Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-03-15
DEATH OF THE PRINCE.
THE STAMPEDE WHICH COST THE
LIFE OF A ROYAL HEIR.

An Ex-Oficer Of the Transvaal Military
Service Tells the Story of the Prince
Imperials Death-An Incident IN Con-
nection.
"The first I saw of the prince imperial"
said Commandant Alfred Aylward, an officer
of the Transvaal republic at the time of the
Zulu war, ''waS in connection with an Incl
dent which beers directly on the manner of
his DEATH His charger, gray horse, with
other animals belonging to the staff, was in
front of the Royal hotel at Pietermaritzburg
awaiting a staff movement by Lord Chelms-
ford. The prince, taking a run, vaulred
from the rear on to the back of the horse,
which, unused to such treatment, flung him
into the middle of the street. He would
always mount from any side, from behind or
in front, regardless of the usual aids and
always without regard for discipline or mill
tary custom, and the spirited gray charger
was most certainly frightened by the start
ling mounts.
'On June 1, 1879, the headquarters camp
of the British army was on Conference Hill,
Zululand, and Quartermaster General Carey,
Of the Eighth foot, was ordered to inspect
and report on it a new site some miles to the
front. He proceeded with two Basutos
Kafirs and six mounted Europeans as an
escort to do this duty. The prince prevailed
on Carey to take him with the party. At
the time the prince had no rank, honorary or
otherwise, and no duties to perform in con-
nection with the British army He was a
visitor to the staff and headquarters and
came in no sense into orders
"The patrol, as it must be called, in ride
of one hour, reached suitable ground on the
left bank of the 1tyotyozi, a stream running
with about six inches of water in direction
little north of east. The ground was open
and unobstructed, save by field of standing
corn and the walls of few dismantled native
kraals. There were no woods near, but to
the left was range of hills not exceeding
400 feet above the stream level, and the sum-
mits Of which were distant less than 1,3OO
yards. The party intended to sketch, report
and return, and had no impediments with it
not even easels or tents-only Carey's field
note book and the coffee kettles of the troop
ers. The party halted and dismounted and
made coffee. They sat down for picnic in
the slight shade afforded by the shadow fall
ing to the south of the tall corn. The horses
were turned loose, and no sentry was posted
to protect the party. After an hour had
elapsed one of the Kafirs warned Carey, say
ing: Look out l have seen Kafir, a Zulu.
But even then no effort was made to atch
the surrounding territory. The horses, how
ever, were ordered to be brought closer. and
some of the men caught and saddled them.
In nearly two and one-quarter hours after
the picnic had begun Carey consulted the
prince as to his readiness to return to camp.
which was plainly visible from where the
party was, the ground being level with the
slight exception of the dip into the Ityotyozi
and ordinary Typographical irregularities.
The distance between the prince and the
camp was, as the crow flies, less than six
miles. The prince assented, and the party
prepared to mount, the horses tails being:
toward the corn field and their heads toward
camp.
"The order Mount had not died away
when there came the crack of little volley
fired from behind and at range of not more
than twenty-four feet. Some had gained
their saddles and some were still in the air
when this startling interruption took place.
Those who were fully mounted galloped off
those who were half mounted scrambled on
and followed as best they could. Two were
flung wounded to the ground, and the prince
imperial, who was engaged in his usual vault
ing performance. was left by his gray horse,
which dashed after the other animals, but
still in their rear and liable to be overtaken
and caught. The prince, a swift runner, did
catch the horse and again attempted heed
less method of mounting, this time seizing
the left holster and making a spring. The
holster broke and down he fell, the horse
again getting away. Once more was he
caught, fully 100 yards from the place Of the
first disaster. On this occasion he seized the
sth'rup leather, but it pulled out Of its
springs, and he was thrown to the ground.
The horse, now thoroughly frightened, gal
oped away and gained the rear Of the re-
treating party. Had it been in charge of a
brave man a rescue could have been effected
ten times before the final event occurred.
Carey, however, rode away without even
counting his followers. 79yrfacs!.'75.ss,5 Z. ss,5ss1,
The young prince imperial, left to himself,
saw the savages who now appeared, nina in
number. They killed one of the men who had
fallen and were swooping down for fresh vic
tim He made for the river bed to get shelter,
but the Zulus, dividing met him and cut off his
pathway, forcing him to reascend the slope.
He faced four savages, and vainly endeavored
to defend himself with his revolver. The
cunning Zulus dropped to the ground and hid
behind their shields until the bullet storm
was over. when throwing their spears
tumkonto), they in turn became assailants.
The odds were overwhelming, and the prince
was hit in several places, a stab over the eye
bringing him down. The Zulu who slew the
prince, on rushing upon the fallen prey,
found him with his sword in hand on his
knees, praying and feebly resisting at the
same time. The brave and reckless youth
was stabbed to death in the usual way, and
his arms and ornaments were removed and
sent by the Zulus to King Cetewayo, with a
report that some young officer had been over
come and the trophies forwarded as a duty
token.
''The Zulus were not soldiers, but members
of the broken tribe of Sihayo, whose terri
tory had been causelessly overrun and de-
stroyed by Lord Chelmsford, contrary to the
promises made in his proclamation and in
defiance of the principles of war. The Zulus
had been lurking about the ruins Of their de-
serted village and abandoned corn fields
when they discovered the enemy. There was
no preconcerted attack, and the firing was
done without orders. They knew nothing Of
the prince imperial or of the comparative
value of lives, and simply killed because they
had been wantonly injured.
''The flying Carey, with his followers and