Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-11-21
BULLER'S STRANGE VISIONS.
Startling Stories About the South
African Com ma nder

Startling Stories About the South
African COmmander.
A curious story is current in London
which would seem to indicate that Sir
Redvers Butler, now commander in chief
in South Africa, is possessed Of the
strange gift Of second sight-a singularly
valuu BILE gift, it must be confessed, for q
general.
1t seems that he was at Cape Town at
the time Of Sir George Colley's disastrous
rout at the battle of Majuba Hill. On
the day of the battle, although he was
many hundreds of miles away, he saw
wildly before him the scene Of Colley's
defeat and death. So strong was the i'm
preston which this species Of vision Gre
ated upon his mind that he Immediately
rode out as fast as he could to the subur-
ban residence of the Cape premier, Sir
james Sibewrght, imparting TO him his
fears and entreating him to get at once
in telegraphic communication with the
British base at Mount Prospect.
Sir James complied with his wishes.
and while Butler and the premier were
sitting together reassuring replies were
received, and the major las Butler was
them was bantered by Sir James on the
subject Of his apprehensions. Yet before
evening had arrived the news Of General
Colley's defeat and death on Majuba
Hill was flashed across the wires, and it
| was then seen that the disaster to British
arms had already taken place at the timo
when Butler called upon the Cape pre-
mier, although nothing was known about
it then at Mount Prospect, the British
base of operations against the Beers.
1t Is likewise recalled in military cir
| cles in London that Sir Redvers seemed
! to be aware Of the death Of the French
prince imperial and the fall Of Khartum,
as also of the death Of Gordon, at the
very moment when these things occurred
| and long before news Of the events ar
! rived. Butler is such strange, silent,
saturnine looking man, SO repellent in his
! manner and SO uninyiting as far as famil-
| lar conversation and discussion are con-
cerned that no one has ever been known
to question him about these matters, yet
the fact is on record that he has on at
! least three occasions given marvellous
| demonstrations Of the possession Of a sec
! ond sight which enables him to know and
to see important events that are in prog
| ress hundreds and even thousands Of
! miles away from home.
Never before has commander Of big
| army embarked upon campaign thus
| mentally equipped, and much curiosity
prevails as to the services which his Sec
| ond sight is likely to render to Sir Red
vers in the war against the Beers. It
may be added that Immediately on learn
| ing the official news Of Colley's defeat
| and death Butler went to his chief at
Cape Town, Sir Leicester Smith, the gen.
| eral officer then in command, and en-
treated him to proceed at once to Natal
| by boat to assume command Of the army
| in the field and to retrieve the disaster at
Majuba Hill before the Beers had time
| to follow up the advantage. Had Sir
! Leicester done so it is generally believed
that the Beers would have been defeat
ed, the unfortunate convention agreed to
by Gladstone as premier avoided and the
present war averted.
| Sir Leicester first refused to comply
with Buffers suggestion, then agreed to
it and even left Cape Town for the pur-
! pose Of proceeding to Natal, but changed
his mind before reaching his destination
and returned to the Cape, thus leaving
open the way for Mr.. Gladstone to give
the Beers their independence on the
strength Of their victory at Majuba Hill.
After the lapse of nearly 20 years Bull
Ter, now a general, Il privy councillor of
the queen and knight, Grand Cross Of
, the Bath. is sept out at the head of the
, biggest army that has left English shores
! lington to accomplish the very job which
after Majuba he vainly urged, when
major general, Sir Leicester Smith to do.