The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-10
A KENTUCKIAN.

Natal, South Africa, he would have grave
" told you that the Kentucky summer
climate did not suit his health because it
was too hot, and you might have suspect
ed that the colonel was guying you, and
you would probably have been right.
Nevertheless the colonel would have been
telling you the exact truth. Kentucky
had become too warm for him. The inn
mediate cause of this warmth in his old
home was a slight disagreement with an
other gentleman during game of cards,
in the course of which he had been forced
to use his pistol in order that the other
gentleman might not use his. The old
gentleman happened to be an ex-congress-
man, man of national reputation, of one
of the first families of Kentucky. The ex-
congressman's son received a Sothern
bullet through his pistol arm. Mr.. Soth-
ern felt that the people, with that imper-
feet reasoning for which he had no use,
blamed him for the occurrence, and know
ing people as well as he did he knew that
their blame would take the tangible form
of a lynching. He did not stop to argue
the matter, but left for parts unknown I'M
til the people should have time to reflect.
Mr.. Sothern had had the good luck to
come out in a steamer chartered by the
British government for the transporta-
ton of supplies to Africa. On the way
out he had cultivated the acquaintance of
the officer in charge with an assiduity that
can be appreciated only by those who have
made long voyage in a supply ship. At
first that gentleman, lieutenant in her
majesty's service did not respond cordial
" to these advances. He had sized up Mr.
Sothern at his first appearance as a mis-
sionary. He changed his mind few days
later. He was practicing with his pistol
at the time with Indifferent success.
Harry Sothern, who had been watching
him, suggested that his aim was too DELHI
crate. The lieutenant turned quickly and
handed the revolver to his critic who
showed him how it ought to be done.
When they reached Natal, the lieutenant
introduced him to the people whom it was
desirable for him to know. just at this
time the Matabele war was son. After
weeks of waiting he got his permit to join
q bullock train which was on the way to
the front where the fighting was going on.
The main division of the British South
African corps had just defeated division
of the Matabele army at Kraal, and had
set fire to the villages around that place.
Captain Williams with about IS men,
while pursuing the enemy, was led into
an ambush and found himself cut off from
all chance of escape in a small plain sur
rounded by foothills fairly swarming with
the enemy. There was absolutely no
chance for him. The pass by which they
had entered was already occupied by the
enemy. There was nothing to do but wait
for help or humiliation. He dismounted
his men in the middle of the plain among
a dump of bushes and small trees. The
natives circ1ed around out Of range, in
dulging in what seemed to be a war dance.
''When get out of this, - began Harry
Sothern, "J'm going into the undertaking
business There seems to be a good field
for it here
An Ole sergeant near by replied: "Oh,
no, you re not. When you get out of this,
o. -,
good boy. If these devils leave enough of
you, you'll be fit subject for undertaking
yourself.
Harry did not reply. He had taken off
his coat and was rolling it up to put IN
der the head of a young ensign who had
been wounded as they entered the pass and
whom SOthern, amid a shower of assagais
and bullets, had thrown across his saddle
and had then galloped after the rest. He
could see now that the boy was dying and
it gave him a great thrOb of pity and of
rage against those who had done it. He
wondered if the boy knew his condition.
A few minutes later the young soldier
was dead. Harry gently laid the boys
head back upon the ground and then pick
ed up his Winchester with an oath. The
natives were advancing all around them
with continuous shouting and beating of
shields. The English soldiers were pick
ing off the Matabele warriors with GER
tainty and precision that nothing could
withstand. The natives broke and fed
With a ringing cheer the men sprang to
their feet and fired and cheered together.
Harry Sothern staggered back with a bull
let in his thigh.
Captain Williams helped his men move
the wounded to a more sheltered spot be-
hind the trees. Harry objected to the ar
rangement for himself, saying: Don't
bother about moving me back Just turn
chr T1Tzo
Gagement to kill half dozen niggers yet. y
The captain laughed. Then, turning
TO his men and for the first time speaking
to them as equals, he said, Gentlemen,
let's sing GOD Save the Queen.
Harry leaned back on his elbow and
watched them with an amused smile. He
had seen a good many men die in one way
and another, but he had never seen men
take it just like this before.
Across the valley to the savages who
were waiting like vultures for their prey
there hoated the sound of the national
song from the Threats of men who knew
they would never sing it again A Malta
belle chief who was captured few weeks
later says that the 6, 600 savages stood
awe bound for moment before the hand
full of men who were teaching them so
easily how not to be afraid of death. He
says that as they came across the valley
for the attack he could see man in epau-
lets (Gne captain eVldenbly) taxing 6ne
loaded rifles from a wounded soldier who
was lying beside him loading them as fast
as the captain emptied them. And he
saw, tOo a man in civilian clothes-the
same man who had jumped off his horse
to pick up wounded man as they entered
the valley-lying on his face and firing
very rapidly. And every time he fred
savage fell dead. Soon the crack, crack
of the Winchesters ceased, and there was
nothing left to show for the superiority of
the AngIo-Saxon race but 100 Matabele
warriors who failed to join in the war
dance that followed.-WilIiam Mcleod
Raine in Denver News.