Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-25
CARRIED MESSAGES
OVER THE VELDT
INSPECTOR WRIGHT LED sTREN-
UoUS LIFE
As Youth He Fought In South Africa
and Found His California Out,
door Life Useful in War
Time

With three bravery medals 10 MS cTeult'
Restaurant Inspector Harry G. Wright
can lay claim to distinction for his service
in the English. Boer war. They were
pinned on his breast by King Edward
himself when the returned fighters
reached London,
Wright's knowledge of eleven languages
gained in his travels abroad has served
him we'll In his labors for the health de-
partment, where he is often called on to
act as interpreter.
Wright looks upon his war service as
the adventurous prank of youth, for he
was still in his teens when without spe-
cial thought of where he would drift, he
boarded mule ship in New Orleans and
sailed for Cape Town.
But he had felt the war spirit and hav-
ing roamed Southern California and Ari-
zona on his fathers ranches 1t took little
persuasion to induce him to, join the
English regulars for adventures sake
Wright knew little of army tactics. but
he did know the strenuous life, and as
soon as his superiors learned that he was
an American horseman he was detailed to
scout duty. In fact, two days after
reaching Krugersdorf he was on the
skirmish line at the battle of Dundee.
Too Fond Of Red Coats
Here the English sustained rout be-
cause they paid more attention to their
red coats and the martial music than they
did to the willy Beers concealed behind
rocks. Later they wore khaki and there
were fewer funerals
Wright was made dispatch carrier as
soon as his mettle had been tested, and
than his real service began.
With two fleet Kaffir runners to flank
him with duplicate dispatches in case one
or the other was killed or captured
Wright spent several years in this hazar-
dous duty. He carried the messages
sewed in his clothes, while the Kaffirs
concealed them in their hair or elsewhere.
Four times he was captured, but always
made his escape in the friendly darkness,
usually suffering from ill-treatment and
exposure but always returning safe to
headquarters.
DeWet Fox
"I think Dewet was really great
SOLDIER said Wright yesterday, land his
ability to elude the English was marvel
Gus.
"Once two members of the London I'M
perial volunteers were also captured.
Both of them had graduated from some
dry goods counter and knew absolutely
nothing of war
"Dewet had me serve as interpreter,
and learning who and what they were he
sent a guide back with them to the Eng
lish with a message something like this:
For goodness sake, chain these two
fellows somewhere. They are in my way
and will be in yours
The Beers were a race who did not
know how to manage their country-at
least not as we understand it. They were
good shooters but not trained soldiers
They were simply a lot of hardened
scouts, used to veldt warfare. Their
veldts are simply big prairies and hilly
strips covered here and there with rocks
and copies.
Some day the worlds praises will ring
for Cecil Rhodes Rhodes was in his day
regarded as a successful man who had
won a fortune by daring enterprise, and
having lots of money on his hands put
1t to a good purpose. That purpose, as
we know, is being used in giving scholar
ships to many deserving young men, and
some day South Africa will be an empire
in itself Rhodes lies buried near his
home under a mountain of granite as his
tombstone.
"I knew DIR. Jameson we'll. He was a
daring fellow, and though his raids
caused much trouble they opened the eyes
of the world to South Africa"
Wright reached America too late to take
part in the Cuban war and, as he states,
perhaps 1t was best that he did, as he is
now settled happy in his business and
domestic life in his native city.
1T is a good thing to have war train
ing in this restaurant inspection work,
anyway" he said yesterday, smiling.