Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-27
TRANSVAAL HEROES.
Notable Instances Of Courage Among
British Soldiers
Deeds of ynlor Performed at Ma
jubn Hill mud Lring's Mex
In Battles with the
Doors.


Is so bitter among the English people
that they are apt to forget that in
spite of Majubn Hill, Laings Mex and
the Ingogo Heights--all Of which were
disastrous to the British troops-the
Victoria cross was awarded on no fewer
than six occasions in the Transvaal in
the campaign of 1sso-s1. Majuba Hill
itself, reverse that will never die ont
of the recollection of the present gen
Grafton, afforded its example of that
British valor which has made nearly all
their military undertakings famous.
A survivor OF Majuba tells of the
courage OF Corporal j. 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 Gen. Colley.
When day broke the Beers, in over
whelming force, stormed the heights
and, surrounding the defenders or three
sides, proceeded to annihilate them. The
British ammunition was exhausted,
there was no bayonet work and MOTH
ing left but fight, for the general, many
other officers and nearly 100 men were
lying dead and there was n sorry lot of
wounded.
Farmer was with the wounded on u
plateau when the flight began. He
could have got away like the rest, but
in spite of the bullets which were rain
ing around him, he stuck TO his charges.
lie 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 vahant soldier
stopped down, picked up the handker-
chief, and waved it with his uninjured
limb. Again bullet struck him, and
he could hold up the flag no more. But
his life was spared, and though he had
to undergo amputauon and was dis
charged on pension, he was able to take
the Victoria cross with him, for in rec
ognition Of his valor on Majuba that
first of distinctions was conferred on
him. 81 have seen some plucky things
in war;" said the narrator, ''but never
such show of pluck as Farmers"
At Laing's Mex, reverse though it was
TO the English, there were embyro v.
c. men. The Fifty-eighth foot, now
the Second battalion Northamptonshire
regiment, suffered heavy loss. When the
British were repulsed Lieut.. A. r. Hill,
of the Fifty-eighth (now mator) saw a
wounded oomrade lying helpless. He
seized the prostratc officer, and began to
hurry to shelter with him. As he
struggled bullet struck his burden,
and the comrade died in the lieuten-
ants arms. In spite Of this terrible
shock Hill rushed back to succor his
unfortunate brethren and brought two
of the wounded people safely into shell
ter. For these threA acts Of va1or he re-
ceived the cross
Other Transvaal heroes were Lance
Corporal James Murray and Private
John Danaher, Of the Second battalion,
Connaught rangersJ Private James Os-
borne, Of the Same corps 40 lieut. Hill,
and Private ]. Doogan, Of the First
(king's) dragoon guards
Murray and Danaher on january 18,
1881, during an affair with the Beers,
saw two Scots fusileers, Byrne and Da-
Wis, lying wounded on the plain, shot by
Beers in the neighboring hills Both
Murray and Danaher were mounted and
they rode to the rescue. Murray's horse
was shot under him, but he hurried on
foot to the wounded, reaching them at
the same time as Danaher. While stoop-
ing 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
and Davis were captured by the Beers,
who also took the dead men. Davis,
loo, died speedily, so that the rescuers'
valor was almost in vain, but to each of
them the cross was given, for Danaher
had made wondrously courageous eff
forts ut salvation.
Osborne's reward was given for q
similar act on February 90, near Ma
juba, and Doogan was decorated for va
lor at Laing's Mex. We see, therefore,
that, while Majuba and Laing's Mex
are among the most sorrowful Of Eng
lsh military memories, they afford also
examples of valor which are among the
brightest in the records of the cross.
Philadelphia Times.