The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-29
RECALLS THE SIEGE
OF LADYSMITH


when Sir G. Whites forces were be-
sieged in Ladysmith. Those who are
informed long have held the opinion that
had Hunters view been adopted before
the siege. the whole course of the Natal
campaign might have been changed,
greatly to British advantage.
But, be that as II may. during that
siege Hunter was the life and soul OF
the army the sword arm OF the fighting
posts OF Caesars Camp and Wagon Hill,
the indomitable prophet of hope and vic
tory throughout the long period when the
physical weakness of the beleaguered
garrison had reduced many brave men
well nigh to despair,
OF course. the Boer war quite eclipsed
the long years OF campaigning in the
Sudan. which had ended in triumph at
Omdurman only few years previously.
And, thanks TO the fact that Sir Archibald
is as modest as he Is valiant, many no
doubt have forgotten that the holding
and reconquest OF the Sudan was the
great work OF his life.
He had fourteen years OF the desert and
the Nile valley and throughout them
and they were many-waged In that wide
area. His bravery in all that hand-to-
hand fighting was a by-word with the
black troops whose adored leader he was,
men whose reckless disregard OF danger,
whether as allies Or as foes. ever has
found admiration from all British
soldiers.
When the Inflated gunboat Fl Teb
turned turtle In the Fifth Nile cataract,
Hunter had a narrow escape. being struck
by the bridge rail as he leaped overheard.
While he rested, news was brought him
that the Eunboat, which had drifted thirty
miles down stream. was aground on an
island and that a tapping was heard
from within. Instantly he was IN the
saddle. making at top speed for the wreck
with several workers. And during twelve
hours or eutting-Out work he sat on the
keel himself. hammeTinE TO encourage
the two poor fireman imprisoned below,
who finally were rescued.
At Omdurman It was due 10 him. prob
ably. that Lord Kitchener lived 20 put
the words "of Khartoum after his
name. The commander-in-chief and STAFF
were inside the Enclosure OF the Iron
Mosque toward shutdown on that fateful
September Q when suddenly shell burst
come from the kalifa's house, beside the
mosque. and that he was at home and
that the British had at last got him.
That one shell was followed by another
and third, and then the awkward mis-
siles began to drop pretty rapidly. Sud-
denly Hunter appeared on the scene,
having come all the way through the
enemy's lines.
''These are our own shellst" ne ex-
claimed we cannot stay here. for we
cannot stop them"
Kitchener looked perplexed for a mo-
ment Then he said. with a laugh:
We'll. gentlemen. Il would be a pity
10 be killed when the day Is Won We
had best move away"
Anu he turned away, while the shell
hail grew thicker and hotter
A moment later Hunter found another
opportunity to show the kindly consider
alton which is part OF his nature. Sew
eral war correspondents were present.
and Of them three-Stevens, OF the Mail;
Maud, OF the Graphic. and Howard Qord
Carlisle's sonl-were dismounted. OF
course. all turned 10 follow the sirdar.
and as the three mounted another shell
burst Just over them Maud's horse was
killed and another disabled. Then Sir
Archibald came up.
Poor Howard is killed. he said: but
you must stick 10 the chief. I will look
after your friend"
And he did. He waited for a bearer
party and carried the dead correspondent
to his own quarters for the night, whence
the next day the body was borne to its
grave.
I have had so much 70 say about Dis
raeii that it seems like too much OF
good thing, yet to me the subject almost
appears inexhaustible considering the man
that British premier was. So here goes
for another interesting BIT which I un-
earthed in the volume discussed last
week
On one occasion Dizzy" turned his
early acquaintance with Tom Moore to
profitable account. For some years one
Of the members from Dublin was a DR..
Lyons. who was very proud OF his re-
semblance TO Ireland's great poet. Once,
on the eve Of critical division, when
every vote was wanted badly. Disraeli
saw DR.. Lyons approaching and immedi-
ately gave a look OF startled astonish-
ment. you gave me quite a shock You
look so marvelously like my old friend
Tom Moore" That settled It! The clum-
sy dodge succeeded. The little Dublin
doctor. hattered and delighted. voted IN
the same lobby with the premier.
Disraeli always was courteous 70 men
Of letters. even when he had not read
their books. Perhaps he remembered ali
he had to suffer as author ere success
came 10 him in the field Of politics. A lady
was interested in w. II. Mallock's New
Republic" then newly published. She
wanted Disraeh 10 read the book and 70
say something nice about it. The prime
minister replied with a groan: ASK me
anything. dear lady, except this. am
an old man. Do not make me read your
young friends romancesi'
''Oh," replied she. He would be such
en- accession 10 the Tory party, and one
civil word from you would secure his
vote foreverr
We'll, then" replied Disraeli, give
me sheet OF paper and a pen;" and sit
ting down IN the lady's drawing room no
wrote as follows:
Dear Mrs. -: I am very sorry that
I cannot dine with YOU. but I am going
down to Hughenden for q weeks rest
Would that my solitude could be peopled
by the bright creations OF Mr.. Mallock's
fancy"
He handed the lady the letter with the
remark: "Do you think that this will do
for your friend?" FLANEUR.
copyright. 1910 BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicatel
The DoEs os Sc. Bernard.
Eror, tba London Nlaha