Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-01-22
WOISELEY STORIES.
THE GREAT ENGLISH COMMANDER
TELLS TWO GOOD ONES.


Gordon's Curious Conduct In Front OF
the kedan-A New York Newspaper Cor
respondent In Battle.
The tale was ELECTED by question as TO
whether Lord Wolsecy knew Charles Cor
don in the Crimea and what he thought
of him.
ooh, yes; knew Gordon-knew him
very well We were subaltcrns together
young follows, just beginning life, full OF
spirits and go. In spite OF all the hard
ships 10 road before us seemed bright, in
terminable-always leading upward. Ger.
aid Graham, Gordon and | were often to-
gether in the advanced works in front Of
the Redan We had already come to look
on Graham's courage as something almost
supernatural. You know his height-well
on TO 6 feet g inches, l should say. Well
he used TO stand upon the trenches and
pay no more attention to the Russian fire
than if the bullets had been snow balls,
and when he was relieved in the evening,
instead of crawling along the trench I'M
der cover, he used TO step out of IL on to
the open ground and make n bee line for
his quarters. At first the Russians were
too astonished ut this piece of cheek to
take any steps TO put an end 10 il, but as
1t was repeated again md again their
sharpshooters grew more numerous, till at
last perfect mob of them used to wait
for Graham's appearance, and then let
fly. But he walked away, with his back
TO them, evening after evening, as cool
as a cucumber and was never touched.
Again and again we demonstrated with
him, told him he had no business to make
cock shy of himself, but nothing we
could say altered his resolution. He'd bs
hung, he said, before he'd take the trou.
bic to crawl "a quarter OF a mile out of his
way TO avoid the Russian fire Let them
shoot and be damned TO them!''
"And you, " we asked, interrupting the
narrator, chow used you to 90 to your
tentf"
"Oh," he went on modestly, with
CLEAN of humor in his eyes, Il crawled
along the trench in the mud and slush till
! was well beyond gunshot / suppose
my disposition was calculating and ambi-
tious. did not see what could be taken
by getting bullet in the back for no
reason. -
And Gordonf" again we interrupted
That's the curious part OF It. " was the
reply. lone evening Charley Gordon
would link arms with Graham and walk
away as il IL bailstorm of bullets had no
power to hurt him, and the very next even
ing be would crawl along the trench after
me y, if he would like 10 hide in the
slush "
The second story is concerned with the
man who will probably be found to have
won enduring reputation, though not ex
actly the fame of the heroic defender Of
Khartum.
"War correspondents" exclaimed Lord
Wolseley. "Some OF them are desperately
brave, while Others are anything but he
roes The majority, thin. do their Guty
we'll even wher :, lcaas them into tight
pi"- By the way, talking of tight
blaces and war correspondents, / remem-
Der an incident that may interest you. Is
was at the beginning OF tho Ashanti cam
paiRn, Just after our landing. a square
built little man came up TO me and said,
speaking slowly and with an unmistakable
American accent:
General. allow me TO introduce my
self. | am the correspondent OF the New
York Herald. =
"Too busy to attend TO him, l cut him
short with, What can do for you, sirf'
He replied imperturbably, with the
same exasperating slowness, We'll, gen.
eral, want TO be as near you as l can II
there is any fightin to be seen.
d" Captain So-and-so has charge OF all
the arrangements concerning corresponds
ents rejoincd CURLY You had better
see him And with this turned on my
heel and went about my business.
Il saw no more of my correspondent
with the aggravating GOODNESS and slow
ness Of speech for many day. did not
even know whether he was accompanying
the column or not.
Personally speaking, was only In
danger once during the whole expedition.
1t was shortly before we entered kumassi.
had pressed forward with the advanced
troops, hoping TO break the last effort al
resistance and have done with the affair,
when the enemy, utilizing the heavy Gov
ert, came down and fairly surrounded u.s.
For few minutes the position was crit
ioal and every man had TO fight, for the
enemy's fire was poured In at close guar
tiers. They pressed upon us from all sides
lodging from tree TO tree, and continually
edging closer, hoping TO get hand 20 hand
In the hottest of IL my attention wa
caught by "a man in civilians clothes, wh'
was some 10 or 30 yards in front Of me
and who was completely surrounded by
advancing saVages. lie seemed 10 pay III
heed TO the danger he was In, but kneelinl
on one knee took aim and fired again ant
again and / seemed TO see that every tint
he fired "A black man fell. L was fascinated
by his danger and GOODNESS. As our mail
body came up and the savages were drivel
back, went forward 20 see that no harm
came TO my civilian friend, who rose just
as reached him. To my astonishmcnt !
: was the correspondent of the New Yor
Herald and he began again, in the sam
slow, calm way
Well, general
again L interrupted him: You ar
lucky TO escape. Didn't you sec that 20
were surroundedp
"'Well, general he began again,
guess was too much occupied by the mis-
gers in front to pay much attention
those behind.'
"That was evidently the simple truti