The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-18
Now Holds the Brave Highland Chieftain
Who at MOdder River Fell.
Paids of the Scottish Clan Soiled With the Blood of
Brave Soldiers Who Met Leaden Hail at
Observation-Disclosures Is the Oath
of Each Survivor.
correspondence o. The Associated Press.


London, Jansry io.-some Of the most
brilliant work in the way OF descriptive |
writing ever done by British war corro-
spondents has heen appearing in the Lon
don papers during the last few days.
Bennett Burleighs splendid description |
OF the battle of Colenso, which was cabed |
In part by the Associated Press. is not
one bit finer than the account Of the
Maeersfontein by the correspondent of the
Daily News. After tracing the terrible
loss suffered by the Highland brigade at
Magersfontein, the Daily News corre-
spondent thus writes OF the burial OF Cen
eral Wauchope Three hundred yards 10
the rear Of the little township OF Modder
river, Just as the sun was sinking In a
blaze OF African splendor, on the evening
OF Tuesday, the 18th OF December. long.
shallow grave lay exposed 10 the breast
OF the yedt. To the west the broad river
fringed with trees ran murmuringly; 10
the eastward the heights, still held by the
enemy. scowled menaciugy; north and
south the veldt undulated peacefully. A
few PAGES 10 the northwest of that grave
fifty dead Hichlanders lay, dressed as they
had fallen on the field of battle They
had followed their chief TO the feld and
they we're to follow him to the grave.
How grim and stern these men looked as
thew lay fsce upward to the sky With great
hands clenched in the last death agony,
and nrows still knitted with the stern
lust OF the strife In which they had fallen
The plaids, dear 20 every Highland clan,
vera represented there, and as looked
out of the distance came the sound OF the
pnors:it WIS the general coming TO join
his men. There right under the eyes OF
he enemy, moved with slow and solemn
tread all that remained Of the Highland
brigade. In front OF them walked the
chaplain with barred head. dressed 10 his
robes OF office; then came the pipers with
their pipes and behind them with arms
reversed moved the Highlanders, dressed
in all ~ the regalia Of their regiments and
in their mds, he dead general borne by
four OF his comrades.
out awelled the pipes to the stratus
of the Flowers Of the Forest now ring
ing proud and high until the soldiers
heads went back 10 naughty defiance and
every eye trough tears like sun
light on steel; now singing to a moaning
wall like n woman mourning her hrst bora,
the proud heads dropped forward until
they rested on heaving chests and tears
rolled down the wan and Scared faces and
fne C00ktnE Sous DTOhe lHloNEN bHe SultluH
rhythm OF the hymn OF death. Right ur
TO the grave they marched, then broke
away in companies. until the general lay
In the shallow grave with Scottish square
OF AIMED men around him. Only the dead
mans son and a stall remnant Of his Of
GERS stood with The chaplain aud the piper
while tire solemn services Of the church
were spoken.
Then once again the pipes pealed out
'Lochabes. Lochaber no More cut through
the stiffness like q cry OF pain until one
could almost hear the widow in her High
land home moaning for the soldier she
would welcome back no more. Then as Il
touched by the magic OF one thought thj
soldiers turned their tear-daup eyes from
the still form In the shallow grave towar,
the heights where Cronie the lion q
Africa. aud his soldiers stood. Then ever!
cheek flushed crimson and the strong Jaw
ret like steel, That look from these silent
'rmed men spoke more eloquently than
ever spoke the tongues OF orators. for OF
each frowning face the spirit of veugeauc
rat and each sparkling aye asked sieutl
lor blood. God help the Beers when mex
the Highlander pibroch sounds God res
the Beers souls when the Highland bay
nnets charge, for neither death, nor he'll
nor things above nor things below vii
hold the Scots back from their blood feud
"At the head Of the grave al the poln
nearest the enemy the general was lai
10 sleep. his officers grouped around hin
while In line behind him his soldiers wer
laid in double rev wrapped In theI
blankets. No shots were fred over tn
dead men resting so peacefully. Only tn
salute was given and then the me-
marched campward as the darkness of
African night rolled over the far-strotch
Ing breadth OF the veldt To the gent
woman who bears the generals ramc. IN
Highland brigade send their deepest sym
PATTY, To the mother and the wivr
The sisters and the sweethearts in the co.
tage home By hillside and glen they sen
love and good wishes--sad win thel
Christmas be- sadder the New Year. Y,
enshrlned in every ~cmenly heart. frci
queen, empress. cottaRe girl lei thei
memory lie. the ren,ory Of tho me-
Of the Highland brigade who died a
Magersiontein."
The same writer thus depicts the wa
in which the disaster overlook the Hist
landers; During the night 1, was cor
sidered expedient that the Highland bril
sde. about 1000 strong, under Generl
Wauchope, should get close enough to Il
lines OF the foe 10 make Il possible
charge the heights Az midnight the so
liant general moved cautiously through I
darkness toward tie kopie where Il
Beers were most strongly entrenehe
They were led by guide. who was su
posed 10 know every inch Of the COUNT
out into the darkness OF an African nlgl
ne brigade marched in line OF quartz
column, each man stepping cautiously a
slowly, for they knew that any sour
meant death. Every order was given
hoarse whisper and In whispers II "