A DUTCH WARRIOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5493, 25 June 1879, Page 6

A DUTCH WARRIOR.

The bravery of noble Piet Uye, who fell i at Kambula, receives its due recognition, as j in the case of all other good and courageous I men, only after death. His heroism is now < I lauded in every paper in the colony, and is 1 no doubt already almost a proverb in every 1 household in South Africa. The family 1 name appears to be associated with almost 1 every Kaffir war in the land. His early ancestors belonged to Swellendam, and his father, Piet Uys by name also, was one of f the immigrants across the Orange River, in 1635 37. The father was killed in the war \ with Chaka, and Piet's brother. Dirk Corns- . lius, a lad of 12, fought bravely by his father's side. The father, contending against overpowering numbers, urged the son to fly, but the latter, according to the words quoted by the Telegraph, replied, Ntn, papa., mijin jrfaate is blj we, and both perished in the enemy'b onset, the son having stood over his wounded fither, till slain on the spot. p iet Lafras Uya was grandson of Jacob and Alida Uys, and formerly lived at Graham's Town. Hβ was born at Wydgyelegen, or Ouplaats, Potterburg, on the 27th September, 1526. His father had first settled in the Oitenhage dietrict, on the farm BrakfonteiD, now Huinansdorp, and was generally known by the name of Piet Malelasberg, The hero of Kambula had settled on one of several farms he owned in Natal and the Tranvaal, named Wydgelegen, in the Utrecht district. Ho married Maria Van Niekirk, daughter of Cornelius Van Niekirk, of Natal, and had three sons and seven daughters. His wife died in 1573, and one daughter is dead, and four daughters and one son now married. Piet Uys's early life was spent in Natal, where he was deeply respected by Oatch and English, aud white and black. Being born among the Kaffirs, he could speak the Zulu language even better than many of the natives ; and, worthy of mention, was on friendly terms with the king of the tribe at whose bauds he fell. His father lost his life in avenging the murder of his friend Retief, and Piet lost his life in avenging the death of his father. Piet Uys's bravery was founded in true piety, and his last recorded words are an earnest of his belief that he was fighting in a goad cause. THE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON MOliOSl'S STRONGHOLD. A correspondent of the Queenstown Free Press, gives the folio wine; particulars of the above unfortunate affair :—" On the Sth one of the moot grievous mistakes ever made in warfare in this colony was made by G»mmaudant Griffith, in ordering the attack on old Morosi's I>louniain, before breaking down the barricades and stone walls built up in the gorge by which we had to ascend tho mountain. Strange to say, nothing in the way of shelling was attempted that day. Early in the afternoon, the men were paraded, and the orders for the following morning read, namely, that the mountain was to be stormed the next morning at daylight—the Cape Mounted Rifles, undor Captains Grant and Surmon, and the 3rd Yeomanry under Colonel Minto, to take the advance, the 2nd Yeomanry to be under the orders of Colonel Southey. Shortly after 5 the guns commenced shelling the bills. The practice was very fair, but for the purpose of breaking the walls, which we supposed they were brought there for, they are perfectly useless : shell after shell being sent up, but no sign of a nigger. Wo thought they had managed to escape, after all our careful watching. Soon after this, the advance was sounded by the commandant. No shots were fired until we were away up the hill, aud then it seemed one continual volley, the frmt krantzes seeming alive with niggers. We could see Captain Grant and his men advancing almost unsupported. Captain Surmon was shot through the chest just at the first advance, or else he would have Heen there to share the laurels. Out of abi/ut forty, fourteen were down, and several othere severely wounded by stones, but no retreat—forward, until tho first schanse was reached. Colonel Southey, seeing the Cape Muunted Uitles almost unsupported, ordered the 2nd Regiment to advance at the double, which they did. On reaching tho Cape Mounted Rifles, it waa easy to be seen that there was no scaling the tirafc wall without ladders, and then to do so would cost an immense amount of lives. Our fellows blazed away at the walls for a time, but no impression, the wall as lirm as a rock, requiring at least 12-pounder guns to breach it. The Commandant, seeing there was not much hope unless we could drive tho beggars out from the first wall, ordered up some artillery-men with shells ; the first one was thrown over empty, which was soon returned to us ; the next one was timed with a ten-second fuse, and exploded in the band of Sergt. Scott, blowing it to pieces, and covering his body with p-?ces of shell, besides wounding another man. It was now decided to withdraw some of the men. Darkness aet in, when we brought the wounded down, the last of us reaching camp about 9 o'clock p.m. Captain Surmon was found about dusk. One poor fellow's body, of the Cape Mounted Rifles, was left up there. We had three killed (two