The Raymer enterprise., 1913-04-17

AoA lAc lNluhiS IA iNoSo S'SS
belied his words. But ever after he
called the Deacon" often wonder
whether he told his bride about his
Mormon procliyities. | rather fancy
he would. for he was not man to
hide joke. nor to hide a truth.
After leaving the northwest mount.
ed police. Ross came back to the
States and enlisted, after naturaliz-
Ing. Tor some Indian campaign. he
also fought through the Red River
war. His career was varied to
marked degree until the South Afrl.
can war broke out.
Ross Joined the Canadian mounted
rifles and went out to South Africa
with them as trooper. He saw con.
siderable service with them. but event.
ual!y got into trouble through an ex.
cesiVe fondness for looting. He was
dropped from the force and i'm.
mediately went to Pretoria and Joined
another irregular corps as lieuten-
ant. His wonderful! scouting and dar.
Ing earned for him the notice OF
Lord Kitchener. As a result OF an
Interview with the great British gen
eral. Ross was empowered TO raise an
irregular corps OF cavalry. He call.
ed the Canadian Mounted Scouts. So
was born little corps which wrote
lis hiu In, ha al ~ tho
greatest war Of modern times.
Ross gathered together a number
OF kindred spirits and soon had reg.
iment OF scouts which would be hard
TO equal. let alone beat. They were all
men who had Travelled the world In
search OF adventure, men who faced
death daily with l4iilinchIng eyes. and
who knew no hardship too difficult to
endure or overcome. With such ma.
terial Is 1t to be wondered at that the
Canadian Mounted Scouts were soon
heard OF?
Ihey fought In every part OF the
Transvaal. Orange River Colony, and
Cape Colony. The Beers trembed at
the mere mention OF the name O.
Ross. II would take book to write
the history OF their deeds OF marvel.
Gus daring. They used no kid gloves
In their warfare, either.
Perhaps the most famous episode In
their adventurous exploits was the
shooting OF Is Boer prisoners, whom
they had captured when wearing the
British uniform. This act was against
all usages OF modern warfare, and In
defiance OF the acts Of The Hague and
Geneva. the Bocrs were liable for
their breach OF law to be tried BY
drumhead court.martial, with death as
the penalty II found guilty.
Ross Is n man OF quick action. He
had caught the men In the act OF
crime and wearing the uniforms. That
was enough. He dispensed with the
drumhead court.martial and sentenced
them TO death by shooting. He Sc
lected three OF his most trusted fol.
lowers to assist him in the execution
OF the Beers. Then he sent in the
remainder OF his regiment, warning
them to take no notice OF any shooting
they might hear In the course OF the
next few minutes. He waited until
they were out OF sight and then turned
to the covering Beers.
! wish that ! could reproduce the
story OF the subsequent events with
the vivid detail and quaint phraseol
ogy used by Ross when telling me the
story. He speaks with drawl and
pronounced American accent
Say. you gol.durned dogs" Ross
said to them, I've caught you with
the goods on you. and you got to ante
up, I'll give you Just i've minutes TO
make your peace with your Creator
and then I'll pass you out. guess
the good God won't listen to such yer.
min as you, but I'm game to let you
try your hand at It. Step lively now
with them petitions to your good
Makor!"
With q revolver in each hand and
his three men covering the Is prison.
ers with their guns. Ross counted out
the minutes. The Beers had not 70,
realized that he was In earnest and
stood watching him anxIously.
"One more minute and out you ge,,"
Ross snapped at them as he finished
counting of four minutes. He stem.
ped toward the first man and held his
revolver at the mans head The
Boer covered back and began TO beg
for mercy.
cut out that woman buslness,"
commanded Ross. Il guess the good
God won't listen to you. and. II he
won't you can't expect me to. Time
up, Here's where you go to see your
God. II he'll see you. which doubts"
Bang! went the revolver, and the
man sank dead at the majors feet
One after the other he sent them on
their way into the Great Unknown"
The work completed. Ross and his
men mounted their horses and rode at
a gallop after their regiment.
The story leaked out. aud Ross wns
sent for by Lord Kitchener at
Pretoria. No record OF this meeting
is obtainable, and Ross will not speak
II It. At least his oirense did not
interfere. later on. with Ross be.
Ing appointed a companion OF the Dis.
,inguished Service order, which rapks