Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-10-12
DEFENSE OF DAMLI.

DEFENSE OF DAMLI.
It was sultry in the smoking room.
For one thing the weather was hot, for
another, the commodore had just finish
ed yarn. Markham always maintained
that the atmosphere became sulphurous
after the commodore had recounted a
personal "Reminiscences, but then he was
given to exaggeration. Still we felt
grateful that the story had passed of
without the intervention Of thunder
bolt and sat gasping relief and credulity.
Then Mildmay, from sheer nervousness,
believe, not from any desire for re-
currence of the Ananias episode, stirred
up the colonel. The colonel was sitting
behind a big cheroot, evidently incubat-
ing kettle wherein to cook the COM
modore's cabbage.
Wonderful escape that, STRIP said
Mildmay, addressing the colonel.
eyes, sir. We in the service in the
old days, before it became a school for
step dancing and circus riding, used to
have experiences which the country new
er heard Of. Adventures were common
as bilberries, sir, in those days. Cad,
sir, British soldier in those days
thought no more Of walking | 900 miles
through the enemy's country than you
do of step dancing round the park.
Probably, sir, you've never heard Of
the defense Of Fort Damli? No, sir,
don't blame you, sir, if you have not
heard of feat Of arms which preserved
half a continent for her majesty, God
bless her! We've all heard Of suppressed
dispatches and ingratitude In high places
lest the feather bed step dancers should
be replaced by men.
1T was in-never mind the date, sir,
and never mind the place. If mention
ed them, you would recall the episode,
and it is not for me to boast by telling
the full extent of the services it was my
good fortune to render this country.
"a foreign power Ono, sir, I will
mention no name-damme, sir! hope
I know my duty better than to rekindle
International complications had stirred
up the niggers against us. Twas in com
mand of Fort Damli, sir, at that time,
with handful Of men-a mere handful
but men, sir, such as your dancing
schools do not turn out nowadays.
"Fort Damli is built on promontory
running out into the sea and is only
get-at-able from one side. The niggers
had massed all their forces in the plain
in front of the fort. Twenty thousand Of
them, sir-or rather, as wish to guard
against exaggeration, I will say that I
counted 10, Notwithstanding over the
plain thick as cheese mites in Stilton.
II had SO men all told, including
one eyed drummer boy, but we laughed
at them, sir Whenever the niggers
came at the fort, we loaded our big guns
with broken bottles, bedsteads, war Of
flee regulations, which was about the
only thing they had supplied us with
from home, and moved them down by
the dozens. When they reached the walls
my boys, giving them cold pig, took tea
with the niggers.
II used to sit on the powder maya
zine, smoking cheroot, as comfortably
as I'm doing now. Cad, sir, how it all
comes back to mel That little devil Of
drummer used to nip out after the
fight and mend his drum with niggers'
skins After about a fortnight Of it we
had the niggers piled up three deep fac
ing the fort.
swell, we had held that fort for
seven weeks-no, damme, let's be &C.
curate, for 48 days-and we looked like
holding it for seven years, or until there
wasn't a niger left to come on, when
one afternoon, it was about half past a
ON Feb. 21-I'm not likely to forget
that date in a hurry-Lieutenant Simp-
kins Of the Bombardiers, my subaltern,
came to me and said: IT'S all up, sir.
We haven't round of ammunition left,
and the niggers are preparing for gen.
sral assault tonight. He was brave
man, was Simpkins-fell afterward at
Seringapatam, cut clean in half by a
cannon ball-but he looked bit scared
then.
"'Is that ALP I said offhand. Then
we shall have some fun with the bayo-
net. I am surprised at you, sir, for re-
porting such trifle. After this rebuke
! turned away, when the little drummer
almost ran into me in his excitement.
"'Captain, said he, saluting-I was
only captain in those days three
men of-war reported in the bay. look
ed out to sea and saw, as plainly as !
see you, sir, three frigates standing on
the horizon, flying the-fying the flag
Of the foreign power which was aiding
and abetting the niggers.
well, sir, must admit that when
saw these ships and remembered that
we had not a grain Of powder in the
whole blessed fort admit, sir, that, for
. moment, I felt at a loss. Another
man, who was less anxious to keep to
facts. might tell you, sir, that he never
hesitated, but !, wishing to deal with
things as they were, ! confess ! felt at 4
loss.
"But only for a moment. Lieutenant
Simpkins said, with sort Of grin,
Now, sir, you had better surrender to
the Fr--to the foreign power. Sir,
answered, drawing myself up, "a Tom
| linson dies, but never surrenders.
beg your pardon? Yes, sir; quite right.
BY perversion Of history these words
were attributed to Butcher at Sedan.
But hope, sir, you will allow that
ought to know when they were first ut
tered. Bluoher may have adapted them.
I make no complaint Well, as said,