The evening times., 1900-04-16

FiEht-Roer Treachery Caused the
NEW YORK April 16.-The central fig
ure in the famous pig sticking" incident,
in which fifty Beers fell before a squad OF
the Fifth Royal Irish Lancers. at Glands
llagte. on October 21 who was rsporte 4
killed after he had skewered together with
his lance two Of the enemy fleeing on one
horse. was Herbert Thompson. a native of
Cleveland. Ohio. and he is alive and we'll.
his father, J. w. Thompson an English
man. is a mercbe,,t now Of this city. and
doing business bctJ in New York and Lon
don.
Yesterday he received a letter from his
son, dated at Ladysmith. March 9. which,
as will be seen from a copy printed here
with. fully corroborates the news Of the
Elandslaagtc affair.
Curiously enough. while anxiously await
ing proof as TO his sons fate. Mr.. Thomp-
son recognized his smooth-s shaven face and
gigantic figure in three published war pic
lures drawn by artists at the front. Early
in December. Melton Prior's pig sticking
sketch in the London Illustrated News
Informed him that Herbert figured promi-
nently I'm that dramatic episode.
That pi-ture. having been epriutet ten
I'm this country. is familiar to many who
have followed the course of the TrausvaaI
war. 10 shows the Lancers riding through
the party OF surprised and supplicating
Beers and anuihilating them with their
CHASTITY weapons.
In the centre OF the squad OF Lancers is
one notable for his great size and his Sp-
pearance OF carrying all before him-the
Young Englishmau who thrust his steel
shaft through two Of the Transvaal war
riors at one impulse ripping the life out
of both Mr.. Thompson at once recognized
this figure as his son Herbert.
While doubtful whether or not to believe
the report Of his death after this exploit,
he saw him represented in another picture.
attred only i'm shirt and trousers. sharp
euing his sword AT a grindstone, and in
still another. cOloring his scabbard 10
match the duh tint of his khaki uniform.
The unique personality OF Herbert
Thompson. together with his massive tg-
ure. seems to have prevented his being
swallowed up in the rank and file like
other common soldiers. and caused him 10
compete successfully with the officers as
material for the artists pencil.
Following is his letter. with its refer
euce to the ElaudsIaagtc affair:
Cavalry Brigade Camp. Natal Field Force.
Iadysmith. Natal March O.. 1900
Dear Father received N'ur two Ter sr~ ard
bundle 0f papers Yesterday. For the good things
they contained. { THANK you.
Il would ba foolish for me to attempt tD de-
scribe the siege Of Ladysmith. Z viii leave that
20 3hler pens tHau mine. The only thing ! can
SAY g. that 10 has been awful. We were isolated
from the world exactly lls DAYS, ou each Of which
the Bocrs amused themselves 10y heavily sncilus
Ihc 0utposts and the town.
They had several 6-iuch guns iu position here,
each of which throws ninety five pound shell;
but 30 is surprising vllt little harm they really
did. Of course they have Knocked the town about
and some of the buildings look very sick indeed.
Prior to our being relieved 10y Butler, we had
been living on horse and mule flesh. We had
eight weeks Of that diet-uue pound per diem and
quarter ~ pound Of biscuit.
II Wa very trying lyiug in the trenches all
night and IN al -ortS oi weather Ia fact never
lad a night under canvas in four months.
On January the Boer~ made their grand at
tack Lady smith. / shall never forget 10 a, long
a. I live. ID vs. icarful-tAITty-siN hour, IN tht
ucuChcs raining an the time, and having 90 hgh'
like demons. Again and again did they uI~u oU
position. only 90 receive fhr r3youCt. and 20 a
good many places. when We came 90 bury Oul
dead, we found them locked in each others arms.
However. showed them tLa. even h8lf
starved garrison. and half their number of British
soldiers were enough for them. and We remained
ia possession oi Lsdysmith. But they killed Dot
OF orr poor fellows. and 10 was ~OrrowrI iOl
tor MS hurying our dead. I helped TO Uut lOI of
our men In one big hole, and, big and strong q,
: ann. J felt that tears were no disgrace 90 my
rUii0rm.
Sir George White C,pIcud.d old mani cam,
GROUND 8lI the trenches when lr was over and il
vas q sight that stirred my heart 60 him
early in the morning, hJrehtIdCd. and the rain
coming down IN torrents, thanking us for doing
0ur duty 20 our country and the Queen. and cali
ing us lll the brave name, ht could think of.
YES the BoCrs fully intended coming into
Iadysmith that time They are rot a manly
enemy by any means. A iJyorite trick Of their
i~ to have Maxim guns iu JmhulJuces. ln fact
they had two that day and it took oUr officer
long time 20 find them.
But when they did DO -o and told MS. u, sy.
jumped ont of the uencho, and charged these tw,
wagons. and I ann glad 90 say no Bocr~ n thos,
two lmbulaucos have returned home 90 then
fraus- On one Bocr / counted twenty-threc hayo
net points
We have OILY aad ono gI1ri1u, charge at them
aud that wa, at El4uds'Jdgte. where my sJIairoI
got iigl. into 'Aem. and ran assure YOU .rst th,
lance iS q fine weapon. % was there ! drew ms
first blood Two Beers were clearing ont ON one
horse and 7 skc.,crcd them ogtthcT. and lost ms
lance, a. } could not pull ID out
However. my sword dld for the rCmJndc- -I tht
engagement and we bad the pleasure Uf sleeping
Jlst night Uuder Bocr canvas on a BOcr position
aud can assure YOU thai the three cheer, for ouf
Queen were given from THE bottom uf Tommy
Atkins heart.
Hoping TO hear from you shortly. ] remain you
son, HERBERT
From other letters dated az Pietermaritz-
burg and at other points on General
Whites route to Ladysmth before the ar
rival at Elandslaagte Mr. Thompson
Eaius light OF the pig sticking affair
which convirces him that his son and his
companion OF G squad. Royal Irish Ian
GERS had ample prOvocation for their act
1t is the only time 50 far" said Mr.
Thompson. that the men have been be
yond the control OF their officers. These
Lancers are picked men. you know They
are proud Of the record OF their organiza-
tion On its standard are the names OF
Blenbeim. Families. Oudenarde, Malpla-
quet. and Suskim. for the Fifth I.ancers IS
more than three hundred years OLD.
MY son joined them five years ago. go
ing 20 India with G. squad where he saw
active service under General White
wanted to make a business man Of him
but his inclination was so entirely toward
the army for which his strength. health
athletic habits. coolness and courage well
nj him. that / had TO yield. So when we
were in London six years ago he secured
She prize Of place in this regiment
Il know that he must have felt the
strongest possible provocation for his part
in the ElsuEslaagte affair for though the
stubbornest of fighters he is sober quiet
and slow to anger.
"You note his reference TO the Boer prac-
tice of operating Maxim guns from ambu-
lance wagons. In letters from Pietermaritz-
burg he mentioned this. He told OF tho
terrible hatred the Beers bore the British
and Of their constant acts Of treaChery.
There were many OF these acts durinf
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