The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-08-05
RACE AGAINST TINE
TROOPER LOST OPPORTUNITY ~
NARROW MARGIN.
William Kerr One q the 0ritish Col
diero Who Reached Fatal Spot
Just Too lato 70 Save
Prince imperial.

Digging In q mine In Joplin IL VII
liam Kerr, who narrowly escaped be
coming famous. He ran race against
time and failed. says the Kansas City
Journal.
For years Kerr was . resident Of
Kansas City, but It was not until Z
short time ago. just when he was on
the point Of taking his departure fol
the zinc fields. that he divulged his
history. Day after day, seven years.
for one plumbing arm alone. he had
dug. Neither did that concern care to
part with his services. for Kerr, more
generally known as "Scotty," was q
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 SHOW
cling which usually obtains. When he
went into . trench the dirt few In .
constant stream. He had q peculiar
manner Of handling the shovel which
brought three times as much work In
. day ~ the average digger could de-
liver. OF course. this ability brought
his extra wages. but even ut that he
Was . valuable man. No doubt he will
make good in the mines.
But this story II to tell Of the race
made BY Kerr Is . 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 q Bona
parte after the Prussian invasion and
the commune. Napoleon ILL.,. dying
heart-broken in 1873. left little but
his son. q delicate youth OF II. In
England this lad attended WOOlwich.
the famous military school. fitting him.
self out to become. when times should
b better. reigning Louis Napoleon.
School life and inaction 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 Q combatant He
was to be treated more as an observer
aad rs . guest Of the English nation.
So read the instructions to Gen. New.
disate. commanding q column.
When there was chance to do some
scouting with a small party the prince
imperial, ~ he is known to history,
went along. Apparently the venture
was destined to be harmless. In fact,
the party had dismounted for rest
when q 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 unmanageable. He was
thrown and was killed by the ,Zulus.
The troopers as they fed were Joined
by the riderless horse. Shortly, too,
AZ they ded they were met by q re-
lief party sent a. soon a the princes
absence was discovered. These troop
ers 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-
fiict tho 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 am
bush revealed the body of him who by
the imperialists Of France was termed
Napoleon Nv. The Zulus had stripped
It of everything save the famous ANU
let Of Charlemagne suspended by q
chain around his throat.
So the thanks of France were not |
for William Kerr, once trooper for her |
The man whom fame passed |
by Is digging zinc ore in Joplin.