Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15

to spare when one Of the bullets reached
vital spot. and over the elephant
crashed in "A dying condition.
His most thrilling race for life. however.
was in the Sudan while he was war
correspondent of the London Daily Tcle-
graph. Lord Desboroueh hao ridden Off
with dispatches to a telegraph office after
one of the big battles. He was within a
mi of the British camp on his return
that famous Sunday morning that der
wishes surprised the camp and stampeded
the cames on to the British lines.
A horde of dervisheS suddenly burt on
Desborough from behind bluff. In an
instant his horse galloping for the
British lines. Bullets hailed around and
down the horse went. shot dead. Des-
borough tore off his coat and accoutre-
ments 1t was neck or nothing. and he
raced along on foot as he had never raced
before. For half a mile he ran. and, but
for one dervish on 4 fleet Arab. seemed
to have won. The pursuer came quite
close to him. Apparently II was all up
with Desborough But he didn't lose his
nerve. Suddenly he stopped and dropped
on his knee. The dervish. unprepared
for this move. galloped past. AS he did so
and "potted' him. The British had seen
the race for life. and. troops coming
up, the war correspondent was safe.
These sort of things lord Dcsborough
years ago lie still goes in for sport. but
Il is not of the adventurous or hazardous
sort He is chief steward of the Henley
regatta among other things. founder and
president of the Bath Club. which is the
fashionable swimming club. and of the
newly formed Imperial Athletic Club.
The Desboroughs' home, Taplow court.
is situated on high bluff of the Thames
within sight of MadeNhead and close to
the famous Boulter's Lock. 1T was owned
by a former Earl of Orkney. There is to
be seen in the garden "A massive stone
urn. present from Queen Anne to LORD
Orkney who held high command, and
was chief lieutenant to the Duke OF MARI
borough at the battle of Blenhelm.
Lord Desborough's grandfather bousht
the estate from Lord Orkney in 1870. The
mansion is of red brick, with many high
| gabled roofs. There are extensive stables
| close by and anew motor garage There
| is also a big gymnasium in building
some distance away and covered tennis
courts. an indoor rifle range, boathouses
| with all manner of craft, ruined church
and churchyard with ancient grave
| stones and the remains of viking and
Roman encampments all within the arg rs,
grounds. The estate comprises S'2U
acres.
4
There are many treasures at Taplov
| Court. Inc CClnS the SOiu piaSC Pi"SN"~'
by Queen Victoria to her prime minister
! T ord Melbourne. who is one of Lady Des-
/ borough's ancestors. But> the glory or
the whole place centers in the huge hall
Here on massive old fashioned stands and
| tables and on the walls are placed the
| trophies of Lord Desborough. But though
! the hall is of immense size there Is not
room enough for all the treasures he has
won. The outer hall, the smoking room
! and his own study are also covered with
! them There are challenge cups ana
| medals and great pieces Of gold and Sill
Yer plate. The feet OF the elephant which
| nearly killed him, are there mounted on
| silver stands There is a board with ONE
! scale and the date caught of each o. tae
| 100 tarpon that made up Lord Desbof-
| o.. his Florida record. In glass case
| is the biggest tarpon OF them all. IL.
! pounds in weight There are caribou ana
| deer heads and antlers of strange stays
| shot in the wilds There are cartridges
and ropes axes and fishing rods, swords
| and rifles all labeled. all mementos OF
| some narrow escape or some great ieat.
! Here. indeed, is visible proof that l-ofd
| Desborough has we'll earned the title o.
| the best all-a~ound sportsman in the
| world There is little wonder that he IS
| the favorite sportsman friend of King
| Edward and the mucll-admired chum OF
! the King of Spain. Little wonder that
| the papers and public wax enthusiastic
over the president of the Olympic games
when they discuss what he has achieved
| in his half century of life.
CHARLES BYNG-HALL.