The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-01
RUDyARD'S THREE FRIENDS
MCManuS' ReCOlIeCtionS of the
Cholera in Northern
India.
He Has Many Visitors Who Have
Read the "Cail" and Kip
ling'S Works.

When William McManus heard several
of Kipling's plain Tales From the
Hills" read he leaned back in his chair
and laughed. "Who would ever think, !"
said he, E" that he would ever write stories
like them. He was such a quiet little
chap, but he was always great listener.
and he had way about him O. drawin' we
out like"
Mr.. McManus thinks he has been mis-
understood, as he does not want any one
to think that Colonel Stewart called him
into his quarters and presented him with
medals; that is an error. you see,' said
he, Colonel Stewart and Captain Gubbins
went home with the regiment when l was
transferred to the presidency of Bengal,
and it was long after the regiment had
reached home that the medals were sent
out to me through Captain Massey and
Lieutenant Lindsay. They were given to
me in the barrack-yard at Dynapore in the
presence of my comrades. Mr.. Klpling
was not in India at that time or for many
a year afterward to my knowledge"
That kipling was on the most intimate
terms with the three soldiers, Leroyd,
Ortheris and Mulvaney, is shown in 1.-The
Madness of Private Ortheris" when Kipling
proposes to help Ortheris to desert.
ppm to report that-am I?' said Mulyaney
| slowly. every well. Ii orth'ris names to de-
sert now and will desert now, an you sorr,
who have been a friend to me an him will
help him to ut, l, Terence Muivaney, on my
oath, which I've never bruk yet, will report as
you say. But" here he stepped up TO Or
theris and shook the stock of his fowling piece
in his face-"your fistes help you, Stanley Or
tn MS, II ever come across you again."
William McManus remembers similar
circumstance, but says it was during
drunken spree at Rawal Pindi where it
occurred, and it was considered more of q
joke than real intent at desertion.
When THE Daughter of the Regiment"
was read to him he laughed loud and long.
Faith, said he. I've good reason to re-
member Jhansi McKenna, or Hickey,
which was her real name. told you twas
at Jhansi we captured the treasure and
where l helped Colonel Showers. Ould
Hickey was sergeant of my company, and
good soldier he was, but overbearing and
ugly. Well, Mother Hickey-God rest her
soul-was a fit companion for him. AS
Mr.. Kipling says, she was the devil at
breedin' an she was most unfortunate in
losin' childer - but Jha1fsi. She was the
baby and the pet Of Company B. 'Ould
Pummeloe'-how well he remembered the
name and the cholera incident Begorra,
he is wonderful little fellow
The incident referred to by McManus is
thus described by Mulvaney to Kipling:
.'Sez the commandin OFFICER, whose name I
misremember: Take the women over to that
tope av trees yonder. Get them out av The
camp. IT'S no place for thin
"Ould Pummeloe was sitting on her beddin'-
rowl thry1ng TO bape little Jhansi quiet. 60
off to that tope! SEE the OFFICER. go out av the
ovid that she turns up her sleeves an steps
out for q well behind the rest-camp-little
Jhansi trottin' behind her wild lotah an
string, an the other women followin' like
lambs, wild horse-buckets and cookin' degchies
n Sya oil Tho Sill n
marches back into camp-'twas like a battle
field wild all the glory missin'-at the hid av
the regiment av women.
'McKenna, me mani she seq, wild voice
on her like grand-roun's challenge, tell the
bhoys TO be quiet. Ould Pummeloe's a-comin'
to look afther thim-wid free drinks
lines was louder than the noise av the poor
d1vils wild the sickness on them"
'Mr. Kipling makes me, or Mulvaney,
forget the name of the commanding Off
Ger. 1 will never forget old Major Darby
of the Second OF Queens. He was born in
India of European parents. A very strict
officer, but a good soldier, and always
treated good soldier we'll.
Poor old Mother Hickey, she had a
voice like a trumpet" said McManus.
''and heart as big as the rest of her, I
believe twas she christened General
Roberts Bob or 'Bobs.' She was a great
friend of Captain Louis Cavagnari, who
was hlllcu at SdDuI willie VlSlClQg the
Ameer of Afghanistan.
Queer name for an Irishman. wasn't
it? But he was County Mayo man an
one O. the finest officers in India. He
could speak all their languages, and for
this reason he was sent to Cabul for a con-
ference with the Amer when he was
treacherously murdered with all who were
with him.
Generals Massey and Roberts punished
them for it severely. That's why General
Roberts is Lord Kandahar, or "Bob's
bahadur.''
II never thought" continued McManus,
that the press had so much power until
yesterday. Why, bloody wars, I've had
over fifty visitors. and had l drank with
all o. them I'd be as drunk as l was the
night in Delhi. Ould East Indian and
English soldiers and many Americans who
have read Kipling came to see me. Had
they all furniture to move I'd have had to
employ four or five more wagons, but un-
fortunately in the heel of the afternoon
had to ask a friend to face my horse to the
left about and steer me home, where INV
Dinah Shadd paid him half rupee at nv
little bungalow.
Come around in day or two and I'll
tell you about many things which Mr..
Kipling must have forgotten"