Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09

wood. was coming back from an expedi-
ton in the direction of the Basutoland Dor
der. 1t had started from the foot Of the
great mountain of Thaba NChu. In all.
the men numbered under fifteen hundred
and their rear had been harassed from the
beginning of the march by the advance
guard of a larger force of pursuing Beers.
On the evening of April 80 they had reached
the Modder river at point where was sit
uated the water works and pumping sta
ton that supplied the town of Bluemfon-
TEN. some sixteen miles to the westward.
Here Were stationed two Squadrons OF
mounted infantry and hussars
Right Into the Trap.
At daybreak of the next morning the
whole camp was surprised to find itself
| under the direct shell fire of four Boer guns
that had been mounted on the commanding
hills to the eastward during the night. To
stay there with small number was to
court destruction. and 1t was decided to
fall back upon the hill nearer town. as
the enemy was seen to be gathered in large
fierce. The transport and one of the bat
teries was ordered to proceed along the
road. while all of the fighting men remained
to guard the rear IL the enemy should at
tempt to follow. 1t need not be said how
foolish it was to send on this unarmed cara
van. practically unprotected. without flank
ers or skirmishers. and this Is not the place
to attempt to place the blame. 1t Is enough
the battery ran into well laid trap as
could ever have been invented by histori-
cal romancer. A deep spruit on one side
and a half-competed railway embankment
on the other formed horseshoe curve.
| and into the open arms the transport en-
tered.
The Beers played the game this day.
From their position of vantage they stood
for 1t and ordered the drivers. a few SOL
diers, and the men on the limbers of the
guns. whose horses were entangled amid
the chaos of mules and draught animals,
to surrender 1t would have been madness
to do otherwise. and the Beers entered the
crowd and began to outspan the mules and
oxen. at the same time ordering the prison.
ers to line up in a row. In the meantime
the forces that were fighting two miles in
the rear knew nothing of what going
on. A messenger managed to get back to
them. and two squadrons of Roberts Horse
We're sent on to see If the tale he had told
was true. They rode bang into the camp
also! This. OF course. was a mistake, but
mistakes often happen in warfare The
Beers. seeing that they had them at their
mercy. showed themselves and ordered them
to dismount and surrender.
"ShOOt! Burghers, Shoot!"
Right shoulders up called the officer
IN command. 'FOurs right about" And
without firing shot they attempted to drop
out of the jaws of the cul de sac In which
they found themselves. The battery men.
too. following their example, tried to turn
their horses and lead their guns out. That
was sufficient
shoot burghers, shoot!'' shouted big
Boer in velveteen coat. and into the chaos
the hidden enemy poured their rifle fire.
Men and horses and mules and oxen went
down in heaps. Part Of the squadron man.
aged to reach the fighting men behind, who
were now assailed on three Sides and then
they told them that the first message was
true.
Now, there were deeds done that day
that would have gained many a man the
Victoria cross If they had taken place in a
winning fight. Brave Sergeant Major Mar
tin of 20" Battery. with the assistance of
driver brought the only gun saved out OF
the tough of 1t, with one horse in the wheel
and a mule harnesSed In the lead. These
two men and a major were all who
capped from the Inflated battery and seven
guns were left to the Beers. But let US get
to Todd.
The little forces had now gathered in the
middle of the plain. near some sheetiron
houses. They edged away southwark
across the railway embankment into
the other veldt the guns of ~ Battery
supporting them. From the east they were
subjected to a heavy shell fire, and from
the concealed rifiemen also in the banks of
the Modder, while from the north and west
they were within close range from the
spruit the hillside beyond and from the
walls Of big kraal that sheltered a hun
dred Transvaalers, they got a scathing.
That any escaped at all Is a marvel, and
the mere fact that they did is a tribute to
their determined fighting.
What Todd Did.
Horses were going down everywhere and
it was that immediate retreat in the
only direction possible was the last forlorn
hope. Any dismounted men were sure to
fall into the hands of the enemy. 1t was
at this moment that officer noticed two
riderless horses apparently unhurt gall
looping out toward the BOer lines. He
turned and asked for volunteers to bring
them in.
Two men stepped forward. One was Todd.
the American. They mounted quickly and
rode out between the two armies. The
other man fell before he had gone hum
dred yards. AS Todd left the officer had
ron doctor was supposed to be lying off to
the right near some brushes. wounded.
Todd was told to take the horse to the
doctor. If possible. and fetch him In.
Right you are, sir" said the Yankee,
and away he went.
After his companion fell he still kept on.
His mind was centered on getting that
horse. Nearer and nearer he got to the
Boer lines. Why he was not killed a dozen
times was a miracle, for his hat and coat
and saddle were shot through. At last he
grasped the runaway by the bride. and.
leading him at a trot. went over to where
he had been told the doctor was lying. He
kept shouting out his name as he went
and the first thing he knew he rode straight
into a corner of the spruit almost onto the
Beers One of them. seeing him coming in
so close. evidently mistook his mission.
IF you wish to surrender. he cried in
English. go on down there
He waved him down the stream, but Todd
had not found the doctor yet. He crushed
through the bushes up the bank and gained
the open, and over that lead-swept plain
he headed once more toward the English
lines. and there. safe and sound. he report
ed. saying that as he could not find the
doctor he had lent the horse to a wounded
man in the mounted infantry. and by the
same token the wounded man. safe and
alive. was not far behind him.
AS l said before. there were many brave
things done this day. and l am glad to
record this one performed by a fellow
countryman. JAMES BARNES.
Fudge-"Do you believe in love at first
sight?"
Budge-"Cert. It Is then that neither
party knows what kind Of a person the
other is. Why shouldn't they fall in love-.
Boston Transcript.
Julius. we must begin to talk about our
summer trip"
- I,,lfo ho