Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-12-22
"Most Excellent Pig-sticking."

1t seems that the Beers are getting
ample revenge for the slaughter of a
small detachment of their forces at
Glands Laagte by the aristocratic
Fifth Lancers of the British regular
army, a gentleman's regiment" off,
cered by members OF the "smart set"
Several squadrons of the Fifth Ian.
GERS, about 800 in all, fell in with
party OF 80 Beers. The latter, when
surrounded, threw down their arms,
and being unable to speak the language
OF their foes, fell upon their knees in
duplicating attitudes, indicating that
they had surrendered. But the high
bred, sportsman-like instincts of the
crack regiment were not to be baked
of chance to kill by any device or
subteriuge. The order to "Show no
quarter" was given, and "until dark
ness came on" an officer writes, "most
excellent pig-sticking' ensued, the
bag being about sixty"
Only think of it! A civilized officer
of q Christian nation rejoicing over
slaughter Of human beings, and calling
it "pig-sticking" and a bagging"
of game! Surely men are turned into
demons, at times, by the sight of blood
and an opportunity to crafty their
hellish natures.
Is there any wonder that the Beers
fight with frenzy born of despera-
ton Should there be any surprise
that despair should nerve their stall
wart arms to heroic deeds Is it not
just award of the god of battles that
victory should now perch ON the BAN
ners of people who, after ruthless
persecution, were cut down in cold
blood, on surrender and while suppli-
eating for mercy Shame upon Chris
tian civilization when it finds express
sion in the acts Of demons!
Retributive justice was not long de-
layed. The Ninth Lancers, detached
from Gen. Methuen's column to cut
off the Boer retreat, at the battle of
Belmont, we're captured by the Free
State troops. Then followed success
sion OF disasters. Gen. Gatacre met
defeat on the 10th, near Stormberg, in
which 600 of his command were killed
or missing; Lord Methuen, on the
18th, at Magersfontein, retreated, leav-
ing his wounded with the foe-7O0
Highlanders and an unknown number
from the Black Watch regiment, in
Guiding high officers. Then Butler, on
the 18th, in an attempt to ford the Tu-
gela river, was compelled to retire,
leaving eleven large guns with the en-
envy. Gen. Butler admits the loss OF
nearly LOO officers and men. A re-
capitulatiou of British losses, places
the grand total of killed, wounded and
captured. including those who are
bottled" by environment, at Lady
smith, Kimberly, Natal, and other
points, at $4,000 men, while $4,000
British troops are in Africa they have
not yet succeeded in forcing the bat
tie line to the heart of the enemy's
country.
This looks indeed very much as if the
"most excellent pig.sticking" had been
transferred to other hands. 1t would
seem that the Fifth Lancers might
possibly, under these circumstances,
feel very much like the Frenchman
after his hunt for tigers in the wilds of
this same Africa. He thus related his
perience: "Oui u,onsieur; vighting
re ti-gare ees, vat you call him--ah,
excellent sport'-long as zee ti.gare
run away; mails, ven re ti-gare he hunt
re French-man, zen, by gar, eet ees
mooch deefer-antp