Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-29

Accompanied Him on the NocOnnOls'
saMco.
From the London Times.
Having learned that his imperial high
ness would proceed on June ! to %reconNoi-
ire the country in advance Of the column
and choose a site for the camp on the fol-
loving day, l suggested that I had already
ridden over the same ground and should
like to accompany him. Ny request was
granted; but at the same time Col. Harri-
son, acting quartermaster general, stated
that was not in any way to interfere with
the prince, as he wished to have entire Gre
dit for choosing the camp. Shortly before
starting l found that no escort was prepar-
ed and applied to the brigade major of
cavalry.
1 received the necessary orders and at a
quarter past nine o'clock six men of Capt.
quarters. With these and a friendly Zulu,
provided by the Hon. MI. Drummond, we
started. Six Basutos of Capt. Shepston's
with us, and before crossing the Blood river
I sent on to him to ask for them. The
messenger returned to say that they would
meet US on the ridge between the Incenzi
and Itelezi Hills. l again sent the man
Will O4uSIo y O1AlS lu0 CsCOII OdCh Will
him. On our right and left TANKS l saw
large bodies of Basutos scouting. Arrived
upon the ridge we dismounted, wishing to
fix the position of some hills with our com
passes.
Colonel Harrison then rode up and told
us that General Marshal's cavalry was COM
ing up. When he had left I suggested to
the prince to wait for the remainder of the
escort.
He said: ooh, no; we are quite strong
enough"
AT mile and a half we assembled a com,
handing and rocky range Of hills beyond
here oa.saddle, but the prince said that he
preferred to off:.saddle near the river. We
remained for half an hour sketching and
surveying the country with our telescopes.
Seeing no one we descended to a kraal in a
valley below and ofE.saddled. No precau.
lions were taken, as no Zulus were expected
to be in the neighborhood. The prince was
tired, and laid down beside a hut. The
men made coffee, and l reconnoitered with
my telescope. At twenty-five minutes tc
four l suggested saddling up. His imperial
highness said:
"Wait another ten minutes" but in five
minutes gave me the necessary order. !
repeated it and then went to fetch my horse
from the mealie fields. I had saddled and
mounted on the home side of the kraal
, when l heard his imperial highness give
the order:
"Prepare to mount" l looked round anc
saw his foot in the stirrup. At the same
time 1 said, Mount" and as the mer
vaulted into the saddles l saw the BLACK
faces Of Zulus about twenty yards off, rush
ing toward US through the mealie fields
, They shouted and fred upon US as we rod,
of. 1 thought that all were mounted, ant
knowing that the mems carbines were un
loaded, 1 judged it better to clear the Ion,
grass before making a stand. Knowing
from experience the bad shooting of thu
Zulus l did not expect that any one was in
jured. I therefore shouted as we neared
the donga:
"We must form on the other side. See to
the retreat of every one"
On looking back l saw one party follow.
ing us, while another on our left was at.
tempting to cut off our retreat across the
ridge. Meanwhile we we're under a heavy
fire and after we had crossed the donga 8
man said 10 me:
II fear the prince is killed, sir" I paus.
ed, looked back, and, seeing the prince
horse galloping on the other side of the
donga, asked if it was any use returning
The Zulus had already passed over the
ground where he must have fallen and ht
pointed out the men creeping round oul
left. l paused for our men to come up ant
then galloped on to find a drift over tn,
Tombocto river.