Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-04-25

church"
But somehow | felt | was being
1oshed, for the twinkle in Ross eyes
belied his words. But ever after he
called me Deacon" | often wonder
whether he told his bride about his
Mormon proclivities rather fancy
ne would. for he was not man 20
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. for some Indian campaign. He
/ also fought through the Red River
war. His career was varied to a
marked degree until the South Afri-
can war broke out.
Ross joined the Canadian mounted
rifles and went out to South Africa
with them as a trooper. He saw CON
siderable service with them. but event
ually 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
its name big in the annals of the
greatest war of modern times
Ross gathered together 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 unflinching 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?
They fought in every part OF the
Transvaal, Orange River Colony, and
Cape Colony. The Beers trembled at
the mere mention of the name OF
Ross. It would take a book to write
the history Of their deeds of marvel
GUS daring. They used no kid gloves
in their warfare. eitb9r
Perhaps the most famous episode In
their adventurous exploits was the
shooting of Id 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 Beers were liable for
their breach OF law to be tried by
drumhead court-martial, with death as
the penalty II found guilty.
Ross is a 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 unit
they were out of sight and then turned
to the covering Beers.
/ wish that / could reproduce this
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 anC
, pronounced American accent
Say, you gol-durned dogs" Ross
, said to them, I've caught you witt
| tha ooodu IN Won and .yc,. ..,& - -,
; up. I'll give you just five minutes tx
: 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 yol
J try your hand at 1t. Step lively nov
with them petitions to your goot
Makerl"
j With revolver in each hand an,
[ his three men covering the is prison
: ers with their guns, Ross counted GU
: the minutes. The Beers had not ye
i. realized that he was in earnest an,
stood watching him anxiousIy.
"One more minute and out you get!
+ Ross snapped at them as he finishe,
o counting on four minutes He steu
r ped toward the first man and held hI
e revolver at the mans head. Tn
Boer covered back and began to be-
I for mercy.
e "Cut out that woman business!
q commanded Ross. ii guess the goo
a God won't listen to you. and. if h
won't you can't expect me to. Tim
i up! Here's where you go to see you
e God, II he'll see you. which doubts.
e Bang! went the revolver, and tn
I man sank dead at the majors feel
e One after the other he sent them O.
e their way into the Great Unknown.
The work completed. Ross and hi
J. men mounted their horses and rode a
J. gallop after their regiment
II The story leaked out, and Ross wa
: sent for by Lord Kitchener a
O Pretoria. No record OF this meetin
I. is obtainable, and Ross will not spea
. II II. At least his offense did no
/. interfere, later on, with Ross be
n ing appointed a companion Of the Di,
! tinguished Service order. which rank
n next to the Victoria Cross.
a Another story told about Majo
IS Ross. which | happen TO know TO b
g true in every detail, il that when rio
n ing into Pretoria one morning fror
r. an expedition after Boer commando
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