The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-12-29
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very far from the poort. or pass,
through which the road ran to Heldel-
berg and Natal. If a person stood
looking toward this poort, about FIVE
hundred yards away to his right and
almost in line with him, he could
see white building rooted with gall
vaniZed iron. This was the stable in
which the government mules were
kept, and l mention il because 1t
plays its part in this short record Of
some of the incidents of troublous
and exciting time
My friend with whom lived ind I
had made a garden round about our
house, and in It we had been setting
vines, for which the shaly soil was
suitable. Also l had arranged a bed
with roses, and in the centre of it
placed a gardenia bush One morn
Ing l was contemplating my vines and
roses, when Suddenly / heard the
shrill voice of an old Hottentot wash
erwoman vehemently explaining
something to my Basuto servant, who
filled the offices Of cock and valet.
Presently the old woman emerged
from the little tin-roofed kitchen,
carrying in a bundle the linen for
which she had come. She was n
curious-looking creature, with a fam
ing red handkerchief tied round her
head, and a wien countenance not
unlike that OF an amiable monkey.
Another handkerchief, bright yellow,
was pinned upon her ample bosom.
We'll, old vrouw," l said, land
what is the news with you this morn
ing?"
"Ah baas." she answered. "bad
news. very bad! King Cetewayo has
attacked the rooiraaties" (red-iack-
cts. l. e., English Soldiers) down
yonder in Zululand and killed them
by hundreds. Yes, yes, they lie like
leaves upon the plain-red winter
leaves-leaves stepped in blood"
l was startled, for we were all wait
Ing with anxiety for news o the Zulu
Var, which was then being waged by
the English after a fashion of which
many who knew the natives and their
method of warfare did not approve.
But did not show any surprise, as it
Is not wise to betray any emotion
when talking with black people.
Indeed" 1 said. land when did
this happen. old woman, for the gov
eminent have no news CT such a
thing"
ut happened, baas," she replied,
mot yesterday, but the day be fore;
for on that evening those who were
left alive OF the white men were
swimming across the Buffalo, and
after them the children" q. e., the
warriors) "of Cetewayo."
oh I said. and how did you
learn that?"
1T was told me, baas," she an
swered, and no more would she say.
Then a lie was told you, old
vrouw, for where is the mar who can
run or the horse that can gallon over
nearly four hundred miles OF weld in
thirty hours, even to bring bad
news?"
AS you Will, baas. she answered,
good-naturedly. "A lie was told me.
oh, yes, a lie was told, but all the
anne the rooibaatjes lie dead. Good
morning, baas!" and she departed.
| sent for my horse and rode into
the town to the Office OF high official
who knew the Zulus better than al
most any other man. for he had spent
his life among them. ] told him what
had heard, and asked if the govern
ment had any such intelligence. to
which he replied. None"
Then, thank God, it must be all
nonsense, ! said, "for the news could
never have reached here I'm this
time!" We had no telegraph in those
days
Don't you be so sure OF that,
young man. he replied. "The Kafirs
have ways OF sending messages OF
which we know nothing"
/ think It was nearly forty-eight
hours later that a special messenger
gallopod into Pretoria with the news
Of the frightful disaster at Isandhl.
wano. the Hill OF the Little Hand. in
which we lost over eight hundred
soldiers killed. besides Kafirs and
camp-followers, OF whom there was
no record
That was a sad and neyer-to-be-for-
gotten day especially for those who
had friends and relatives among the
slain. i knew nearly all the officers
Of the Twenty-fourth; with Colonel
DurniOrd / had been fairly intimate
while it seemed but the other day
that there I'm Pretoria ] was chattine
with poor Coghill. who. together with
Lieutenant Melville. died I'm des
perate attempt to save the colors
which were found wound about their
bodies
In those pre-cable times it must
take long time before REINFORCE
mauts could arrive from England. and
as tho situation in Iululand was yer,
urgent after the disaster. there wa.
a great demand for volunteers, and
especially for volunteers who could
ride and shoot and knew the countr,
and the natives In these circum
stances, the authorities allowed
mounted corps OF Englishmen to b,
raised at Pretoria. OF which corps
was elected adiutant and lieutenant.
may explain that in Africa volun
teors always tried TO insist upon tn,
right TO elect their own officers. a
any rate in my lay. so that the,
might choose men Goo whom they ha,
confidence.
This corps. which was named th
Pretoria Horse. was about slxt
strong, and for the most part com