The Yellowstone journal., 1893-05-24
ClNChiNo up FOR TROUBLE.
\ Curious Impulse That Soldiers Feel In
Moments of Danger.

~
Moments of Danger.
There We're two men lowering heavy
cask of wine into cellar the other day.
and one of them asked his comrade to
stand by moment. The man stood by
and the first speaker took an extra hitc
in the belt of his oyeralls.
That's queer" said Perry Ingram
who was passing at the time. Il saw 10
men do that in the face of certain death
and of the other 250 who We're with Us
guess nine in every 10 did the same !
know ! did anyhow. Can't tell why
because | never thought the matter over
but I'll swear that if ever get into an
other fix like that again I'll do the same
thing over.
1T was during the Basutu war Of 1850
was a trooper there, and was one of the
800 and odd that composed the Kimberley
Horse. Ii there ever was set of moi.
care-a-continental scalawags in Queen
Nictoria's uniform, it was that same
gang of rough riders.
I'VE fought all right. Of course. but
that all we We're good for Honestly. ]
think half the troop was made up Of e,;-
convicts and the balance Of that class of
adventurers who had pioneered the road
to the South African diamond fields.
We were in fort or Thlotse heights
The Basutrs. about 1000 strong, were
amusing themselves TIotting at us from
the other side Of the Thlotse river, and
one day thay took If into their heads to
send l 200 warriors across the stream,
over fords above and below us. to 90 us
up.
.'As it happened that morning about
2o0 of us We're detailed to escort a couple
of 6-pounders up the hill to the fort from
below. and on our return trip the Basu-
tus got between us and the encampment
I'VE threw out III open file while they
rode down on us-they We're well mount
ed, We're those Basutus--anl we had or
ders to hold fire until they We're about
100 yards away
We'll, when they came within the
given distance we fired, but instead Of
soaring them by killing off hundred or
SO the beggars still came on. Dismount-
ing from their horses, they seized their
assesais. The hill was black with them,
and they rushed on us like the hounds of
hell
It's all up now, boys thought l, for
when those chaps take lit into their heads
to go the whole hog and charge they
do it.
while | was thrusting another car
fridge into my rife | felt bit queer
about the throat, and somehow, can't
tell how, it seemed as though my stom-
ach was empty.
Now, | know what it is to be scared
but was not frightened then There
was no time to get frightened It was
just stand and fight till you dropped
dead full of spear holes.
Il laid down my rife for a second to
loosen my revolver IL its case, and tlel.
from some involuntary instinct that I
cannot explain drew in my belt cou
pie of inches around my waist As did
SO | looked at the fellows nearest me
Every one of them was cinching up Just
the same as myself
Just for moment everything on our |
side was silence. and the Basutus were
not 20 yards away. Then we all began /
blazing away again and yelling as me-
do in battle
The FIRE frightened the blacks. They /
came within 30 yards Of us. then turned /
tail and fed W. kept blazing away at
the beggars as long as they were il
range, and then suddenly ceased
The strain was gone. the peril Of
death over. Only moment before il
had seemed as though our little band was
70 be wiped off the earth II was a suf.
locating day, 50 | laid down my gun to
wipe the sweat and powder from my
forehead
Then ! set about loosening my belt
As did SO | turned to the 10 fellows
nearest Inc. Every one of them was do
ing the same
"gneer, isn't II that fellow wants TO
clnch himself mp Ill the face Of certain
Francisco Examiner