The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-26
AFRAID or BuLLER.
An Incident IN South Africa in 1871
That ghSws His Character.

London NewF.
In one Of his letters sent home from
South Africa in 1879 Mr. Forbes tells
n story that viii be read with interest
just now. a young Englishman OF
good family had been appointed 20 a
commission In tbs Frontier Light HJrse
under Colonel Buffers command. but
had turned out troublesome charaG-
tyr. II was said lha4 h. had become
subject 10 0ts and occasionally gave
way to drink.
Last night before lights were out"
said SIR. Forbes. II heard him Awear-
Ing 10 himself In a very excited way
about some grievance In the way Of
extra duty Shich he fancied be had.
Later when the camp was quies. he
loo1vd off hls revolver in bis tent. and
there was naturally a general comm0-
ton. No alarm was sounded. but In an
instant every man turned out and fell
into his place. with 'che regularity OF
machinery and total absence Of cOnfus-
lon that struck me ~ testifying strong
ly to the fine discipline and morale of
the force The cause ascertained. the
troops were ordered 10 turn IN. and the
young officer was ordered 20 consider
himself under arrest. The camp was
scarcely quist again when he REPEATED
the fOoliyh performance Of firing his
revolver. and there was a repetition Of
the universal turn spt The general
and his staff'-aenera Wood, that is
came round into Buffers camp. and
summary and strong measures deter
mined upon. But The young fellow
was In his tent. rapidly breathing out
threats 10 slaughter and protesting
that he would shoot any one who at
tempted % enter Major Cleg was
equal 20 the occasion. lie had the tent
rop~s loOs d and down came the tent
on It's obstrep ,rDus inmate, effectuaily
honneting him. He was al once seized.
bound. and under guard, conveyed into
the artillery camp, where he was made
fast 10 a gun wheel, d blanket given
him and he was 80 secured from further
mischief The poor devll rayed wildly
all night. II Is an evidence Of what
Influence Butler exerts over those un-
der his command that the burden OF
his constant cry was, For Gods sake
send me away before Butler comes
back. Don't let me see Butler. l never
can face Butler again after this Bull
Ter was theI, absent on q reconnois-
sance. He overlooked the young fell
lows previous backsliding, and had
saved his life at Zlobane. He had his
prayer. This morning his accounts
were made up. The money due him
was paid; General Ward, In a word.
dismissed him from his force. with
the stern warning that IL he came
back ne should be logged as an unau-
thorized camp follower. He was set
on his pony, and escorted by an officer
and a file OF men to the other side OF
the Blood river. and there turned
adrift on the world.
Butler" writes Mr. Forbes in an
other communlcatioP, rs born COM
mander OF scouting force. His au-
dacity in pushing onward might seem
10 the superficial. observer 20 border
on recklessness. As his long, 1.-THE col
umn moves forward he quickly dis
patches parties TO the right and left,
to ascend ihe hills and scan the view
there from. to iesc md into and beat
out thanking valleys and destroy deser-
ted roads. aud 20 make good the eX-
ploration OF the whole section OF coun-
try which he has set himself to scout.
His man quarter the ground like
pointers"