FAMOUS RIDES IN HISTORY

Evening Star, Issue 20052, 18 December 1928, Page 3

FAMOUS RIDES IN HISTORY

DEEDS OF URGENCY The beat of hoofs sounding through the night was often a sign of some daring deed of urgency pushed through many dangers by flood and fell as well as upon the turnpike road. Ju romance and history the splendid horses galloped until they dropped to death. When the great -Elizabeth lay dying, Sir Robert Carey sat booted and spurred to carry the tidings to the Scottish King in Edinburgh (writes Richard Morcton in the ‘Newcastle Weekly Chronicle.’) . A fair hand dropped a priceless ring through the casement, the signal of the decease in “ Christian and comfortable fashion ” of the Lioness of England. On,, on through the night went Sir Robert on that wild, dash to Scotland. Cecil had screened the news of the deatli from the council, being at lordly Theobald’s plotting in readiness for the coming of the new king. ■ The journey was finished in record time, and Sir Robert was the first to kneel before the Scottish King i*i Polvrood -Mid hail'him also James the First of England. The “ new sun ” jiau .risen, and ncJi was the reward for the ardent messenger. When, Cromwell expired in the Palace of Whitehall on the afternoon of Septembei 3, 1658, it was the anniversary of the glorious victory of Dunbar and of Worcester. Four strong horsemen rode north, south, east, and west to tell the people of England the Protector was no more. Harrison Ainsworth ;-glorified ■ The scoundrel Dick

Turpin as hero of the ride to York on “ Black Bess.” It was quite untrue. Defoe, the great" journalist, proved it was a highwayman named Nick who performed the feat on a roan maro years before Turpin was banged at York. Nick robbed a man at Gad’s Hill, Kent, at 4 a.m. The following afternoon be was in York on the bowling green. Nobody believed he could have been in both in so short a time, and he was acquitted by the jury. He received royal patronage, and changed his name, on the King's command, to “ Swiftnicks.” In the early days of the history of Natal, the world thrilled on, hearing of the whirlwind ride of Richard King. In 1842 the Boers settled at Mnritzburg, and the British Government regarded tins as an affront. Captain Smith, with’ a “forlorn hope,” was ordered to Port Natal. General Pretorious fell upon Smith’s handful, and they made a hasty retreat to Durban, where they entrenched behind mud walls. Grahamstown was 400 miles away, and there was a relief force. “I will ride there,” declared Richard King, and he started off in the inky blackness across the veldt after creeping through the Boer lines. After a short rest in the scrub, in the morning light he rode on again, his horse lengthening its' gallop. - That night he rode into a Kaffir village. Before the yelling savages could seize their assegais, he had dashed clean through, singing the National Anthem. Torrential rains brought great floods, and the livers seemed unfordable. Again and again he and Jus horse were nearly swept away. Ho at last reached 1 the dusty streets of Grahamstown and spread the dire news. The relief

readied Durban in tbe nick of time, for tho Boor general bad brought up bis heavy guns and was bombarding the wretched mud defences of the British. To-day Richard King is still hailed as a great South African hero. Drury Wake’s ride headlong across the Balkans from Constantinople on a mission to Lord Clarendon in London met with a rebuff _at the end. This brilliant young received .secret information —the Russian troops were passing over tho Bruth to threaten Turkey. He knew a steamer had sailed for London with despatches from the Ambassador in Constantinople with contrary news, saying everything was quiet. Hence the ride to outpace the steamer if he could. When, after a terrible journey, ho reached the railway communication, he dropped asleep in tho jolting train. He, luwever, made his way to London and reached Lord Clarendon’s house at midnight. “ It is war,” said the young diplomat to the hoary statesman. “ Nonsense,” replied Clarendon. ‘‘Have a cigar? ” As a result-England drifted unprepared into the Crimean War mainly through the artifices of the Emperor Napoleon the Third of France. ' When Lord Raglan issued his vague order to Lord Cardigan to “ move against the Russians,” the equerry was killed as he rode forward. The second messenger did not understand the instructions, and the result was that though “ everybody knew someone had blundered,” Cardigan and the Light Cavalry attempted .the impossible. “Through the valley of death” the six hundred snorting horses bore the horsemen armed with spear,.lance, and sabre. A pitiful remnant reached the British lines azain, j