A GALLANT SOLDIER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10392, 9 May 1927, Page 9 (Supplement)

A GALLANT SOLDIER

I "4* i pfflN^ F/IT[NG TON. ) WJ iou s |@S. f “ j smmiHo in **n ■ w -OVERS BOD? OF PRINCE I IMPERIAL. TrtIGHTED BY QUEEN VIC- ' KM TORIA. g! - __ • „,. c pvT\TION FROM i rRBSBNTAi mpßl^s exjc-ENIE. a . was natural in the early days A-ew Zealand, the free and easy II In the new land, combined with I S nice of danger, attracted ad- ' spirits from all parts of k JfAobe especially the Homeland. I*'those to?*. of aristocratic; I lilies teslt side l»y side with the | ™ lowly-born settler against the JL r j s and, when peace settled on tock their share in the work ahead in the settlement h f ’ d new country. Gisborne, in comIS will, other' townships in the Stair, bsd ils <B lot “ ' vhos<! actions and speech betrayed genteel familv connection. One of. the adventurous men of this stamp A; Claude. Arthur Bettington, well known in this district in the ’seven.ls a member of the police force and the bailiff of the town. TTmr'he filled various positions, recovered the body of the Prince Tin-

perial in Zululand, was honored by Queen Victoria and the Empress Eugenie and then fell a victim to malaria, makes up a strange story which even in those days was an uncommon narrative. Mr Bettington was a young fellow of medium height, pleasant looking, with a moustache, Lmt was always distinguished by his drawl and the fact that he was seldom seen with, out his monocle, which he fixed to his eye, no matter in what dangerous position lie was placed. He joined the Armed Constabulary in Wairoa, having come from England. Later he was transferred to Gisborne with the AO. to the blockhouse, and some time later left that corps to join the Police Department. While in Gisborne, in the ’seventies, he shared Mr Roht. T'helwall’s ! “bach,’ and needless to say the two j soon became firm friends. Mr Bettington, of course, was soon a weiljknown figure in the township, and, despite his stand-offish manner at times, was a, general favorite with all. He was a man who seemed to fear no danger and went into the thickest- with a- light heart and his monocle in his eye. HOW BETTINGTON CLEARED THE BAR. On one occasion, while on duty in the police force, Mr Bettington was called out to deal with a crowd of riotous Maoris. They were _ Ngafciporous who had just been paid, and were painting the town red. They took charge of an hotel and the proprietor immediately sent a message to the police. Mr Bettington appeared with his baton and looked l in at the bar. He had affixed his eyeglass and the merry Maoris were almost convulsed with laughter at his appearance. “Good God, wliat’s the game?” said Mr Bettington, and leaped over the bar counter where a huge Native was dealing out free drinks to bis compatriots. Crack went the baton on the Maori’s head and down be fell. • Then Mr Bettington vaulted over the counter and got" into the midst of the Natives. Tiie baton went up and down and the Natives fell like sheep _ before him. In a few moments, with the exception of those lying on the : floor, the 1 i»r was cleared. All had rushed helter-skelter outside to another hotel. Mr Bettington shook the ringleader into a degree of con. sciousness and marched him off to the. blockhouse. Then he came back and gathered in more of the victims. Still not he enlisted the aid of two fellow police and they went after the rest, a good haul being made. And throughout all the trouble the calm and collected Mr. Bettington kept that monocle still in position. Needless to say, bis feat was the talk of _ the town for I some davs, and Maoris and paltena were alike admirers of the Englishman. LIVERY STABLE KEEPER AND DETECTIVE. Then decided to tr.v business off liis own account, _ end took over the Masonic livery stables, behind the Masonic Hotel,, the stables being on a site near the pi esont offices of Messrs. Rees, Bright. (Wan chop an,d! Parker. He soon tired of the arduous work of to the horses and then left for Christchurch. . ■ A brief interval was spent, in looking round the . Cathedral Litv, and then Mr Bettington joined the detective force, largely on the .strength of his work in the Armed [Constabulary in Wairoa and the police force in Gisborne, for be had sev. ‘ra'i smart captures here to his creot. He served with the Christchurch ; one for three years and', according, o a 'letter received by Mr Tholwail. ; luring thfit time, soon modes good [Til was promoted chief detective. BOUND FOR ZULULAND. At that time the air was full tar talk, for Turkey and Russia Boro at n-r'jps. Mr Bettington deciT B-Lthat New Zealand was too peaccr |il ri couPtrv in which: to reside, and IB for England, with the intention M brining up with the Turks.- On HhUnl at London, however, lie Shad that the British campaign in Bffl’dnnd had taken a serious turn. Hr! forthwith joined up with a re onfr:>in<x out. t.ie Bene of operations..a few weeks later. •ißf A YIN'S OF PRINCE JMPERTA L. V One- morning - a. .mem for of. _ the ■Bntfffuiw. gallonecL into camp and ex«. .ftp.dly’broke ' the-news that the -Ad.- • Pimoe' Tm'penal, ;soiv. LB -■•'•Hie Emiteess Euj2envs,-‘wno was fight-: ~'lib with 'il'* British, had .been am-. :«i'.shed and - billed, .; i^getlwjr ; . wth.

it sjm mui umumjLi uli sj» y most of liis comrades, the returning man being, so far as he knew, the only survivor. Private Bettington, who was off dutj'/at'the time, said, “Who’ll volunteer with me to bring in the body?” Four or five men im. mediately rushed to their- horses, and, headed by Private • Bettington, galloped; to- the: scene of the tragedy, Here they found the body of the Prince Imperial shockingly mutilated. Fortunately, the Zulus had departed, otherwise the second party would have been wiped out also. Private Bettington placed the body of the Prince before him-on his horse and returned' to camp, which was found to lb in a state of consternation, for special precautions had been taken to guard the Prince. As soon as the Body was handed over to the commanding officer, Private Bettington and his comrades were arrested and a few hours later courtmartialled for being absent from the . camp without leave. Needless to say, no punishment- was meted out to the daring band. HERO HONORED BY ROYALTY. Subsequently Private Bettington was presented to the Empress Eugenie, who broken-heartedlv thanked him and presented him with a diamond ring. He was then, through the influence 'of - the Empress, presented to Queen Victoria, who gave him a knighthood. He was later appointed in command to , a regiment at the Cane of Gncd Hope, but after bis arrival was stricken with malaria and died.