Com Paul on Commando.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9824, 25 July 1900, Page 3

Com Paul on Commando.

Bailed Up by a Farmer's Wife.

Here (writes a correspondent ; of Jlf.A.h) is a curious aDd true story : of an Englishwoman's adventure with President Kruger. It was in the troublous times which culminated in' the disaster of Majuba Hill, aud the husband of the lady in question owned a farm not far from ihe town of Potchefstrom—recently so prominent in despatches from Lord Roberts* Oom Paul was at that time some twenty; yekrs younger than, now, and consequently took a more active part in actual hostilities. At commandeering he wag to be an adept, and while on one of his expedilions he and his companions visited the homestead of the lady. On the farm there were a number of fine horses, more of the English breed than of the scraggy African stock, and, as these took i fancy of Commandaat Kruger, -he promptly decidod to commandeer thtem for the insurgent government. Vt _ • "He came into our house' witft; his loaded rifle slung over lus shoulder;/' said the lady to a relative,7 to >bon/ she* recently told the story:. f'.He/survey cii the place with .-so Expression, t'hatJ I' conclusion us to;his mission ;tat Once!' | I had not louy'ilo,wait,for the hardiU'utih, and as 1 ,wad s only.. accompanied by my child) enM<?Pmy husband had left when the trouble,begAD, 'being badly wanted by the enemy-r-I, a lone-svyoni'dhllcoviui scarcely-interfere.,u M am.gqjngltoTiiake your . horses, v.mad.W,' h&: jSaidij iv&ry hands an acknowledgment, for") the;, Aoaft- , 0f,7 the horses I will leave you this signed dodu.ment.'■■■■■Thereupop "he unsluiig, His rifle •and laid it upon, the sitting-room table, while lie searcbe-i. in a putsch for ihe paper he referred to. ' - • vj \ At that moment a wi'd idea rushed to my mind. I seized ihe rifle, and bringing the butb of it to' my shoulder—-most women who live upon the veldt know how'to handle a. gun —I pointed tjie muzzle at him. 'You will hot take the horses, and unless you put that paper

back I will fire.' I screamed in a frenzy of rage. Paul Kruger was too wise a man to doubt my word, and he obeyed, though, at the same time, I think I may tell you, I had not the courage to have done what I threatened. ' Promise that you will cot take the stock,' I demanded. He promised, rather to my surprise, to leave the horses alone, and said that nothing belonging to our farm would be touched. Indeed, lie flatteringly added that such a brave woman as I should not nave anything commandeered. Then he asked for his rifle, but I made him say adieu without it. He left the horses, and I had the pleasure of seeing him and his men ride away. Then I pitched the rifle from me and sat down and cried." To his credit, the future President kept his promise, but, alas ! the horses disappeared shortly after, commandeered by another force this time, that did not offer to leave an acknowledgment of what they had taken !