died subsequently from their wounds), fourteen Cape Mounted Rifles and five Yeomanry n'ounded. Thus ended a day of disaster. Letsea's men, who are here without receiving pay or rations, offered to take the mountain, but were told they must watch what white men could do. If ordered, they would go up now." TREATMENT OF THK ZULU WOUNDED. Three, nay four days ago, sixteen wounded Zulus were brought in on two buck waggons. These men were wounded on the 2nd, had been hoisted into the waggons, and jolted down to Fort Tenedos. Of course all this was unavoidable, but their subsequent treatment in no wise tends to enhance one's admiration, for the civilisation we brag of, and the humanity wo make our boast. For three days after their arrival here these unfortunate wounded were literally left to rot on tho waggons. At most their food supply was scanty, and not more than once did they receive the lirat meal of the day before 1 o'clock p.m. On the evening of tho third day it struck some one that medical treatment and tLe shelter of tents would bo advisable, and from that period until this they have had nothing to complain of. But to see them ae I saw them for hours after their arrival here, parched with thirst, craving for food, emaciated, aud suffering from festering, hideous wouuds, would have melted tho heart of the most determined enemy of the black races. Not from one or two, but from every one I met came the same expression, the opinion that once taken prisoners aud brought iuto our camp the wounded should have been immediately and assiduously attended to—a sentiment I vesture to think all your readers will share. The case of one of these wounded men waa pitiable in the extreme. The Gatling had completely riddled his left leg with balls, the knee was shattered to pieces, and the bone broken at what is technically known aa the " lower third " of the thigh. When found on the field, the man had declined amputation, and when I saw him mortification had Bet in in tho lower part of the leg. Again questioned, he consented to amputation, and on the evening of the 11th tho operation was performed by Drs. Cheyne and Heath, gentlemen of Jargo experienco amongst tho vast crowds of wounded in the late Turkish war. The amputation itself was most successful, but the physical strength of the native was insufficient to stand the shock, and he succumbed on the following day. Of the remaining fifteen, three hare broken thigh* bones, and the remainder flesh wounds,

many of them in several places. They are now well-treated and cared for, though many are most exasperating in their conduct; thoroughly ungrateful, and in at least six cases giving utterance to expressions of thankfulness for what they had been enabled to accomplish at Isandhlwaaa, and to hopes that they may soon again have an opportunity of repeating their exploits. HOW THE ENGLISH ARE TREATED. A correspondent, writing after the unsuccessful attack on Morosi Mountain, says : —"I now come to the poor wounded. If ever one's heart bled out of .pity for anyone, it would have bled that eight, and mors especially the following morning. The wounded had to be carried down the mountain ia blankets ; not a single stretcher provided—not a single mattress to lay the poor fellows on. Only one tent was pitched in which to place the wounded. There were no more tents in the camp. Men living in damp sod wall tents, with a blanket over the top for a roof, gave up these damp places to pnt four of the wounded in. They were laid on stinking sheepskins as siibBtitutes for mattrasses, and the wonder is that the treatment did not kill them. Is this the way that Christians should be treated ? Have you ever heard of such mismanagement ? Ought not these men, no matter who they be, who are responsible for this wanton cruelty to the wounded, to be brought to account for it by the unanimous voice of the country and comrades of the wounded ? God pity the poor fellows who fell wounded at the attack on Moroei's Mountain on the Sth April ! And now for what took place the following morning. Outdde of the tent (mind the only tent), was erected a sod bank (formed of wet soda fresh dag), about seven feet long by live wide, and about four feet six inches high, over which was thrown a blanket or so : this was the '' amputating table." The first to be laid upon it was poor Scott, whose arm was cut off above the shell-wound. Then came poor Martingale, whose leg was cut off below the thigh. After his leg was amputated he was carried into the mud hut, and laid down beside poor Scott. Twenty minutes afterwards, poor Martingale's body was carried out, and laid alongside of poor Pasky's body, who had died from the effects of his wound ; and during the afternoon tho two bodies were conveyed, by sorrowing comrades, to their last restingplace. Anyone witnessing the above melancholy treatment, must shudder, and hope it may never be his lot to be wounded. The wounded who were considered out of imminent danger, were carried eighteen miles to the hospital at Thomas's camp. The poor, much-abused CM.R. were told off to carry the wounded men (5), whilet there are about 2000 Basutoe here doing nothing whatever." MISCELLANEOUS. The Zulus have lately pitched some of the tents taken from Isandhlwaua just opposite Krantzkop, about half-way down the Tugela borders. Flannel nosebaga, as respirators for the prevention of horse-sickness, are to be issued for the cavalry horses lately arrived in Natal from England. This will be in addition to the regulation feeding-bag. Tho flannel respirator is usually considered a most efficacious preventive, but it is comforting to know that the season for horse-sickneas is now rapidly drawing towards its conclusion. In the defence of the Kambula camp, 135.000 rounds of Martini-Henry ammunition wero expended, and the artillery requisition was as follows :—l2oz. cartridges, 359,'; 4oz. cartridges. 