The Morning standard. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1910-191?, 1910-12-25

had he that he was regarded by the na
tivcs as god. And like most men who(
arc gwen credit for supernatural pow
crs, he pretended TO live up to them
He told his tribcsmcn that no harm!
would ever como to them in a wa;i
against the whites. as he would tura
their bullets to water, blind them, and
leave their women and children at the
mercy of their spears.
Things were certainly serious. The
gloom of uncertainty crept over the
British, and visions OF the bloody Zulu
war rose and were reflected by the Lon
don press. The war could be ended
only by some sudden and masterful
coup, and the brains of the home tacti-
clans strained for ideas, but i'll vain, and
the prospect OF rainy season, which
would greatly favor the Matabelc war
riors, was before them.
At this junctuTe the commissioner OF
the district, young fellow named Arm
strong, suggested that Mlimo be cap
tured or destroyed How? Had not
the army been breaking its neck to ac- j
complish that? 1t did not strike the
pondcTous tacticians that couple OF
men often do what is impossible for an
army Armstrong told the commander
that he knew where Mlimo made his
| in1
for volunteers TO capture the ''god."
Burnham was chronic volunteer, and
he and Armstrong set out to capture
Mlimo.
1t was a terrible task, for the priest
had selected a cave at the top OF a
kopjc as his headquarters, and sur
rounded himself with an army of two
thousand tried warriors. who were en-
campcd at the foot of the hill. Beside
this the scouts OF the blacks kept the
country completely under their eyes.
What chance had an enemy to pass these
brave and alert sayagcs, especially white
skinned ono? One in thousand. Yet
Burnham and his companion took the
chance. 1t was 4 nerve straincr. Mile
after mile they covered, crawling. run
ming, riding, hiding, hardly daring to
breathe when near the Kafirs. some
times covering halF1 a mic an 'Rour,
sometimes a little more The last mile
they covered took them three hours. At
last, unpcrceivcd, they reached the foot
of Mllmo's kopje. Slowly from bush
to bush. from boulder to boulder. they
crept like wounded lizards until the
opening Of the gods" cave dwelling
showed black before them an hour after
they had started the ascent
Burnham, being the better shot. was
to fire first, for they decided that under
the circumstances Mlimo could not be
taken alive And they also knew that
their shot would be the signal to the
thousands of warriors below to attack
them and there would be little chance
to escape, but that was secondary con-
Sideratlon.
Closer they crowded to the mouth of
TIC cave. luSS WdiNNug uut 6So
could not be seen A little nearer and
nearer Burnham was now in the en-
trance and a cry came out of the dark
| ness inside, and the giant. befeathcred
Mlimo sprang at him. His rifle blazcd
once and his bullet opened the heart OF
the savage. The shot echoed through
the hills and in 4 moment the Matabelc
army was in arms and rushing toward
the cave and spreading in search for
the shooters. Burnham and Armstrong
: few over the ground like sprngboks,
dodglng shots and spears. They reached
their mounts in safety and then rode like
demons for their lives. being driven into
. a corner hall a dozen times from which
r they had to fight their way like bull
buffaoes They escaped and reached
, Bulwayo
The Matabee finding that their god
, was a pretcndcr as far as his divine
powers were concerned, ceased hostili-
ties. Frederick Russell Burnham ended
the war with one shot and added another
success 10 British arms.
For his courage and devotion Burn
ham was greatly honored by the British
and he and Ingram, with the Honorable
, Manuel Clifford. were jointly given
; tract of land three hundred miles long
in appreciation of their services.
When the British were at war with
, the Bocrs Lord Roberts, knowing the
weakness of his army, which had no
trained eyes, called on Burnham to be-
come his chief of scouts. His excep-
/, tionaI services to the British in the CAM
= paien won him his military title and
: made him perpetual officer OF the
I British army on full pay. He was also
y decorated with the Distinguished Serv-
: ice Order by King Edward. Beside
I this, he wears on the breast of his
= uniform a number Of other medals, the
insignia of his love for the lure on
e peril.
! Cobyriqit 1910. by Meiropoliscn NsSt's'
y paper Syndicate.