Wichita eagle., 1888-05-12
THE CAPTAINS CHARGE.
EXTRACT FROM DISTRICT ORDERS,

fIETERdARITZBURG May ~, 1879. J
"Capt. Ellicott, Ninety fourth regiment,
will report himself without delay to Maj.
Manley, chief paynlaster, in order to receive
instructions that will be conveyed to him by
that officer.n
In obedience to the foregoing, presented
myself at the head Office of the army pay de-
partment and requested to be shown to Ma.
Manley's room.
''Good morning, sir" 1 said, on being ad-
mitted. Il am directed TO report myself to
you"
.'Yes, Ellicott," answered the ever CHEEKY
chief, who had always kindly words of ad-
vice and encouragement to offer those who
served under his orders Il am about to de-
tail YOU for difficult and somewhat danger
Gus duty Money must be conveyed TO New
castle for the payment Of supplies, as the
Boers refuse to receive our paper; and even
if the drafts were accepted there is not suffi-
cient specie in the small up country banks to
meet ali the demands that would be made
upon them. So want to send you up with
10000 in gold, to be handed over to Mr.
Martin, now in commissariat charge at New
castle, who viii account to me direct for all
payments made.
cam l not TO have the usual escort detailed
''No; there's the pinch Our losses were so
great at Isandhlwana that we have not sin
gle man to spare All clerks and employed
men must take their turn of duty. Besides,
/ wish 10 avoid an escort, as it would only
have the effect of unnecessarily advertising
the matter. In the present state of the coun-
try, with shoals of doubtful characters about,
this would be injudicious and almost invite
tba hoe fol ,,,, ~,
suggestion as to the manner of conveyance,
taking the responsibility Of its safe delivery
Now listen" and he proceeded to unfold his
plan.
The position appeared to be this: After our
losses on the ed of January, and while wait
ing for re-enforcements. there were barely
enough men TO enable us to hold our own in
case of descent upon the colony by Cete-
wayo. Pietermaritzburg had been put in
state of defense by erecting loop holed barri-
cades in the streets. The court house was
fortified and laagers formed at various STRAIT
egic points, to which ell the inhabitants were
to repair upon a given signal, the firing of
three guns in quick succession from Fort
Napier. All the outlying posts and towns
were also strongly fortified This prohibited
the withdrawal of any men employed in the
duties of defense.
Ordinarily a guard Of one officer and
twenty-five men is provided for the escort
of treasure; but, as has been explained, the
present circumstances were unfavorable to
this course, and prompt payment for sup
plies being imperative, the following was
decided on:
The money was to be packed in empty am
munition boxes, with the usual descriptive
label of contents remaining on them. Then
1t was TO be loaded in an ordinary Cape cart
Ia marvel of hghtness and strength and
placed under charged of an officer, who, he
was pleased to say should be a man of cour-
age and resource: passing it on to the front,
rs was frequently done at the time, as am
munition. There was a great scarcity OF
stores of all kinds after our losses at ISandhl-
wana, where immense quantities of supplies
had to be abandoned
Now" he went on to say, ''the greatest
risk you will run is from the swarm of men
who, under the guise of somebody's horse
or somebody else's rangers ct hoe genus
omne are spread over the country at the
present time. | don't allude to the gallant
men under tried leaders who have done such
good and loyal service but to those smaller
bands under unknown men, to which are at
tracted the usual lawless spirits that always
crop up under pressure of times like the pres
ent. Should you come across any of these
they would make nothing OF taking your life
If they got an linking of what you have in
charge"
This was true enough.
Snow, Capt. Ellicott do you feel equal TO
the risk!" continued Maj. Manley. My spirits
rose at the prospect. The task was no doubt,
a difficult one but reflected that this was a
chance that might never come in my way
again, and l felt not an objectionable pride
in the hope of obtaining little distinction
should successfully carry out the duty now
intrusted to me.
II am your man, ma jor," replied. when
am | to startl"
Good he said, grasping my hand.
''Your ready acceptance of what, to be
plain with you. is a hazardous undertaking,
shall not 60 unrepreSented in the proper
quarter"
In order to throw the loafer element off
the scent paragraph was inserted in The
Natal Witness stating that Capt. Ellicott, of
the Ninety fourth regiment, was in orders to
Join the headquarters of his corps, and take
with him supply of reserve ammunition,
the transport department being directed to
provide conveyance.
The date of leaving was given as some days
after that intended for my actual departure;
consequently should be well on the way be-
fore it was known that had started.
Two days after the interview mentioned
above, the cart containing my valuable con-
signment wound slowly upward along the
miles of steep hill leading to Howick. The
Hottentot driver grumbled now and then at
the weight OF the ammunition, saying it ought
10 be sent on an OK wagon instead of mule
cart. He was afraid the springs would not
hold out. ! soothed him. however with an
occasional draught of Boer brandy, with
which | had provided myself-that fiery
LIQUID so highly prizei bv his class, upon
whose head it appeared 10 make not the
slightest impression After long and weari.
some crawl upward we reached at length the
coniparatively level road which terminated
at the hotel.
Twas disagreeahly surprised On arrival to
dnd here body of volunteers. about forty
In number, composed principally, as it ap-
peared TO me, of that dubious class known as
the ''canteen loafer," product peculiar &c
pome parts of South Africa. They were under
the leadership OF a smooth tongued individual
named Osiertcn, whom had frequently met
at Pietermsritzburg, and who was said 10 be
very well connected-a reckless gambler,
ready TO bet on anything or everything, hav-
Ing the additional reputation of being az
utterly unscrupulous scoundrel
His second In command was drunken,
,uarrelsome rdff1an named Mondruu, who
had been forbidden the entree to any decent
hotel where he was known, and was strongly
inspected of being concerned in q robbery
committed at a farm house on the Mooi river