The record-union., 1897-08-23
FACED A NATION.
HEROIC DEED OF ABEL KRU-
FER IN AFRICA.
The Cousin of President loom
Paul" Slew a Thousand
Warriors.

In these days, when the stalwart, IN
finching figure of the Boer crowds the
broad canvas of South Africa. it is or
interest to encounter true story Of
heroism from the early annals OF the
Orange Free State. Such a story is
that of Abel Kruger, whose marvellous
exploits can be favorably compared with
those of Horatius Coolies or the Victors
of Thermopylae.
The facts about Abel Kruger learned
during my stay in South Africa, from
the lips Of Mr. Laughlin of Bloem-
fontein, Orange Free State, members OF
whose family were companions in arms
of the gallant Boer, Kruger was a near
relative of President Paul Kruger or the
Transvaal-the famous "Oom Paul.
A little more than thirty years have
passed since the Orange Free State, at
that time still in its infancy, Waged
sanguinary war with the Basutus, then
newly welded into nation by their as
tute king. Mosheshe-
The country Of the Basutus is a lana
of broken and rugged mountains. clus-
tering about the head waters OF the
Orange River. From the western foot OF
these mountains the open plains OF the
Free State stretch away grassy ana
treeless, toward the setting sun. over
all it's level expanse there is hardly a
hill to be seen, while the air is so pure
and dry that objects can be discerned at
an almost incredible distance
At the very outbreak of hostil1ties with
the Basutus, the Free State called to
arms every able-bodied burgher within
her boundaries. Now the Boer soldier,
always a horseman, may literally be
said to live in the saddle-for them the
saddle he shoots; in the saddle, Wmle
riding he half the time eats; and only
dismounts when pressed by the eXlgeh-
cies of Sleep Trained from his child
hood to shoot from the saddle, every
man is an expert rider and marksman-
such a soldier was Abel Kruger, one OF
the very best to be summoned from MS
farm, to drive back the murderouS
bands Of Mosheshe, who, coming down
from their mountains at unexpected
points. strove with demon ferocity, to
blot out in fire and blood, every home
and settlement of the whites within
reach Of firebrand and assegai.
The Beers forces all mounted-as has
been said-were divided into small bands
of from so TO 200 men. Each band, or
''commando," operated in a semi-inde-
pendent manner against the half-civll-
lied enemy, confning itself generally as
much as possible to its proper district
The commando to which Abel Kruger
belonged was early called away from
the neighborhood of his residence, to
scour the country. far and near. in
search of parties of marauders.
The Kruger farmhouse was situated
on the open plain some miles distant
from the mountains, and Abel suspect
ed that it would sooner or later be ex-
posed to attack. 1t bore hard with, him
to go away with the commando, and
leave his home almost defenseless. His
wife and children were there, with only
two or three faithful servants to pro-
tect them. Naturally he was anxious
for their safety, when, after an absence
of a week, his commando rode back to
his place
While still afar off, Abel stopped low
in his saddle, striving to descry the
smoke wreathing up from the chimney.
The cattle that should have grazed on
the plain in the vicinity were nowhere
to be seen. Nearer and nearer rode the
troop, till at last the house was in view
roofless and ruined. Five minutes later
they dismounted before the bIackened
walls.
Where are my wife and my chill
dren?'' he cried, rushing in through the
charred and smoke-b -begrimed doorway.
Their mutilated corpses lay before him
in all the horrible ghastliness of death
For some moments he gazed at them in
silence. The shining tears coursed down
his bearded face, but never a. word did
he utter. He slowly walked back and
replaced himself in the saddle, vowing
vengeance on the murderous Basutus.
His companions had mounted, and
We're ready to gallop away, when Abel
rode up beside the commander, took off
his hat, and with upraised arm called
God and man to witness his resolve
that as long as the war should con-
tinue he would never again leave his
ruined farm, which" said he. 'I was
wrong to have gone from at all, know
ing, as I did, that it was sure to be
laid in ruins by those black-skinned
and tiger-hearted murderers.''
Reasoning with a man in Abel's state
of mind was useless. so his commander
and companions allowed him to do as he
pleased. From the whole troop he got
bountiful supplies of biltong, powder
bullets and buckshot. Then the COM
7nando rode away, leaving him alone al
the desolate farm. He filed his sand
bags, and slowed away his supplies on
both his horseS-for each burgher had
two, one to mount when the other grew
tired. Then he off-saddled. and let his
horses Craze and refresh themselves
while he himself stretched upon the
grass, thoughtfully laid out his plan
of campaign.
He would fight the Basutus single
handed, and not only would he make
his ruined farm the headquarters, but
he would find a bait sure to draw
them thither. For this purpose some
cattle would be necessary. These he
would take from the Basutus them
selves.
That night he rode off toward the
mountains and stampeded one of theil