The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-04-20
A GOLFER IN THE WAR.
Tait, Ex-Amateur Champion, Tells
How He Got HIS Wound at
the Front.

To friend in Edinburgh, Mr.. TAFT
has given an interesting account of his
thrilling experiences at Magersfontein.
He writes from Wynberg hospital un-
der date December Is, as follows:
II am down here for little change
of air, having received a Mauser bullet
through my left thigh. 1t is lucky
wound, as the bullet missed both artery
and bone. I am bit stiff, and can't
walk much, but ] hope to be up at the
front again in fortnight or so. My
poor regiment has suffered awfully-
seven officers killed, Il wounded, and
the total is, believe, 355 killed and
wounded-that is to say, well over one
third of our strength. We marched eff
from our bivouac, about four miles
from the enemy's position, at 1880 a.
m. on the 18th (Monday), intending TO
attack at dawn. Our force consisted of
the Highland brigade, Ninth and
Twelfth lancers, four batteries, includ-
ing howitzer battery, and the Guards
brigade in support. 1t was an excep-
tionally dark night, and we had to go
over very difficult country Glow prickly
bushes and rocks).
''The Gordon Highlanders were left
with the baggage, and did not come into
action till late in the day. We gotRotA-
ing to eat before starting. The Black
Watch led the march. with the Seaforth
second, the Ninety-frst third and the
H. L. I. last. Naturally, we had to &C
very slowly. The march went on all
right until about two a. M, when a
tremendous thunderstorm burst over
us. We got soaked to the skin. AS
the rain came on the night got darker
and darker, and we got pretty well
mixed up.
about four a. m. we could just dim
.ly see the outline of the kopje, which,
we understood, was the position, about
500 yards off. We had halted and were
preparing to deploy 1--WE were at that
time in the mass of quarter column)
when the most Internal fire was opened
on us from about $50 yards in front
Chat is to say, between US and the
kopje). We got the order to lie down,
fix bayonets and charge. / got in front
of the front company and charged. In
this charge we got about 100 yards, but
had to lie down again as we were los
ing very heavily. We charged again
and got another so yards forward, but
this time it was a good deal lighter,
and we got bowled over like rabbits.
got plugged few yards in front of
the line, and two of my fellows pulled
me back, as could not walk. 1t was
now fairly light, and I could see the
Boer trenches fairly distinctly well in
front of the kopje. We had only about
100 men with us; the remainder had
moved off to attack more to the right.
You won't believe it, but l tell you we
remained there not more than 200 yards
from the. trenches from about 4:30 a.
m. to seven p. M, getting plugged at
all the time, and that out of the men
in that line not more than five or six
were unhit. Some poor fellows had
as many as four bullets through them,
and some more.
81 tried shooting at the Beers for
some time, but gave it up, as every
time fired got about a dozen shots
in return. Gen. Wauchope, our colonel,
and one or two other officers were killed
with this lot. Poor young Wauchope
also got hit here four times, and was
not picked up till the next morning.
He is very plucky fellow, and is get
ting on fairly we'll under the circum-
stances. expected to get one through
the head any moment, SO / made my
self as comfortable as my leg would per-
NIT and smoked cigarette. got
bullet through my haversack, another
grazed my heel and any number hit the
sand in front of my head. The sand was
luckily soft, SO none of the bullets
ricocheted, but stopped where they hit.
/ was helped by two men to field hos
Pital, and arrived there about ten p.
m. and got dressed. The next day
was sent in hospital train to this
place, about 1870 miles off. ." Golf Illus
trated.
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