The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-08
LITTLE WILLIE, THE BoER

The author or the Su11oiueC little SkelCl
is a young Norwegian who, after a few
years stay IN the Transvaai. at the out
break Of the war was on a visit at his
home n ChristiaEia, Norway. but i1nmed-
lately left the safe shelter OF his parents
house 10 take Up arms for the Beers
After much difficulty he succeeded in
reaching the scene OF war. where ne par
ticipated in many skiTmishes and battles
He was a member of a commando which
went over to Portuguese territory and laid
down its arms. and he is now held as a
prisoner Of war at Alcobaca, Portugal
Translator.
Little Willy was one of those brave
Beers who found death IN the terrible
fight at Broonkoorstspr uit- He was only
L years old. but as good shot as any
grown Up man He was a dark-haired.
light-hearted lad. with handsome brown
eyes. an ever-smling. wen shaped mouth
and q sun-burnt, honest face lie never
wore a coat. and as he always went
around in knickerb0ckers he made the
stronger impression OF being a mere boy.
His father had been killed by a shell in a
fight in the Orange Free State. and Little
Willy had witnessed the tragedy. His
mother had died several years before the
war broke out, and brothers and sisters
he had none. For these reasons. and on
account of his ght-heartedness and
buoyant spirits, he was the favorite OF the
whole camp.
He was practically well thought of by
us in the corps of scouts, and several
times followed US when patrolling outside
Of Pretoria. Full OF tricks he was wheth-
er it was on the battlefield or in the
camp. He had a little fat Basuto pony
TO which he was as much attached as 10
his beloved rife. and he was always busy
ing himself with these two treasures Of
his when of duty. Little Willy did not
belong to our corps, but when we had
been ordered out. II could rot be helped
he had to go along. be il night or day.
He was trusted as much as anybody else
on outpost duty. little though he was.
sions if ne was not afraid of the English
men, but his constant answer was that
he had been afraid only once-the day his
father was torn TO pieces by a she'll One
weakness Little Willy had, nevertheless.
He was passionately fond OF cigarettes
and he always tried TO have some with
him when he wentto fight
At last came the day that was TO be
fatefuI for Little Willy. In the evening
Commandant Pinaar Che IS styled our
general here IN the prisoners camp in
IortugaD. had received orders to try TO
take a small English camp by surprise.
The order had come from General BOtho
himself and Little Willy had learned
about it. although he had not been order
cd out. When, at night he heard us sad
ding our horses. he had smelled a rat,
and saddled his pony. too.
He rode that night between Lieut.. Dick
Hunt. an American, and myself. He spoke
all the time about the pleasure he felt
now that he was 70 have another scrap
with the Englishmen: and he had taken
extra ammunition along; for he had two
cartridge belts hanging across his should
ers and one around his waists; all well
stocked with Mauser cartridges. At dawn
we were close upon the British Outposts
which were Immediately driven back. and
we took a position only 1900 yards from
the British camp. Little Willy placed
himself right behind me- a little higher
up back OF the big boulder. The English
men. Of course. at once MARCHED out. and
presently we were IN the middle OF a ter
rible fusillade.
In the meantime. Little Willy was firing
to his hearts content and now and then
between the shots, ~ was calling out any
thing but nice greeting TO the English
men. After about an hour OF hard fight
ing, one-hslf Of our command was or
dered to take another position. while the
rest OF US. who were then relatively few,
had to try TO hold our rather hard-press-
ed position until the men OF Gen. V VII
joen could come TO our assistance. did
not pay much attention TO Little Willy
until he suddenly called out:
Look out, therei The Eneiishmen are
close upon rs"
Now commenced a furious battle. AT a
distance Of only go or 200 yards and twice
they tried TO take our position by assault.
but had to give I'D the attempt. The
bullets whistled past US. and the air was
c,.rI <-ar
During this furious fight. which only
lasted about twenty minutes. ! all Of
sudden heard Willy call out my name,
but I could not pay any attention TO him
because at that moment a Boer at my side
received a bullet in the abdomen and
had 10 tr-- TO find cover for him. A little
while thereafter we were relieved. and the
Englishmen retired. Now. ] thought OF
Willy, and I called his name. Receiving
no answer. 7 crept up TO his position.
There he was lying on his back behind
the boulder. while big pool Of blood un-
der HIS head showed where he had beck
shot The bullet had gone through his
head above the left eye and had removed
almost the back part Of the head. so Tho
wound might Indicate that the English
men had used explosive or Dum-Dum bull
lets.
Immediately called our captain and
lieutenant. who were close by and show
ed them where our little comrade lay.
And. though n strong and brave man. our
captain could not restrain his tears al
sight OF the handsome, childish face OF
the valiant little defender.
Willy must have died Immediately and
his last word must have been when h.
called my name. His pale face was not
spotted by blood; there were oniv a Few
drops where the bullet had entered. His
rife was stfi hot. and a heap Of empty
cartridges showed that he had fought f0r
his country 10 the last. We dug n grave
en- the spot where he fell. and Little VIII
Is was buried IN blanket. with his hands
covering his face. He looked fairly dainty
as he lay with eyes closed and MS dark
hair in small curis peeping forth under his
hat u IL had not been for thar little
hole over the eve. one would have thought
he wss sleeping he was buried With
mis- carhine and his cartridge beits. as he
had fought The captain sad a short
prayer. and hardly think there was one
eye dry az tire burial II our favorite. Tor
he had. with light heart and merry words
been Ike sunshine in our camp We
gathered stones u cover his grave. AID
the caIrn on the gray his shows who're
this little brave orphan boy fought his
last battle for his c7uutrv.
Little WHY'S pony had been lost dur
inr the battle and oniy appeared 81 the
camp four days later. without saddle or
frappings Prom the Swedish Ct ANel
cusnm-
The Mexican Coyote Miner.