Evening star., 1896-06-16

The Kaf1rs Shot and Skirmbhed as We'll q
the Whites
An Engliah Soldiers Letter to His
FRiends-A Wild Ride for Re-
Inf0rcements.

AAOAAS0AAB
says:
Il am back again safe but not quite
sound. having been wounded in the head,
but 1t is not very serious. A bullet cut q
groove right along the back of my skull,
but 1t was too thick for it to penetrate.
We marched out on the ID Of April. 100
strong. with one Maxim. Our object was
to relieve Gwanda, q station seventy-ftve
miles out, and there were supposed to be
twenty-five men there in danger. We left
at pm. amid cheers. One troop consisted
Of Africanders. the other of Englishmen.
attached myself to Africanders. The first
night we were attacked, but repulsed the
enemy with ease. We got down to Gwanda
in thirty hours without more fighting. On
the way we found all the stores looted and
burnt. They even stabbed the pigs and
dogs. 1t was good traveling-seventy-f1 five
miles in thirty hours, in full marching or
der. started with no kit, only horse. sad
ole, etc., and rifle and revolver. We de-
cided to stay there five days. as the store
had not yet been looted. and We had plenty
OF provisions. ! was isSuer, SO my mess
lived nigh. About the fifth day we started
lack. About an hour after we started 1
felt my horse was not right, so l jumped
on, took of the saddle and put In small
spring wagon we had with US that / used
to carry rations in and extra ammunition.
In about an hour I saw it was all up with
the poor old chap. He walked slower and
slower the froth streaming from his nose.
AT last he stopped. told the other fellows
to go on. as should stop with him to the
lest. They wanted to shoot him, but l
said the first one who shot my horse ]
should loose off into him.
$50 they left me, and I stayed with the
poor old chap till he died-his head on my
knees. l tell you l felt sick. Poor old fel-
low, he knew me to the last. ! walked on
and caught the troop up five miles further
the anfain and all for
as he was far and away the best horse and
the best looked after. l lay down under
little bush and fell asleep, l was so tired;
l had lad no sleep and hard work for the
last twenty-four hours. When 1 awoke
every one was gone. 1 thanked God 1 was
still alive. Then I walked after them and
caught them up at night. We did no;
sleep much that night, and next day at
dawn started. We did twelve miles, and
then rested for an hour, then went on for
twelve miles more. We were in nasty
cloof. We found about twenty head of cat
tie, and Of course took them, after ex-
changing a few shots with the herds. i
said that it was a trap. l was right.
"Abcut half a mile on we were going
through neck, hills on each side. l was
Oh the front seat of the little wagon, when
1 saw a sheet of flame and heard roar;
the bullets came like hail. The mules turn
ed and broke the pole. l jumped down.
got them straight, and set to work to
mend the pole, with the driver, but the
bullets were thick, and they made me n
target; one graZed my cheek, another went
between my legs, while third took but
ton off my leggins. l got behind a tree
alongside the wagon, rested my rife on
branch, and began. / let them have H. ]
saw three fall the first three shots, as they
were only a hundred yards off. But our
fellows were falling fast. and horses drop
ping everywhere SO we had to advance.
I'VE got on to a bit of open, but the mig
gers were close behind in the loog grass
We went on advancing for four miles,
fighting hard the whole time. AT last we
got to rise and made a stand, it was
Pretty clear We had lost heavily. But they
kept on Us just as heavy fire as We kept
on them. Our ammunition was nearly run
cut.
THE captain asked me If would try to
ride through to Buuwayo for reinforce
nents and ammunition. which was terribly
short. 1 said. I'll try
Il took the best horse ] could see near,
cut the equipment loose and jumped into
the saddle. AS / left them 1 had hail
storm of bullets after me. All of a sudden
bullet struck me in the head, went right
through my hat and cut a groove along
my Skull 1 fell forward. and heard man
say, Poor old -, pipped.' l jumped UP
and said, No fear. Where's that blooming
kafir? l saw him, and he didn't go far.
A fellow came up and tied up my head,
and l went on firing. My head and face
was covered with blood. Now about the
ride.
Il rode like the wind for ten miles, then
brandy + ad in my flask l then rushed Oh
till my horse fell and rolled over me. l
thought my leg was broken. but managed
tC get in the saddle and go on. After a
while l gave him the rest of the brandy
and rode to within six miles of Buuwayo,
when / met two men bringing out a dis
patch.
MY horse was DONE so l took one of
theirs. told them to come back. ard gal
loped into Buluwayo. l did the thirty
miles in one hour and half, and had COW
cred sixty miles that day, and five hours
hard fighting. 1 saw Col. Spreckley, and he
have my wounds bandaged ard stared
with them. We met them twelve miles
cut. They had fought their way through
the kaff1rs. 1 had to walk back, and got
in at am, having done e;ghty-five miles
in tweiity-four hours and five hours fight
ing. We lost eight dead and twenty
wounded out Of a hundred. We killed
about 800 out of 1900 that attacked us
The thirst was terrible. My tongue stuck
to my mouth; but l managed to keep cool
throughout. My messmate was shot be-
side me; his blood spattered all over me;
poor fellow, he Is Dead l hadn't time to
cne time they We're within thirty yards of
Us. It's the hottest action fought In Mata-
heleland., l was surprised to see how we'll
the kaffirs shot and skirmished, as good
as any white troops, taking advantage Of
all the cover. We lost about thirty horses
They used to rush up to our wounded
horses we left behind and stab them
shouting 'Quaaser, quaaser.' / saw one
stick horse, but l quaasered him as he
put his spear in."