The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-06
A COWBOY ZERO.
He Is From Texas, and killed the
hiimo in the MntabeIe War.

he II From Texas, and Killed the
hiimo in the MnfabeIe War.
Gable Dispatch in the New York sun.
A Texas cowboy named Burnham is tbs
hero Ok the Matabele war just now on
account Of his exploit In invading the
natives stronghold and killing the Mlimo,
religious prophet or oracle, who was d.
recting the war against the whites. The
Alimo lives in wonderful cave in the
Aatoppo hills. He Is practically the god
OF the natives. ana his miracles and proph-
ecies enabled him 10 keep control Of the
superstltious people for many years. The
English officers decided that IL was nee
esAary Tor the suppression OF the rebel
non 70 capture or Kill this negro. Burn
nam and an Englishman named Arm
strong undertook the task.
Aney mad many adventures and narrow
escapes. Reaching Mlimo's cave they
nnally found him outside Of 1t, and for
a moment alone. He was a tall wei
built man, about Gu years old, light red
IN color rather than black. Buruham
thus describes what happened;
Armstrong went straight at him and
said: You are the MlimO MANI He
seemed staggered for a moment, but said:
What them? So Armstrong told him We
were white men and we found we were
no good against the Matabeles. We want
ed some OF his witchcraft to make their
bullets turn 20 water when they struck
US, just as he had turned white mans
bullets into water. We said We had come
TO pay our respects TO him and give the
presents that the Kafiirs gave, but We
wanted blessing in the proper way, with
all ceremony.
After a little hesitation he led the way
and we followed toward the
ly in awe Of him, but was
noting all the signs 10 see whether he
was the right man. had little doubt
after first accosted him and none when
we began to ascend the rocks. As we got
near the cave all kinds Of ceremony be-
gan. At every corner he would stop and
sway his hands around, singing a low
kind Of church chant. He had nice
voice for a niger, and he kept bowling and
grooming while we came slowly along be-
hind him.
IAN the rocks at the mouth Of the cave
We're polished with the wear of ages of
feet and hands passing over them. At
last We stopped. He had begun his cere-
monies just within the cave, and went
through all manner of attitudes and
noises. There was no mistake about him
now. / would have liked to carry through
the ceremony, but glanciug out into the
valley l suddenly saw the niggers on the
move. We were trapped. There was no
good trying to arrest him with that crowd
there. All we could do was TO look out
for ourselves, and vet we could not leave
the director of the rebellion to order
further murders Of whites with women
and children.
Il just drew q bead on him and shot him
there. Then we turned and got away. AS
we went down we set fire to all the huts
at the foot of the hill. In a moment cries
resounded all over the place. The niggers
were rushing out from back of the hill.
Two tfits of them came streakng down
two different trails TO cut us Off and they
nearly did II. We just reached the horses
and slipped away, struggling over boud-
ers and jumping Off rocks as high as the
horses themselves"
Warfare by assassination may or may
not be 1ustihable under the circumstan-
ces. The point does not seem to have
been raised either IN Africa or thfs cou1.
try, where Burnham's action is received
as the deed of a brave man.