Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-06
CINCHING UP FOR DEATH.
A Curious Impulse That Soldiers Feel I'm
Moments of Danger.

Curious Impulse That Soldiers Feel I'm
Moments of Danger.
From the San Francisco Examiner.
There were two men lowering heavy cask
of wine into a cellar the other day, and one of
them asked his comrade to stand by a moment.
The man stood by and the first speaker took an
extra hitch in the belt that held up his overalls
That's queer" said Perry Ingram. who was
passing at the time. Il saw ten men do that in
the face OF certain death and Of the other $50
who were with us guess nine in ever, ten did
the same l know did, anyhow. Can't tell
why, because I never thought the matter over,
but II swear that IL ever get into another fix
like that again I'll do the same thing over
1T was during the Basutu war OF 1880. /
was a trooper there at the time and was one Of
the 500 and odd that composed the Kim
berly horse. III there ever was Q set Of not
care-a-contiuental scallawags in Queen victo-
ria 8 uniform it was that same gang of rough
riders. We fought all right, of cou-se, but that
was all We were good for. Honestly. think
half the troop was made up Of ex-convicts and
the balance Of that class Of adventures who had
pioneered the road to the south African dia-
mond fields
1--WE were in fort on Thlotse Heights: the
Basutus, about 5000 strong, were amusing
themselves pottinQ at us from the other side of
the Thiotss river, and one dav they took il into
their heads to send about ], 200 warriors across
the stream, over fords above and below us, to
do us up.
''As it happened that morning, about $50 of
US we're detailed to escort a couple OF six
Founders up the hill to the fort from below.
and On our return Zip the Basutus got between
us and the encampmeEt.
I've threw out in open file. while they rode
down on rs-they were well mounted, we're
those 3asutus- we had orders to hold fire
until they were about 100 yards away.
Swell when they came within the given dis
fap fro hat limit Of d
killing off hundred SO. the beggars still
came on. Dismounting from their horses they
| seized their assegais-the MIL was black with
them-and they rushed On like the hounds
| Of hell
"'It's all up now. boys thought T. for when
| those chaps take il into their heads to 60 the
whole hog and charge they 80 it.
While l WAS thrcs.ing another cartridge into
/ NV rife felt bit queer about the throat, and
| somehow, can't tell how, it seemed as though
nv stomach was empty. Now, know what il
| is TO be scared but was not frightened then
| There time 20 get frightened. Ii va
just stand and fight till you dropped dead full
of spear holes.
II laid down my rife for a second TO loosen
my revolver in its case, and then, from some
involuntary instinct that cannot explain.
| drew in my belt couple of inches around my
waist. As did SO looked around at the fell
lows nearest me. Every one of them cinch
ing up just the same rs myself.
Just for q moment everything on our side
was silence, and the Bssutus were not seventy
yards away. Then we all began blazing away
again and yelling. as men do in battle.
The fire frightened the blacks. Thew came
within fifty yards of us, then turned tail and
fed. We kept blazing away at the beggars a,
long as they were in range, and then suddenl,
| ceased.
The strain was gone, the peril Of death over
! Only moment before it had seemed as though
our little band was to be utterly wiped of tn,
earth. 1t was suffocating day. 30 laid dowr
my gun to wipe the sweat and powder from m,
forehead. Then set about loosening my belt
As did SO turned TO the ten fellows neares
me. Every one of them was doing the same
| Queer, isn't it. that fellow wants to cincl
himself up in the face OF certain death?''