lttack Zulu stronghold some twenty
miles away called the Iiobana mountain.
We numbered about eight hundred
mounted men, and were nearly all of III
volunteers, under Colonel Wood nomi-
nally, but the real command was cxcr-
ciscd by Colonel Butler. We started
about eight o'clock in the morning, and
very cheerful and lively wc all were.
About five o'clock in the evening we
reached the slope of the mountain. We
were here fired at. but took no notice. rs
we wanted to get along unpcrccivcd.
When darkness set in We bivOuackcd.
each man holding his horse in hand
while hc lay down to rcst-not to sleep
During the night there was a terrible
thunderstorm and we got thoroughly
drcnChcd. At four \. NJ. we were all
astir, feeling miserable enough; our sad
dies were nearly ~ soft and wet ~ our
clothes. We assembled the Hill pretty
easily, but nearly at the top the Iulus
began To make us aware of their presence.
~ 0lN ~ { IN wv WIN ~ Ailf llIl Dl lllf
plateau and our native allies were setting
fire to some Zulu huts and collecting the
cattle. about 1000 in number. After n
time we collected at the opposite end of
the plateau. and here we found the /ulus
in stronger force than we had estimated.
They commenced heavy fire upon Us
and we were engaged fully half an'hour
with them before we succeeded in silcnc-
ing them. Abolt eleven we became
aware of the serious fact that while We
had been engaging a few /ulus al one
side very large number of them had
come the WAY we asCcndcd, and others to
our right and left, and that We were be-
ing surrounded. 4 very few minutes
observation was sufficient to convey the
terrible impression Ia our minds that
once more the /ulus had got usi ntn
trap and that we were going to have Ia
fight for our lives Ia get out Of il ~ best
we could or die. The willy -avagcg be-
gan to appear on every sidc-not in twos
or thrces. but in hundreds and thousands
Some Of them had evidently climbed
what to us seemed a positively pcrpcn-
dicular buttrcss on our left. Our retreat
WAS cut of. and there WIS nothing to be-
don" but either " fight it out to the end "
or cndcayor To escape down AN almost
in front Of US. There had been too much
" fighting II out to the end " in the two
months Immediately preceding Isaudula.
There was but one outlet for Us. and
toward ii We had order, 90 gallop | was
in the rear. and when | reached the
place the sight was -irkouing. There
was an almost perpendicular pass about
ten feet wide and about 3O0 or TOO yards
down. Il was filled with rough. ragged
bouldpr-, between which were croyirrs
where one, the poor horse and rider fell
he was seen no more. II seemed full of
horses and men noundoriue one uuou
the other in dire and dreadful confusion
while tho /ulus were pouring a murder.
ous fire among them. How ! got down
| do not know. | have not met with q
single comradr yet who does. The chief
sensation | experienced was that behind
me. at about 500 wards distance. was
very strong force of Iulu- yelling in
manner thcmust bloodthirsty and liDnd-
i-h. In one oT two places progress was
altogether imyodod by cha-ms six or
eight feet wide. and il was only by jump
ing them, or rather 10y Ti-king the at
tempt (for many poor fellow lost his
footing and his life hero. that further
descent was possible. Nearly all the
horses were killed or had to bc icfl before
We reached the bottom. All this time
the Iulus were firing on us. and
amid the most pitoous shricks for mercy
rushing from the sides Of the pass and
asscgaicing our poor fellows How any
of Us escaped il Is To me. and almost
every one else. a miracle. At last. some
how or other. ] got 10 the neck of the
pass. escaping injury from the heavy fire
Of the enemy. but only To find that on the
plain in front was big Zulu army en-
gagged with our men, who were divided
into parties and fighting for dear life
Colonel Wcathcriy and his corps were
almost cut up to q man. They were
separated from the main body, and the
last that was seen of the gallant colonel
was his commanding figure, sword in
hand, killing the enemy right and left
and selling his life rs dearly as possible.
The retreat home was "A fight. We
reached the camp in the evening hy twos
and tnrees. some with arms and clothing.
Others almost devoid Of either. Some
horses were carrying two men. others
three; every one was humiliatcd and
dispirited. This is one picture Of the
disaster in THE Devils Pass on the
Ziobana mountain on March s2S, 1873.
II was getting considerably into the
NflfllptHl VI Alif ~Ntii iH'l4hiF 4 lliNt NNliAi=
ciently recovered myself to feel exactly
how and where | was. The ordinary
morning duties Of camp life had been
going on. and now and then had come
across n companion Of the previous day
whose haggard face still bctokcned how
he had been face to face with death. {"
Our camp was to all 'intents and pur-
poses impregnable. 1t was proof
against an ordinary European army
without artillery. About II 4. VI. we
learned that Zulu spy had been caught
and informed Colonel Wood that the
Iulus were 10 attack us during our din
ner hour. Shortly afterward IL was
shown plainly enough that this was SO.
The Zulus could be seen in huge black
mass about five miles away coming on
very slowly and lcisurely. Everything
went on In camp Just the same; even
the dinner was prepared and eater.
There were 1900 of us, and we were con
tident and eager to be avenged. When
they got within about three miles the
alarm was sounded. tents struck. the