The Newark journal., 1908-07-10
RACE AGAINST TIME
TROOPER LOST OPPORTUNITY BY
 NARROW MARGIN.
William Kerr One Of the British Sol ders Who Reached Fatal Spot Just Too Late to Save
 Prince Imperial.

Digging in mine in Joplin is Will liam Kerr, who narrowly escaped be- coming famous. He ran a race against time and failed, says the Kansas City Journal
 For years Kerr was a resident of Kansas City, but it was not until a short time ago, just when he was on the point of taking his departure for the zinc fields, that he divulged his history. Day after day, seven years, for one plumbing firm alone, he had dug. Neither did that concern care to part with his services, for Kerr, more generally known as sScotty," was a valuable man in his way
 New pointers in the art of digging trenches came to Kansas City with Kerr. His was none of the slow shov- cling which usually obtains. When he went into a trench the dirt flew in a constant stream. He had a peculiar manner of handling the shovel which brought three times as much work in a day as the average digger could de- liver, Of course, this ability brought his extra wages. but even at that he was valuable man. No doubt he will make good in the mines
 But this story is to tell of the race made by Kerr as a British trooper on his good mount, the goal being fame The opponent was Father Time boast ing of no other conveyance than an hour glass and scythe. Yet Kerr and the horse lost
 France was not safe for a Bona parte after the Prussian invasion and the commune. Napoleon III, dying heart-broken in 1873, left little but his son, a delicate youth of IT. In England this lad attended WooIwich, the famous military school, fitting him. self out to become, when times should be better. a reigning Louis Napoleon.
 School life and inaetion palled when in 1879 came the chance which he had hoped for. England was at war with the zulus. Grudging permission was granted the young prince to go to the front, but not as eombatant He was to be treated more as an observer and as guest of the English nation So read the instructions to Gen. New digate. commanding a column.
 When there was chance to do some scouting with a small party the prince imperial, as he is known to history, went along. Apparently the venture was destined to be harmless. In fact. the party had dismounted for rest when a band of savage Zulus rushed upon the soldiers.
 Those who managed to reach their horses in safety escaped The prince might have escaped also had not his horse became manageable He was thrown and was killed by the Zulus. The troopers as they fled were joined by the riderless horse Shortly. too. as they fled they were met by a re- lief party sent as soon as the princes absence was discovered. These troop CTS of the relief spurred back to the place where the fight had occurred. In this party was Kerr. Spur as they would, death outstripped them When they came upon the scene of the con- flict the last of the Napoleons was past aid. Kerr himself tells how an hour or two might have altered every thing
 An examination of the place of ann bush revealed the body of him who by the imperialsts of France was termed Napoleon ". The Zulus had stripped it of everything save the famous amu- let of Charlemagne suspended by a chain around his throat.
 So the thanks of France were not for William Kerr, once trooper for her majesty. The man whom fame passed by is digging zinc ore in Joplin.