The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-11-20
AT THE 'FRONT.'
WITH TIE BOER

4 their commander drew his pistol and
'al.I. II have not surrendered yet"
/ Before he could turn he was pinioncd
d by one Bocr and received a gentle rap on
he head from another
WIN YOU surrender now" he was
! asked, lie answered, IT'S n case OF do
or die. and | guess I'll do
ON the way back to our camps he was
| introduced to Major Mcbride and one
~ his brigade. named McDcrmott. Colo
incl Bullock shook hands with them, re-
marking, II don't know which was the
hottest today, you fellows, the sun, or
the Mauser bullets. But, never mind, it's
all in n lifetime. Major" said he, NOV
! have in my bag IA few biscuits and a
nip OF whisky; will you share IL with me-
for we're all men and white men, too
after ALL"
The sole was hanging from his left shoe,
SO McDermott ran to our camp and
brought the Colonel a pair. Colonel sui
lock highly complimented the Beers for
the grit and endurance they had display
lei since the commencement of the war.
The Colonel Is fine specimen of the
British soldier; in short, hail fellow.
well met, even on the battle field ne was
highly respected by the Beers at the
camp and also by the officials at Pretoria.
HAD TO FACE THE MUSIC.
Captain Therons scouts were noted for
their abilities, both as scouts and marks
men. Six of them under Lieutenant Ems
lin were out beyond Tafal Kop, between
Bloemfontein and Brandfort one day
last April, when they came across some
sixteen to twenty mounted Britshers.
Enslin ordered his men to make for COW
err but before they reached II they had to
turn around and face the music. The
enemy, having better horses, had quickly
lessened the distance and began peppering
at Enslin and his men. Enslin not wish
ing to be shot running, gave the word to
turn and let them have II. At the end
of twenty minutes this little squad was
heading for Brandfort with four prison
ers (wounded, three of whom were OFF,
cers). One of the officers admitted that
at least nine of their outfit had been hit
He also stated that owing to lack Of
good scouts on their side, the officers
were often called upon for this-to them
most unpleasant duty.
JoUBERT WAS KINDHEARTED.
General Joubert was most sincere and
thoughtful man. he was extremely just
and kindhearted. Rather than punish a
man for an offense committed at the
front he would send him back to his
home, but often this system had better
effect than the ordinar% modes of punish
mcnt known to military people. / was in
the Generals tent one day when in STROBE
Colonel Blake of the Irish brigade with
a long complaint against one Captain
Laracy. 1t appears that Laracy had gone
t. Johannesburg for a weeks furlough
but forgot to return for two months.
When he did report for duty the Colonel
smashed him-I don't mean that he struck
him or in any way injured his person. /
mean that he degraded Captain Laracy
by reducing him to the ranks.
This was a terrible blow to Captain Lar
acy, to be made common soldier just
because he forgot to come back a little
sooner. However. the Colonel complained
that Laracy since his degradation was
striving to stir up trouble in the camp.
etc, and the Colonel wanted him punish
ed.
"Oh | don't think that is necessary"
replied the General. ''if he Is man OF
that sort / will show you how ! will pun
ish him, | am greatly mistaken"
The General then told Mr.. Stjmens TO
write the following letter, which the Col
onel should hand to Laracy in person,
and not let him know that he-the Colo
nel-had made any complaint whatever.
was myself sworn to secrecy for the
time:
Hoofdt Lager, December %, 1899.
TO Captain Laracy.
Sir: You Will at once proceed to Jo- |
and raise a corps of one hum |
drcd men; have them fully equipped |
When your corps is ready you VIII imme-
diately report to me by wire and | shall
OF Coleshurg, C. c.
have the honor. etc,
w. JOUBERT
Some time afterwards Laracy discover |
ed that he had been nicely and quietly |
Somebody told me long after |
wards that he saw poor Laracy trying to
raise the corps But alas! he was not |
born to be an organizer OF men.
WHAT THE IRISH DID.
ar a nit
which took place on the 30th of October |
1899, was won solely by the Johannesburg |
police and the little Irish Brigade. The |
average country Boer was so ignorant OF |
artillery that they We're actually afraid |
to help carry ammunition to the guns |
when called upon to do so. The British |
guns were making 1t very hot for us. and.
beng short of artllcrymcn the burghers
were called out to carry shells to the
guns, n distance Of about go yards. Our
guns had used all the ammunition that
%as on the kopje. | heard several OF the
say to their commandant.
What? Carry those things? Not me"
SO afraid Were they that the shells
might explode while in their arms. The
police We're having a hot time of II, and
rad not some of the Irish Brigade volun
eered to carry the shells TO the guns, we
certainly would have lost the day.
There were no less than $50 holes around .
)ne of our guns caused by the enemy's
ihellng. The Irish Brigade lost two men
While carrying the shells-one man, Hugh
had almost one-half OF his
lead taken off by shell; the other was
1 young fellow not twenty years old,
Thomas Oates by name, son Of Captain
Dates OF Johannesburg, who was after
wards captain of the Second Irish Bril-
;ade, Speaking to some OF the burghers
no following day, they told me they were
wiling TO do anything I'm the lighting
Inc, but they would have nothing to do
With those bursting bombs,
THE MORNING INSPECTION,
The morning inspection was one OF the
most amusing events OF our daily routine
set or dry we would be called 10 muster
omethng IN the following style, Now
hin, bhoys, fall in for inspection arms
'ome along men, hurry up" Here Ser.
Ieant Dunylle Mcbride would cali;
90 around there and get then. outl'