LATE NEWS A Rebel Leader.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 85, 20 March 1922, Page 5

LATE NEWS A Rebel Leader.

COMMANDER OF RAND REDS.

A REMARKABLE PERSONALITY

THE LAST STAND AT FORDSBURG

lßy Cable.—Press Association.--Copyright.)

(Received 20, 9.5 a.in.) Capetown, March 18. One of the most remarkable personalities of the revolution was Percy Fisher, a prominent strike leader and afterwards in command of the Beds at Fordsburg. A captured policeman has given the “Star” a graphic story of his experiences as captive in Fisher’s hands. Prisoners were required to take an oath not to take up arms or give evidence against the captors. On Sunday a marked change came over the Reds, caused by the news that the Government forces had taken Vrededorp. On Monday Fisher compelled some captives to write a letter to General Smuts urging him to accept an offer from the rebels, but it is doubtful if the letters were sent. On Tuesday the outlaws laced their inevitable fate with stolid stoicism. Fisher beat five men unmercifully with a sjambok for trying to leave Fordsburg to go to the show grounds. When the closing hour of the ultimatum approached, the garrison met in the Red hall, and, after an address by Fisher, sang the “Red Flag.” They then had drinks and departed for the trenches for the last time. The capcured policeman never expected to leave the place alive. At 11 o’clock the first shrapnel burst over the market buildings, filling the hall with smoke. Fisher told the police that he did not want to see them murdered, and they could take cover. Not a man accepted the invitation. They simply sat and smoked, and cheered as th© bombardment increased.

An attempt was made in the trenches to hoist the white flag, but this was instantly suppressed by the commander, who menaced the men with a Winchester repeater. In the last hour Fisher addressed the prisoners and with vehemence begged them as young Afrikanders to keep the flag flying. Ho then handed them a black kitten, which had remained m the building, and asked them to keep it for luck. He several times paced up and dawn the hall, a moody, bowed figure. Suddenly he turned and said good-bye, and left the hall with Spendiff. “Going to put himself out,” said an old sergeant. The bodies of Fisher and Spendiff were found in the room of the Market Hall, death being due to self-inflicted revolver shots.—(A. and N.Z.)