The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-13
DEFENSE OF DAMLI.

ed a yarn. Markham always maintained
that the atmosphere became sulphurous
after the commodore had recounted q
personal "Reminiscences, but then he was
given to exaggeration. Still we felt
grateful that the story had passed off
without the Intervention of a thunder
bolt and sat gasping relief and credulity.
Then Mildmay, from sheer nervousness,
I believe, not from any desire for a re-
currence Of the Ananias episode, stirred
up the colonel. The colonel was sitting
behind a big cheroot, evidently incubat-
ing a kettle wherein to cook the COM
modore's cabbage.
Wonderful escape that, sir!' 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, a 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, I
don't blame you, sir, if you have not
heard of a 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.
lit was in-never mind the date, sir,
and never mind the place. If l 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 (no, sir, I will
mention no name-damme, sir! l hope
l know my duty better than to rekindle
international complications had stirred
up the niggers against US. was III COM
mand of Fort Damli, sir, at that time,
with a handful Of men-a mere handful
but men, sir, such as your dancing
schools do not turn out nowadays.
Fort Damli is built ON a p~romontory
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 I wish to guard
against exaggeration, I will say that I
counted 10, S63-a-swarming over the
plain thick as cheese mites in a Stilton.
Il had 90 men all told, including a
one eyed drummer boy, but we laughed
at them, sir. Whenever the niggers
anne at the fort, we loaded our big guns
with broken bottles, bedsteads, war Of
fee 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.
Il used to sit or the powder maya
zine, smoking a cheroot, as comfortably
as I'm doing now. Cad, sir, how it all
comes back to me! That little devil of
a 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.
well, we had held that fort for
seven weeks-no, damme, let's be &C
curate, for As 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 4
on Feb. 21-I'm not likely to forget
that date in a burry-Lieutenant Simp-
kns OF the Bombardiers, my subaltern,
came to me and said It's all up, sir.
We haven't a round of ammunition left,
and the nlggers are preparing for a gen
eral assault tonight He was a brave
man. was Simpkins-feil afterward at
Seringapatam, cut clean in half by a
cannon ball-but he looked a bit scared
then.
Is that all?' I said offhand. Then
we shall have some fun with the bayo-
net. l am surprised at you, sir, for re-
porting such a trihe.' After this rebuke
l turned away, when the little drummer
almost ran into me in his excitement.
"'Captain,' said he, saluting-I was
only a captain in those days three
men-of-war reported in the bay 1 look
ed out to sea and saw, as plainly as I
see you, sir, three frigates standing on
the horizon, flying the-hying the flag
OF the foreign power which was aiding
and abetting the niggers.
We'll, sir, l must admit that when
saw these ships and remembered that
We had not a grain Of powder in the
whole blessed fort l admit, sir, that, for
a moment, l felt at a loss. Another
man, who was less anxious to keep tc
facts. might tell you, sir, that he never
hesitated, but l, wishing to deal with
things as they were. I confess l felt at 6
loss.
but only for a moment. Lieutenan,
Simpkins said, with a sort of grin
Now, sir, you had better surrender t,
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 word
were attributed to Butcher at Sedan
But I hope. sir, you will allow that
ought to know when they were first ut
tered. Butcher may have adapted them