The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-12-24

had he that he was regarded by the ma
tives as 4 god. And. like most men who
arc given credit for supernatural pow
ers. he pretended 10 live up to them
He told his tribesmen that no harm
would ever come to them in war
against the whites, as he would turn
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 mastcrful
coup. and the brains of the home tacti-
clans strained for ideas, but in vain. and
the prospect OF rainy season. which
would greatly favor the Matabelc war
riors, was before them.
At this Juncturc the commissioner of
the district. young fellow named Arm
strong. suggested that Mlimo be cap
tured or destroyed. How2 Had not
the army been breaking its neck to ac-
oomplish that? It did not strike the
ponderous tacticians that a couple of
men often do what is impossible for an
army. Armstrong told the commander
that he knew where Mlimo made his
retreat The British commander called
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 4 cave at the top Of a
kopjc as his headquarters, and sur
rounded himself with an army Of two
thousand tired warriors, who were en-
camped 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 savages, especially a white
skinned one? One In thousand. Yet
Burnham and his companion took the
chance 1t was 4 nerve etrainer. Mile
after mile they covered, crawling. run
ming, riding, hiding, hardly daring to
breathe when near the Kafirs. some
times covering half mile an hour,
sometimes 4 little more. The last mile
they covered took them three hours At
last, unperccived, they reached the foot
of Mlimo's kopje. Slowly from bush
to bush. from boulder to boulder, they
cIcpt 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-
sideration.
Closer they crowded TO the mouth of
the cave. They waited. but the god
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. befeathered
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 Matabcle
army was in arms and rushing toward
Ythc cave and spreading IN search for
the shooters. Burnham and Armstrong
flew over the ground like springboks.
dodging shots and spears. They reached
their mounts In safety and then rode like
demons for their lives, being driven into
corner half dozen times from which
they had to fight their way like bull
buffalocs. They escaped and reached
Bulwayo.
The Matabele. finding that their god
was pretender as far as his divine
powers were concerned, ceased hostili-
ties. Frederick Russell Burnham ended
the war with one shot and added another
success to 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 Boers Lord Roberts. knowing the
weakness of his army, winch had no
trained eyes, called on Burnham to be-
come his chief of scouts. His exoep-
tional services to the British in the cam
pagn won him his military title ard
made him a perpetual officer of the
British army on full pay. He was also
decorated with the Distinguished Serv-
ice Order by King Edward. Beside
this, he wears on the breast of his
uniform 4 number Of other medals, the
insignia OF his love for the lure oF
peril
Cobyriqhf, 1910. BY Merobolitan Meas
] PAPER SyndieOte.