Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-07-09
BULLER The FIGHTER
How Sir Redvers Won the VIC
toria Cross.
AN EPISODE OF ZULU WAR.
British Generals Brilliant Record Of
Bravery on One Busy Day In South
Africa-A Sample of His Persuasive
Powers and His Congeniality.

vers Henry Butler, the famous British
warrior, who recently died In London,
England, was called by the Zulus the
devils brother" To read the story
of how he won his Victoria cross is like
reading of the deeds of some enchanted
prince in a fairy romance. The story
entrances one, yet to those who knew
the man the astonishing details seem to
lose much of their marvellous quality.
It was on March 2S, 1879, at which
time he was in command of the mount
ed troops-strlctly they were not cav
olry-of Sir Evelyn Woods column in
the Zulu war. He had been dispatch
ed by his commander to clear the
Inhlobane mountains, in South Africa.
The task had been accomplished in the
face of stupendous difficulties and some
opposition, when enormous Zulu re-
endorsements were observed coming up
and threatening to cut them off. lie
was by sheer force of circumstances
compelled to retreat 10y making a de-
scent by the precipitous sides of the
mountain His force lost heavily, but
his calmness and magnificent self de
votlou saved it from the absolute de-
struction which seemed imminent. The
much priced decoration was won not
by a headlong rush against foe nor
vet by a sudden impulse of gallantry,
but by three unaffected acts of unself-
ish devotion, involving almost certain
death.
First, when the pursuit was hottest
he saw Captain Darcy Of the frontier
light horse dlsmounted, his horse hay
ing been killed under him, and retiring
on foot Colonel (as Sir Redvers then
was) Butler, though he himself was a
big, heavy man, quite n load for a
horse, especially after II fltiguing morn
| ing, promptly took Captain Darcy up
behind him and carried him out of
reach of the foe. a little later on the
same day under similar circumstances
and in the same manner he rescued
another officer of the frontier light
horse, Lieutenant Everett He finished,
also on the same day, by carrying out
of danger q trooper whose horse was
completely exhausted. When he took
this man up behind him the Zulus
were within eighty yards of them,
Three separate and distinct actions in
/ one day, each of which would have
! gained the famous bronze cross for any
man! Finally he led into camp seven
other troopers who, flying from the
mountain, had lost their way.
General Butler was undoubtedly q
strong man, with a will of iron rigid
ity, but he also possessed and occasion
ally used his characteristic powers OF
persuasion and generally to good eff
| feet, as the following anecdote will
! show:
When serving in the Canadian Red
river expedition under Colonel Wolse
! ley, some years ago, Butler. then q
! lieutenant, arrived at the mouth of the
| st. Lawrence, where their further al
vance was hampered by, dense fogs
Presently their provisions threatened
to run scanty, and n galley was dis
/ patched to an island In the vicinity
| on which was erected n station ful
! the aid of the shipwrcckel sailors
| Lieutenant Butler accompanied tie
| boatmeu ard discovered u woman +:
charge of the station provisions l.,
/ asked for supply of food, but was r..
! fused
NO" avcred the woman "Oul
! provisions lie only for those whoU
sA.pwrecEcd. not for folk like you,"
Tut" reiterated Butler eve az,
servant. of The government. ana thi, !,
/ a government store"
"Rut | can't let You take the pro.
visions; you'm not shiqwrccke1," was
the rigid response.
Butler observed the odd suggestion
of dialect in the speaher's voice and
words and he addressed her per.
suasiveIy in the Cornish dialect;
What! Not for dear old '0ne and
An and Buller?"
"What!' came the surprised re
/ sponse. "Re yew from Cornwall. en-
a BullerF Take anything you'w like
in the store, You'm hearty welcomer
Many years ago, during the Red
river expedition. Il soldier in the
Kings royal rifles was much in need
of a pipeful of tobacco. He approach.
ed his brother Tommies for what b.
required, but without success. \ Gg.
ure that seemed familiar marvle
steadily ahead, and the soldier in dcS-
peration, slapped the individual On thp
back, saying. Got pipcful of baccy.
| matei"
/ The figure turned, revealing Genera.
Butler, then Il captain in the SAME re-
iment. The soldier was overwhelmel
with confusion. Very sorry | cau''
/ o"'f@e you said Butler. but | haven't
III for myself" showing nj tha
.a me an empty pipe.
lated of General Butler that
/ one. q" had very narrow escape
( from having to abandon his military
/ career. Shortly before he joined the
regiment to which he had been gazet-
ted as n subaltern he cut his knee very
| badly with an ak The wound was go
severe that the surgeon said the limb
must be amputated. Butler, however,
said that if he could not have two legs
I he would have none at all, and the re-
suit was that which usually happens
In such stories-the doctor was all
wrong and Butler was soon able to
! join his regiment.
Ice Water Poem.
Lieutenant Governor Henry 3. Gray
the best judge of whisky and tn,