CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 114, 12 March 1853, Page 4

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

The news from the Cape extends to the end of October, when the frontier was still in a disturbed and unsatisfactory state. The Graham's Town Journal, October 26th, gives the following account of the murder of Captain JHearne, of the 12th Regiment, and two soldiers and the chief constable, at Fort Peddie:— . , Captain Hearne's camp is at Driver's Farm, 12 miles east of Graham's Town; and it appears that about seven, a.m., on Monday, the escort started from thence, as is regularly done on that d^y of the week, in order to secure the road through the bush for the passage of waggons, &c. Unfortunately, Captain H. did not start until a short time after the escort, being accompanied by his servant and Mr. Reilly, all mounted. About twenty minutes after Captain H. had thus left his camp, his horse and that of his servant were seen galloping back to the camp. A soldier of the 12th Foot (not oil duty at the time), thinking the horses had thrown their riders, rail after one of them, and unfortunately went so far as to fall into the hands of the marauders. Almost immediately after a shot was heard, when three postriders and a Serjeant of the 12th, who had just caught one of the horses, -galloped towards the spot, and, on reaching the top of the ridge, saw the man before mentioned flee out of the bush stark naked. He was followed by the banditti, who poured a "volley after him, as it would seem without effect. One of the rebel Hottentots was then seen to take deliberate aim, and the poor fellow pitched forward, the ball having, as was discovered afterwards, hit him in the back, and passed through the body. One of the military then galloped off to Governor Kop Camp, and on giving this information, Major Home started instantly with Dr. Duncan, Adjutant Foster, and a detachment of the Cape Corps under Lieutenant Goodison, in. the direction pointed out. When they reached Driver's Camp, they found the body of the murdered man lying in the road, quite dead, on the spot where it fell. Major Home shortly afterwards came on the bodies of the other three victims, all of which were conveyed to the camp. All had been stripped of their clothing, but presented no appearance of having been tortured. Captain Hearne had been shot through the arm, the ball passing along the fore arm from the elbow to the hand, shattering the thumb. This shot must have knocked him from his horse, when the rebels appear to have rushed on him and knocked his brains out, either with stones or the butts of their guns. His servant, it was inferred from appearances, had been caught alive, as he was assagaied under the arm. Reilly was shot through the body. Major Home patroled the whole of the country around the camp ; but the rain having obliterated the spoor, he was forced to return without coining up with the murderers.