The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-10

courage of Corporal ]. T. Farmer Of the
British army hospital corps. A small
force, about 400 of all ranks, had been
got to the summit of Majuba in the
night by the unfortunate General Col
ley. When day broke the Beers, in
overwhelming force, stormed the
heights and. surrounding the defenders
on three sides, proceeded to annihilate
them. The British ammunition was eX-
hausted, there was no bayonet work
and nothing was left but flight for the
general, many other officers and nearly
100 men were lying dead and there was
sorry lot of wounded.
Farmer was with the wounded on a
plateau when the fight began. He could
have got away like the rest, but in
spite of the bullets which We're raining
around him, he stuck to his charge.
He raised a white handkerchief to
show that he was associated with the
Red Cross. The hand that waved the
little white flag was shot through, and
the linen fell to the ground.
Despite his pain the valient soldier
stopped down. picked up the handker-
chief and waved it with his uninjured
limb Again a bullet struck him, and
he could hold up the flag no more. But
his life was spared, and though he had
to undergo amputation and was dis
charged on pension, he was able to
take the Victoria cross with him, for
in recognition of his valor on Majuba
that first of distinctions was conferred
on him. Il have seen some plucky
things in war" said the narrator, "but
never such show of pluck as Farm
er's"
At Laing's Mex, reverse though 1t
was to the English, there were embryo
V. c. men. The Fifty-eighth foot, now
the Second battalion Northamptonshir
regiment suffered heavy loss. When
the British were repulsed Lieutenant
A. r. Hill of the Fifty eighth (now
major) saw wounded comrade lying
helpless. He seized the PROSTATE Of
ficer and begun to hurry to shelter
with him AS he struggled bullet
struck his burden, and the comrade
died in the lieutenant's arms. In spite
of this terrible shock Hill rushed back
to succor his unfortunate brethren and
brought two of the wounded people
safely into shelter For these three
acts of valor he received the cross.
Other Transvaal heroes were Lance
Corporal James Murray and Private
John Danaher of the Second battalion,
Connaught rangers; Private James Os-
borne of the same corps as Lieutenant
Hill. and Private j. Doogan of the
First (King's) dragon guards.
Murray and Danaher. on January Is,
1881, during an affair with the Beers,
saw two SCOTS 1uSlllefS, bSfHe ana
Davis, lying wounded on the plain,
shot by Beers in the neighboring hills.
Both Murray and Danaher were
mounted and rode to the rescue. Muir
rays horse was shot under him, but
he hurried on foot to the wounded,
reaching them at the same time as
Danaher While STOPPING to raise
Byrne Murray was shot through the
body and badly wounded. Believing
that all was lost. he ordered Danaher
to look to himself. Poor Byrne died
almost Immediately and Murray AMI
Davis were captured by the Beers, who
also took the dead man. Davis. too.
died speedily, so that the rescuers'
valor was almost in vain, but to each
of them the cross was given, for Dana
her had made wonderfully courageous
efforts at salvation.
Osborne's reward was given for
similar act on February %, near Ma
juba. and Doogan was decorated for
ValGr at Laings Mex. We see, there
fore, that, while Majuba and Laings
Mex are among the most sorrowful of
English military memories. they af-
ford also examples of valor which are
among the brightest in the records of
the cross.