NARROW ESCAPE OF AN OFFICER AT ISANDULA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5381, 14 May 1879, Page 3

NARROW ESCAPE OF AN OFFICER AT ISANDULA.

A few days after tliß Isandula disaster, Commandant Lonsdale was quietly returning to camp— he had been ill, was tired, and was slowly jogging along with the sort of lazy perseverance characteristic of a tired traveller. He had crossed the small water-wash to the south of the camp when his attention was attracted by a bullet passing rather near him, and on looking up he saw a black man, who had evidently just fired. The real truth was, of course, far from his mind, and he merely thought it was one of hia own contingent carelessly firing off his rifle and pursued his way. To Borne extent the incident seema fortunately to have woke him up, and although he saw what appeared to be our red coats sitting in and around the tents, he kept hia eye open, and when absolutely within ten yards of the tents he saw a great black Zulu come out of one with a bloody assegai in. his hand. This made him look about more closely, and he saw that black men, and black men only, were the wearers of our -red coats. The truth flashed on him — he could read the scowl of hatred on every face— but his self-possession does not seem to have failed him, fov, quietly i turning his pony round, he galloped off before the enemy were aware of his intention. A hundred and fifty shots are said to have been fired at him as he did so, but by the mercy o£ Providence he escaped, and was thus enabled to warn the General, and so save his life and the lives of those with him. Undoubtedly, had such warning not been given, Lord Chelmsford, accompanied by his staff and the. troops with Mm, would have walked without suspicion into the skilful trap thus laid, and, under such circumstances, few would have escaped.