Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-15
AFRAID OF BULLER.
An Incident in South Africa in 1879
That Shows His Character.


From the London News
In one of his letters sent home from
South Africa in 1879 Mr.. Forbes tells a
story that will be read with interest just
now. A young Englishman of good family
had been appointed to commission in the
Frontier Light Horse under Col. Butler s
command, but had turned out trouble
some character. 1t was said that he had
become subject to fits and occasionally gave
way to drink
Last night before lights were out" said
Mr.. Forbes, 81 heard him swearing to him
self In a very excited way about some
grievance in the way OF extra duty which
he fancied he had. Later, when the camp
was quiet, he loosed off his revolver in his
tent. and there was naturally a general
commotion. No alarm was sounded, but in
an instant every man turned out and fell
into his place. with the regularity of ma
chinery and total absence of confusion that
struck me as testifying strongly to the fine
discipline and morale of the force. The
cause ascertained. the troops were ordered
to turn in, and the young officer was or
dered to consider himself under arrest The
camp was scarcely quiet again when he re-
peated the foolish performance of firing his
revolver. and there was repetition of the
universal turn out The general and his
staf''-Gen. Wood. that is-"came round
into Buffers camp, and summary and
strong measures were determined on. But
the young fellow was in his tent. rabidly
breathing out threats to slaughter, and
protesting that he would shoot any one
who attempted to e. Mai Cleg was
equal to the occasion. He had the tent
ropes loosed, and down came the tent on
its obstreperous inmate, effectually bonnet
ing him. He was at once seized bound
and, under guard, conveyed into the ar
tillery camp, where he was made fast to
gun wheel, a blanket given him. and he
was so secured from further mischief The
poor devil raved wildly all night. 1t is an
evidence of what influence Butler exerts
over those under his command that the
burden Of his constant cry was, For Gods
sake send me away before Butler comes
backt Don't let me see Butler never
can face Butler again after this Butler at
present 1s absent on a reconnaissance. He
overlooked the young fellows previous
backsliding, and had saved his life at Zlo-
bane. He had his prayer; this morning his
accounts were made up The money due to
him was paid; Gen Ward, in a word, dis
missed him from his force, with the stern
warning that II he came back he should be
1ogged as an unauthorized camp follower
He was set on his pony and escorted by an
officer and file of men to the other side
of the Blood river, and there turned adrift
on the world
Butler" writes Mr.. Forbes in another
communication, us a born commander of a
scouting force. His audacty in pushing
onward might seem to the superficial OBJ
server to border on recklessness but he is
As his long 1.-THE column moves forward
he quickly dispatches parties to the right
and left, to ascend the hills and scan the
view therefrom, to descend into and beat
out thanking valleys and destroy deserted
roads, and to make good the eXplora ton of
the whole section of country which he has
set himself to scout. His men quarter the
ground like pointers"