New-York tribune., 1910-11-03

correspondent and artist, who saw some
twenty-four campaigns and revolutions,
died to-day.
There have been few men of his day.
even among professional soldiers. who
have seen more of the perils of the firing
line than Melton Prior. one of the foremost
war correspondents and illustrators of the
last half century. And by means of his
facile pen and pencil. the general public OF
stay-at-homes were likewise made familiar
with the Ashantee. Herzegovina. Kaffirian,
zulu. Transvaal. Egyptian Soudan. Nile.
Burmah Tirah. Turko-Greek and other
campaigns. some twenty-four in all. The
most rapid sketcher I ever knew was
Stanley's description Of him
Mr. Prior vas native of London II
was from his father, William Henry Prior.
craftsman and landscape painter, that he
inherited his talent He studied art in
Boulogne and in London, and in 1873 made
his first appearance on the battlefield dur
ing the Ashantee war.
In his pretty villa in the Newstead Road.
which he made his home when not dwelling
in tent or bivouac, were souvenirs gathered
from all the world. mute witness Of that
first campaign of his is the beheading
sword from Ashantee, which beheaded
some thirty human victims in the king S
slaughter house a last fetch sacrifice
before the entrance Of the British troops
into Coomassie. a sight which the artist
described toward the close of his career as
one Of the most terrible he had ever wit
messed.
1t was while mounting the hill into Coo
mass!e that Prior overcome with fatigue.
found himself falling behind the soldiers.
He caught the tail of Z passing mule for
support. The rider turned sharply. and the
artist to his horror recognized Lord Wolse-
ley.
Y beg your pardon. sir" gasped the
offender.
Hold on Mr.. Prior" laughed his lord
ship Wen pull you in"
There is the saddle on which MIR Prior
rode during the memorable Nile expedition
across the desert, and in connection with 1t
the owner used to relate his vain attempt
to reach Inflated khartoum by hiding him.
self on a steamer commanded by Sir
Charles Wilson.
There are portraits OF his old associates.
Stanley. Boyle, Henty and Cameron, and a
sketch of Colonel North's party on the
steamship Galicia. bound for Chill, Peru
and the nitrate fields
He did his first regular work for the old
Penny Miscellany" contributing for three
months without pay before his ability was
recognized. Then a sketch of flower show
at the Botanic Gardens gave him his first
footing on The Illustrated London News
for which he wrote and drew for the rest
Of his life. The first drawing be sent home
the gallant 42d advancing on the Ashantees
in the bush. was one Of the best things he
ever produced.
During the Carlist War he narrowly es-
ca ped with his life in a midnight attack
surprising the troops of Alfonso in the fore
most trench at Pampeluna. The Herze-
govinian insurrection against Turkey found
him with PecO PavIovitch. Then followed
the Russo-Turksh War. in which Mr.. Prior
followed the Turkish armies. In the Katt1r
and Basuto wars he had many narrow es-
CO pes. He witnessed the fight with the
Boers at Matuba Hill and was the only
man Of the English forces who slept IN the
Boer camp the first night after the procla-
nation Of peace, where he witnessed and
described their remarkab BILE thanksgiving
ceremonies.
Then followed the Zulu War. with Mr..
Prior everywhere al. the front IN the thick
est of the night. The nights at Abu-hlea
and Abou-Krou. where he was hit three
times. he describes as the most hazardous
struggle he ever witnessed
In South America he was present at the
Venezuelan. Brazilian and Argentine in
surrections He was with Jamesons raid
and accompanied the troops in the Matabele
and Afridi wars He was on the northwest
frontier in India and in Crete during her
insurrection. He was also at the siege of
Ladysmith in 1900.
From 1872 to 1856 Melton Prior passed only
one year in which he did not see service.
He was wounded many times.
Besides these martial expeditions, Prior
illustrated journals on many Of
the royal journeys. He went 10 Athens
with the Prince of WaIess suite in 1875;
accompanied the Marquis and Marchioness
of Lorne on their first visit to Canada: was
at the Berlin Conference; at the funeral of
the late Car and the wedding OF the pres
ent one: at the Delhi durbar in 1892, and
at every state ceremony that occurred dur
ing his periods Of rest in England.