Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-02
"FIGHTING MAC"
Some Interesting Stories of Gen. Mac
dona1d's Fearlessness.
Errcuo ma Icphon Mail
U. D. P.

donald's Fearlessness.
From the London Mail.
Brig. Gen. Hector Observation-Disclosures
Mac'-has gone to the front. and it is to be
hoped that his proverbial luck will follow
him
Hector Macdonalds career Is too we'll
known to need repetition. From the be-
ginning. when he walked into Glasgow,
some say barefooted. to his Omdurman
days. it Is nothing but splendid record of
strength of purpose and personal heroism.
In appearance he looks Just the vigorous
soldier he is-moderately tall. broad of
chest Though Of not sufficient breadth to
carry all his medals). and with a squa re,
upright and downright look about him His
face Is typically Highland in its hard. reg
ular contour and the straight, fearless eyes
As one OF his countrymen said of him.
"Macdonald's face, it strikes you. could in
a tense moment. when the march was on.
or the battle song going, become perfectly
cut square. challenge to every side. hard.
almost relentless. The cheek bones are
prominent at the base as well as al the top:
they suggest the strenuous. determined in
domitable man. You think of the tramp of
armed men, who have no sort of idea of
turning back"
Macdonald has never forgotten Ma tuba
Though taken prisoner on that unhappy
day. he remained to the end unbeaten for
when. after desperate resistance. he was
az last uHefHled ana q couple OF Beers ran
at him. Macdonald met them with his
naked fists. and his assailants went reeling
back. Finding him hard to tackle they
were for putting bullet through his head.
but Boer with an appreciation of pluck
interviewed.
No" he said this is a brave man. and
We shall spare him. Let US take him pris-
Oner. at all hazards
Mr.. Bennett Burleigh holds that Macdon-
AID has just that touch of genius which
distinguishes the great soldier from the
good one. Undoubtedly he has the ca pa city
for taking infinite pains The grind of
work he has been through in the Soudan
making 'rifiemen from mud" probably 10
one but himself knows. It is to him AMI to
men like him that the new Egyptian army
owes its existence today. and the results
and at Omdurmau.
He is a stern discjplnarian. sparing no
man. himself least OF all, but he IS alored
by every black Soudanese and brown Gin
py'' who ever followed him into battle: for
he is leader after their own hearts As
10 the affection with which his fellrw-ofi-
GERS regard him, Gen. Hunters charming
little message to the Macdonald banquet I'm
Iondon-"My best love to Colnrade Mac
donald'-speaks for itself.
In spite. however. of the warm liking he
inspires in those above and under him. 1t is
on record that some of his dusky Soudanese
once mutinIed against him. Macdonald $
method of dealing with the outbreak once
again illustrates the man. HIS regiment had
OF necessity TO make long forced marches
under the fierce desert sun, and the condi-
lions We're SO hard that the men became
mutinous One day during the march Mac
donald overheard two or three of the native
soldiers saying, Walt till the Eext fight
and | will take care that this slave driver
OF colonel does not come out alive.
myself will shoot him."
Macdonald recognized the men by their
voices. called halt and sternly ordered the
culprits to step out from the ranks. Facing
them. he cried. Now. you are the men who
are going to shoot me in the next fight
Why wait so long? Why not do it now
Here l am shoot Te-f you iarer'
The rebels grounded their arms in sullen
silence
why don't you shoot?" asked their col
one!-
Because you don't seem to care whether
you die not. and that reluctant answer
exp. aimed the secret Of Macdonald's power
over half-savage soldiers. There was no
more grumbling. and the sama men, and
others like them. followed him devotediy
through the battles of Gen,aizah, Toski,
Afatit F'erkeh, Atbara and Omdurman
Many stories are told OF his ways of deal
ing with his excitable and childlike Soudan-
csc battalions and in the anonymous Sou
dan Campaign" just published by Chap
man & Hall. Is a new one
After the Abu Hamed fight Col. Macdon-
aid had soundly rated the men who; began