Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-07
how | ESCAPED ISANDULA.
BY WILLIAM NJ. GRAYDoN.

BY WILLIAM NJ. GRAYDoN.
s'My dear fellow, don't, beg of you,
70 into this campaign with the same
light and boastful spirit that character
lies the rest of your British troops. Even
Your commanders, brave and skilled men
though they are, have no proper esti-
mate of Cetewayo and his zulus.
ought to know them we'll. Have l not
faded in ivory and hides all through
Heluland, from the Buffalo River to the
Umvolosi2 Have l not lived in their
krsals and hunted the elephant with
their warriors2 No, no, they are not to
be despised-not to be routed at the ap-
proach of your bright uniforms aud fash
ing rifle barrels. They will yield event
Vally, 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 | left
Port Durnford for the interior on that
memorable Zulu campaign of 10
Prophetic words indeed! Scarcely
two weeks had passed away when the
dire massacre at Isandula sent shiver
through all England-a premonitory
shudder of what was to follow, for on
the heels of this disaster came the awful
tidings from Rorke'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, | escaped the
terrible scene entirely, though while it
was going on l was conducting minia
ture warfare of my own which threatened
to have fully as disastrous an ending as
did Isandula.
Early on the afternoon of the day pre-
ceding the massacre our scouts brought
in news of the approach of the Zulus.
At first little heed was paid to it. Our
intrenchment was a good one, our guns
were well mounted, our ammunition was
plentiful, and the soldiers were in a
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 impi had taken up its position on the
slope to the westward, another was on
our eastern flank, and now, to culminate
matters, horde of the grim warriors
Vas 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 |
hastened along through the camp, | OBJ
served with shiver the strange quietude
that had fallen on everybody.
The coloneIs greeting was very grave.
81 have q perilous mission for you,
Blount," he said; twill you accept it?"
Without waiting for an answer, he
went on:
owe are in grave peril graver indeed
than | care to admit. Our position is IN
Vested on all sides, and against COM
bined attack don't see that we can hold
out long. Sir Evelyn Wood is off some
where towards the Umvolosi-how far
away | can't tell. You must break
through the enemy's lines, find Sir Eve
lyn, if possible, and hurry him back
Without an hours delay. | have chosen
you, Blount, because know your record,
and believe you can accomplish what
want, If any man can do it"
ON do my best, colonel, - | told him,
and then, with tight clasp of the hand,
hurried off to make my preparations
for it was now dark. had a good horse,
and that in itself was everything Twas
soon ready, and without saving a word
to anybody rode to the edge of the
camp and, dismounting, started on foot
INTO the darkness, leading my horse by
the bride.
On the eastern side of our camp were
two hills, on which the Zulus had in
trenohed themselves. Between these
bills was narrow ravine, and here Law
my only hope. If that ravine was unoc-
cupied, l was all right; if not, all was up
with ME, knew.
| picked my way forward very care
fully. The ground was soft and sponov
and my horses hoofs made hardly any
noise. On beth hills shone the camp fires Of
the Zulus, blazing away merrily in along
line The ravine was conspicuous only
9y It's darkness, and from this | inferred
that the way was open.
At last reached the very edre of the
raYlne. Up above M on the hillsdes |
could see the dusky forms moving to and
fro in the freight, and could hear the
rascals' conversation very plainly.
| listened a moment, but ali seemed
quiet ahead. The Zulus are sharp fellow.
and for all | knew there might be half a
dozen savage warriors lurking in the
shadows, ready to impale me on their
assegais.
There was no use in delaying. The
sooner 1t was over the better | spurred
up my horse. and away We went into the
gloom at sharp, quick trot. Twenty or
thirty yards had been covered, and wos
just beginning to congratulate myself.
when whizz came an assegNi past my head
anda dark form sprang out of the path lust
in time to escape my horses hoofs
Another came flying after my retreatn.
form, but in moment more was beyond
their reach, dashing up the ravine at
pace which defed pursuit
just as l supposed, the rascals hac
been lurking there in the darkness, anC
had the gloom not been so intense
would never have left the place alive.
The rayine narrowed to dark, rock.