The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-10-04
how | ESCAPED ISANDULA.
BY WILLIAM NJ. GRAYDON,

'Hy dear fellow, don't, l beg of you
go into this campaign with the sam,
light and boastful spirit that character
ICES the rest of your British troops. Ever
your commanders, brave and skilled mel
though they are, have no proper esti
mate of Cetewayo and his Zulus.
ought to know them we'll. Have l no,
traded in ivory and hides all through
Zululand, from the Buffalo River to the
Umvolosi? Have l not lived in theil
kraals and hunted the elephant with
their warriors: No, no, they are not to
be despised-not to be routed ut the ap-
proach of your bright uniforms and flash
ing rifle barrels. They will yield event.
ually, but they will score their mark be-
fore they go down, remember that"
This prophetic utterance was the last
admonition to me from my old friend,
John Roosevelt, the trader, when l left
Port Durnford for the interior on that
memorable Zulu campaign of 70.
Prophetic words indeed Scarcely
two weeks had passed away when the
dire massacre at Isandula sent o shiver
through all England prcmonitory
shudder of what was to follow, for on
the heels of this disaster came the awful
tidings from Rorkc's Drift.
| shiver yet sometimes to think how
near | came to leaving my bones at Is
andula. Plenty of brave fellows did
leave their bones there, but / was one of
the lucky ones. In fact, l escaped the
terrible scene entirely, though while it
T
ture warfare of my own which threatened
to have fully rs disastrous an ending as
did ISlndula.
Early on the afternoon of the dav pre-
ccding the massacre our scouts brought
In news of the approach of the Zulus.
At first little heed was paid to it. Our
intrenchment was good one. our guns
were well mounted, our ammunition was
plentiful, and the soldiers were in
cheerful, courageous mood
But towards evening things assumed a
more serious aspect. Fresh news came
in every moment. Two impis of Zulus
were advancing from the north. already
an lmpi had taken up its position on the
slope to the westward, another was on
our eastern flank, and now, to eliminate
matters. horde of the grim warriors
was steadily advancing from the south.
Our camp WAS surrounded, that was GER
tain, and our confidence now gave way
to grave fears.
Just before dark. Colonel Chelmsford
summoned me to headquarters. and. as | !
FASTENED along through the camp, l OBJ /
served with "A shiver the strange guietudt !
that had fallen on everybody.
Tie coloncl's greeting was very grave.
II have pcri!OUs mission for YOU. |
Blount," he said: will You accept it,"
Wi;hpu. waiting for an answer. he /
went on: /
We are in grave peril, eravcr indeed I
than ! care To admit. Car position j in ,
vested on all sides. and against "A com /
bined attack | don't see that We can hold !,
ont long. Sir Evelyn Wood is OIL some
" where towards the CmvoloSi-how far
away | can't tell. You must break
through tho encmy's lines, find Sir I've
!yn, II possible. and hurry him back
without an hours delay. | have chosen
you, H,ount, because know your record.
ana believe You can accomplish what /
want, II any man can do il.
I'm 10 my best. colonel, "Itoii him.
and then, with tight clasp Of the hand.
hurried of to make my preparations. I
.og it WAS now dark had IA GOOD horse.
md that in itself WAS everything. Twas
soon ready, and without saving a word
TO anybody | rode to the edge of the
ramp. and. dlSmounting, started on foot
INTO the darkness, leading my horse by
the bride.
On the eastern side of our camp were
.wo hills, on which the Zulus had in
renched themselves. Between these
nils was narrow ravine. and here Law
NY only hope. If that ravine was unoc-
'upied. was all right; if not. all was up
With me, knew.
| picked my way forward very care
ully. The ground was soft and spongy.
ma my horses hoofs made hardly any
loise. On beth hills shone the camp fires of