The Globe-republican., 1900-05-17
THE BOER SOLDIER.
a HIGH TRIBUTE TO THEIR
UMANITY-
English Correspondents Graceful APP
probation of Their sKindness-Taken
Prisoner and Treated In Christian
Manner While Their Hands

H. Ha1eS, a correspondent OF the Lon
don Daily News, who was wounded
and taken prisoner by the Beers, pays
a high tribute to the humanity and
kindness of the latter. Hales and an
Australian named Lambie were en-
deavoring to escape from a Boer pa
troll when they were fired upon AMI
both were hit In describing the affair
Ha1es said:
Suddenly something touched me on
the right temple; it not like a
blow; it was not a shock; for half a
second I was conscious. I knew I was
hit; knew that the reins had fallen
from my nerveless hands; knew that
was lying down upon the horses
back and my head hanging below his
throat. Then all the world went out
in one mad whir1. Earth and heaven
seemed to meet as if by magic My
horse seemed to rise with me. not to
fall and then-chaos-
when next 1 knew I was still on
this planet I found myself in the saddle
again, riding between two Beers, who
were supporting me in the saddle as
swayed from side to side. There was
halt; man with kindly face took my
head in the hollow of his arm while
another poured water down my throat
Then they carried me to a shady spot
beneath some shrubbery and laid me
gently down. One man bent over me
and washed the blood that had dried
on my face and then carefully bound
up my wounded temple. began to see
things more plainly-a blue sky above
me; a group of rough, hardy men, all
armed with rifles, around me. L saw
that I was a prisoner, and when l
tried to move I soon knew I was dam
aged.
THE same good looking young fell
low with the curly beard bent over me
again. Feel any better now, old fell
at ia
he spoke like an Englishman and
we1l-educated fellow Yes, I'm better
am a prisoner, amt IL Yes Are
you an Englishman?' I asked He
laughed. Not l. he said I'm a Boer
born and bred, and 1 am the man who
bowled you over. What on earth made
you do such a fools trick as to try
and ride from our rifles at that dis
tance?' Didn't think I was welcome
in these parts Don't make a jest OF
it, man. the Boer said, gravely; rather
thank God you are a living man this
moment 1t was His hand that saved
you; nothing else could have done So
He spoke reverently; there was no
cant in the sentiment he uttered-his
face was too open, too manly, too fear
less. for hypocrisy How long is it
since I was knocked oVer?' About
three hours is my comrade dead?'
Quite dead the Boer replied; death
| came instantly to him; he was shot
through the BRAIN Poor beggar.' l
muttered; and he'll have to rot on
| the open veldt, I suppose?
t'The Boer leaders face flushed an
| grily. DO you take for savages? p
] he asked. Rest easy; your friend will
get decent burial What was his
| rank?' War correspondent And
| your OWN War correspondent, also.
| My papers are in my pocket, some
| where Sir said the Boer leader, you
| dress exactly like two British officers;
| you ride out with fighting party; you
| try to ride off at a gal1op under the
| very muzz1es of our rifles when we
| tell you to surrender. You can blame
no one but yourselves for this days
work. Z blame no man; I played the
| game and am paying the penalty
Mr. Hales adds: 4 have made it my
| business to get about among the pri-
| vate soldiers to question them con-
corning the treatment they have re-
| ceived since the moment the Mauser
| rifles tumb1ed them over. and 1 say
| emphatica1ly that in every instance
our countrymen declare they have been
| grandly treated. Not by the hospital
nurses only; not by the officials alone
but by the very men whom they were
| fighting