The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-01-18


are given credst for supernatural pow
ers, he pretended to lit4 sp - them.
He told his tribesmen that na harm
would ever come to them in war
against tas whites as he would turn
their h':llcts to water, blind .trm. and
leave their ~omen and children at the
mercy of :heir 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 in vain, and
the prospect of rainy season, which
would greatly favor the Matabele war
riors, was before them.
At this juncture the commissioner Of
the district. young fellsw named Arm
strong, suggested that Mlimo be cap
tured or destroyed Ho"? Had not
the army ben breaking its neck to ac-
complish hail L ga not strike the
ponderous .a,-t'sns .hM couple of
men often Se shat Z i.~rcssible for an
army Armstrong teIA -. commander
that he kn.w whsvs Mlimo made his
retreat The british commander called
for volunteers to capture the sod
Burnham was shrsnic volunteer, and
he and Armstrong set out TO capture
Mlimo.
1t was a terrible tax for the priest
had selected cave al the top OF
kopje as his headquarters, and sur
rounded himself with an army OF two
thousand tried warriors. who were en-
camped at the foot of the hill Beside
this the sceu:.'of the blacks kept the
country corp.efely under their eyes.
What chance had 40 enemy to pass these
brave and aler, stvsscs. especially a white
skinned one2 One II a thousand Yet
Burnham and his companion took the
chance. It was a nsrye strainer. Mile
after mile they covered, crawling, run
ming, riding, hiding, hardly daring to
breathe when near the Kafhrs. some
times covering half a mile an hour.
sometimes little more The last mile
they covered took them three hours AZ
last, unperceived, they reached the foot
of Mlimo's kopie 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 Mlirno 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 10 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 cry came out Of the dark
ness inside. and the giant. befeathered
Allimo sprang at him. His riAe blazed
once and his bullet opened the heart OF
the savage The shot echoed through
the hills and in a moment the Matabele
|. army was in arms and rushing toward
the cave and spreading in search for
the shooters Burnham and Armstrong
: few over the ground like springboks.
, lodging shots and spears. They reached
their mounts in safety and then rode like
demons for their lives, being driven into
. a corner half dozen times from which
r they had to tight their way like bull
I buffaloes. They escaped and reached
1 Bulwayo
S The Matabele. finding that their goo
e was a pretender as far as his divits
powers were concerned. ceased hosiilS
= ties. Frederick Russell Burnham endec
the war with one shot and added anothel
\ success to British arms.
? For his courage aud devotion Burn.
nam was greatly honored by the British
and he aud Ingram. with the Honorabl,
4 Manuel Clifford, were jointly given !
? tract Of land three hundred miles long
. IN appreciation of their services
4 When the British were at war with
4 The Beers Lord Roberts. knowing tn,
! weakness Of lis army, which had nc
h trained eyes. called on Burnham to be
, come his chief OF scouts His excep
{ tional services to the British in the cam
E paiga Ran him his military title ant
: made him perpetual officer Of thu
it British army on full pay He was als'
y decorated with the Distinguished Serv
t ice Order BY King Edward Besid,
i this. he wears on the breast Of hi
L Uniform number OF other medals. m,
insignia of his love ia the hre Q
Ie peril
d Cobwigbi, 1910. tv N>'-s'aR'r Vsws
" paper SyHdisEf.