St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-12
"CINCHiNG UP" FOR DEATH.
A Curious Impulse Felt by Soldiers
in Moments of Danger

A Curious Impulse Felt by Soldiers
in Moments of Danger.
San Francisco Examiner.
There were 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 hitch
in the belt that held UP his overalls.
THAT'S queer" said Perry Ingram,
who was passing at the time, to an EX-
aminer. II saw ten men do that in the
face Of certain death, anu of the other
250 who were with us, | guess every
nine in ten did the same. | know | did.
anyhow. Can't tell why, because |
never thought the matter over, but Pll
swear that if ever get into another
fix like that again Pll do the same thing
over.
''lt was during the Basutu war of 1880.
was trooper there at the time and
was one Of the five hundred and odd
that composed the Kimberly horse. Ii
there ever was set of not-care a. conti
mental scalaWags in Queen Victoria's
uniform it was that same gang of rough
riders. We fought all right, of course,
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 adventurerS who had
pioneered the road to the South African
diamond fields.
I'VE were in fort on Thlotse Heights.
The Basutus, about 5000 strong, were
amusing themselves potting at us from
the other side of the Thlotse river, and
one day they took it into their heads to
send about 1920 warriors across the
-tr.f.a fAr oil. halo
and do us up.
GAS it happened that morning, about
250 of us were detailed to escort couple
Of siX-pounders up the hill to the fort
from below, and on our return trip the
BaSutuS got between us and the en-
campment.
1--WE threw out in open file while they
rode down on US = they were we'll
mounted, were those BasutuS-and we
had orders to hold fire until they were
about 100 yards away.
"Well, when they came within the
given distance we fired, but instead of
soaring them by killing of hundred or
so, the beggars still came on. Dis
mounting from their horses they seized
their assegais-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 it into their
heads to go the whole hog and CHI arge
they do it.
"While l was thrusting another
cartridge into my rifle felt bit queer
about the throat. and somehow, l can't
tell how, it seemed as though my
stomach was empty. Now, L know what
1t is to be scared, but | was not fright
ened then. There was no time to be
frightened. 1t was Just stand and fight
till you dropped dead.
II laid down my rifle for second to
ooSen my revolver in its case, and then.
for some involuntary instinct that
cannot explain, | drew my belt a couple
of inbhes around my waste. AS did
so | looked around at the fellows near
est me. Every one of them was cinch-
ing up just the same as myself.
just for moment everything on our
side was silence, and the Basutus were
not seventy yards away. Then we all
began blazing away and yelling, as men
do in battle.
"The fire frightened the blacks. They
came within fifty yards of us, then
turned tail and fed. We kept blazing
away at the beggars as long as they
were in range and then suddenly ceased.
IHe ollaln was Sohc, ldc pCili VI
death over Only a moment before it
had seemed as though our little band
was to be utterly wiped off the earth.
1t was Sutfocating day, so l laid down
my gun to wife the sweat and powder
from my forehead. Then | set about
loosentng my belt. AS did so | turned
to the ten fellows nearest me. Every
one of them was doing the same.
'Queer, isn't it. that fellow wants
to cinch himself up in the face of GER
tain death?'