The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-23

ing In any way against the English. like
keen sportsmen, and when they have gained a
point they will often write sarcastic and anus
ing notes to tho officers they have worsted.
A little while ago some daring Pathans stole
into a bungalow where an English officer was
sleeping and had the audacity to light a candle.
The officer on awakening saw n tall Afridi
standing over him with q drawn sword and
dared not reach for his revolver. which lay I'M
der his pillow. But in a couple of minutes the
light was put out. and as the Englishman saw
two figures retreating through the doorway he
seized his revolver and took a shot. The result
was that the next day he received a note con-
tanning the following cutting words:
well, you are a swine. You knew I had
you at my mercy and let you go. and yet you
take a shot at me when my back Is turned.
Look out for our next meeting Many accounts
of this description have reached me from first
sources.
We have now been camped for five days at
Swaikot. surrounded by mountains almost de-
void Of vegetation ana lately capped with snow.
Yesterday | went about seven miles further up
the Bara Valley with a detachment OF the Ok
fordshires and two mountain guns to escort
Gen. Lockhart, who had just been heard from.
and to bring back his wounded. AS we neared
our destination wo became engaged with
some of the Afridis. who were firing on
Gen. Lockhart's men from the top of
II hill. Our two mountain guns soon dispersed
the snipers from that single position, but there
were larger forces of the enemy to the west that
were harass!ng in n terrible manner the rear
guard of the column from Bagh. There had
been continual attacks on the rear guard, and
many casualties cnsued on both sides. Gen.
LOckhart's men had suffered much already. and
last night the poor fellows in the rear guard lost
over sixty OF their number. 1t was awful.
Many OF the commissRriat animals did not
get into camp until long after dark.
and all the time the Afridis were
casting death and destruction among the men.
Wounded soldiers were hopping about, unable
to find q blanket even for n long time, while the
noise from the whistling bullets increased as
night settled over the dismal camp. The night
was bitterly cold and tho sufferings were terri.
BILE. The column from Bagh had lost over forty
soldiers Just before this encounter. and many
litter-bearers had been killed in addition. owing
to their having broken open n barrel of rum and
fallen a prey to the enemy while drunk.
1t was a pitiable sight to see tho long string
or 100 dead and wounded soldiers being brought
into this camp this morning. / was pleased to
learn that the enemy has also suffered severely.
All of Gen. Lockhart's forces are now in and the
Afridis have followed them to our camp. Even as
! am writing the valley is rcsounding with tho
firing OF guns and much sniping into camp Is
expected tonight. shall undoubtedly have a
good deal OF news 10 tell in my next letter. II
Gen. Hammond's brigade moves toward the
Khyber Pass. as it is expected to do.
The AfridIs have not submitted to tho easy
terms imposed upon them. and since they COM
mcnced an unprovoked attack on India they
should be followed up and made to suffer in
their homes In the Khyber. the scene OF their up
rising. Cruel to the last degree themselves.
they should not TO dealt with lenicntly. When
men fire the clothes OF wounded prisoners. rs
these rascals have done. little quarter need be
shown them. They will not meet the English
on even ground, and therefore destruction of
their villages is the only course TO be pursued.
A npNA popN- GNstru