Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-01-25
MIR. HARRY S0THERN.

II SOu ustu dSheu MI. Harry SOt0efu l why he was spending his vacation at ] Port Natal, South Africa, he would 1 have gravely told you that the Ken l lucky Summer climate did not suit his health because it was too hot, and you might have suspected that the Colonel was guying you, and you would prob ably have been right. Nevertheless the l Colonel would have been telling you l the exact truth. Kentucky had be- l come too warm for him. The immedi- ate cause of this warmth in his old nome was q slight disagreement with another gentleman during a game of i cards, in the course eff which he had l been forced to use his pistol in order l that the other gentleman might not use his. The other gentleman happened to be an EX-Congressman, a man of l National reputation, of one of the first l families or Kentucky. The Ex-GDn- 1 gressman's son, received a Sothern l bullet through his pistol arm. Mir. l Sothorn felt that the people, with that imperfect reasoning for which he had no use, blamed him for the occurrence, and knowing people as well as he did, he knew that their blame would take the tangible form of a lynching He l did not stop to argue the matter, but lett for parts unknown until the people should have time to reflect.
 MT. Sothern had had the good luck to come out in 9 steamer chartered by the British Government for the transporta- tion of supplies to Africa. On the way l out he had cultivated the acquaintance of the officer in charge with an assidu- ity that can be appreciated only by l those who have made q long voyage in a supply ship. At first the gentleman, lieutenant in her Maiesty's service, did not respond cordially to these ad- 1 Vances. He had sized I'D MT. Sothern at his first appearance as q missionary. He changed his mind a few days later. l He was practicing with his pistol at the time with indifferent success. Harry Sothern, who had been watch 1 ing him, suggested that his aim was l too deliberate The lieutenant turned quickly and handed the revolver to his critic, who showed him how it ought l to be done. When they reached Natal l the lieutenant introduced him to the people whom it was desirable for him l to know. Just at this time the Mat tabele war was "on9 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 Kraa1, and had set fire to the villages around the place. Captain Williams, with about thirty-tiYe men, while pur- suing the enemy, was led into an am l bush and found himself cut off from all chances 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 1 by the enemy. There was nothing to dc but walt for help or annihilation. He dismOunted his men in the middle of the plain among a clump of bushes and small trees. The natives circled
 around out of range, indulging in what seemed to be a war dance.
 When I get out of this" began Harry Sothern, "I'm going into the un- dertaking business. There seems to be q good field for it here"
 An old sergeant near by replied: "Oh, no, you're not When you get out of this you're going to heaven, if you're 1 been a good boy. If these devils leave enough of you, you'll be a it subject for undertaking yourself
 Harry did not reply. He had taken off his coat and was rolling it up to put under the head of q young ensign who had been wounded as they entered the pass, and whom Sothern, amid a shower of assegais 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 con- dition.
 A few minutes later the young sol dier was dead. Harry gently laid the | boys head back upon the ground, and then picked up his Winchester with an oath. The natives were advancing all around them with continuous shout ing and beating of shields. The Brit ish soldiers were picking off the Mat abele warriors with certainty and precision that nothing could withstand. 1 The natives broke and fled. With ringing cheer the men sprang to their feet and fired and cheered together. l Harry Sothern staggered back with bullet in his thigh.
 Captain Williams helped his men move the wounded to q more sheltered spot behind trees. Harry objected to the arrangement for himself, saying: "Don't bother about moving me back. Just turn me over so 1 can shoot. Tye got an engagement to kill half a dozen niggers. yet"
 The captain laughed Then turning 10 his men, and for the first time in his life 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 q 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 l prey there floated the sound of the Ma l tional song from the throats of men who knew they would never sing 1t again. A Matabele chief, who was l captured q few weeks later, says that