1 ; fuzes, 5 seconds, 19S rounds; fuzes, 9 seconds, 66; percussion fuze, 107 ; percussion sensitive, 1; common shell, 14S ; shrapnell shell 222 ; section tubes, copper, 057; rockets, 30; case shot, 19 ; double shell 1. From a private correspondence, a Free State paper learns that the Dutch fleet, which was to have called at the Cape, has, for political reasons, received orders to alter its course, and visit the Brazilian coast instead. It is rumoured that, pending the excitement which at present exists among the Dutch-Africander population, the British Government has requested the Dutch authorities not to shew the Dutch tricolour at the Cape. It would be interesting to learn whether this is the identical fleet against the descent of which Catewayo had, some months ago, an assurance from the High Commissioner that the British ships cruising along the Zulu coast were strong enough to protect him. The Cape Argus, of April 23, says :—"ln ready response to a telegram, forwarded to him yesterday, at Port Elizabeth, the Rev. Charles Clark has kindly promised to preach a sermon on Sunday evening, in aid of the Natal Relief Fund. He leaves in the Pretoria, for England. The greater part of the troops tbat were at Ekowe are said to be so eufeebied by disease that competent medical authorities doubt if they will be ever fit for active service again. The Free Slate Friend says :—" Four compassionate ladies left for the scene of hostilities, on the borders of Natal. The good Samaritans are the Mother Superior, Miss Langlands, Sister Louisa, and Miss Potts." By an arrangement with tbc Secretary of State for War, four Wesleyan ministers are to be attached to the British forces now operating against the Zulus. The Rev. ilr. Woolmer entered upon his duties as chaplain to the Wesley»n soldiers on the 13th February, and was in Colonel Wood's camp, in tho engagement of the 29th of March. The Rev. Mr. Wilkina, of Graham's Town, joined the force at the Lower Tugela on tho 14th ult, and the Queen's Town district has despatched tho Rov. G. Weaver, of Mount Arthur, on the same duty. One will yet be furnished by tho Bloemfontein district, and instructions have been received that a minister should be sent from the Western districts if a fifth chaplain should be required. General Crealock has been appointed political agent in the south-east of Zululaud. The War Office has sent a balloon to this country to bo used in the Zulu war. Some of the French missionaries in Basutoland are openly advising the people that if their guns are demanded they ought to fight for them. Attempts have been made to cause the natives in the Blocmhof district to turn against the Government, by telling them they are to be disarmed. Captain Surmon, of tho Capo Mounted Rifles, died of the wounds received in the action at Morosi's Mountain. The deceased joined the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police at tho formation of that corps. He was nearly twenty-four years in the service. The majority of tho elders of the Dutch Reformed Church, at Pretoria, declined to allow the Rev. Mr. Stegmann to preach in that place of worship, because he was in the suite of the High Commissioner. Major Broivn, of Lonsdale's Regiment, has had a meeting in Alice with the Fingoes. The Major explained to the Fingoes that ho would be glad to get a number of them to go with him for service against the Zulus, and also stated fully their duties, pay, &c. Not a man offered his services. The doath-roll amongst the military officers now serving in Natal has received three additional names, three good men, of whom the least valuable can be ill-spared. The Hon. Rudolf Gougb, third son of Viscount Gough, formerly of tho Coldstream Guards, and Jate of the Natal Native Contingent, has succumbed to an attack of diarrhoea. He was invalided in the beginning of Maroh, and went to Durban to recruit. In defiance of professional advice, he insisted upon rejoining his regiment to take part in the relief of Ekowe, and he has paid with his life .the forfeit of too

much hardihood. It is sufficient praise to say of him. that he was well worthy of the distinguished name he bore. Lieutenant Alderton, of the Army Service Corps, on special transport service, has lest his life while crossing one of the jflooded rivers op country whsn returning to Natal from the Free State, whither he had been to purchase horses. The death is also announced of Assistant-Commissary S. T. Philimore, of the Ordnance Store Department. The Zulu War Relief Fund now amounts to over £5000, whioh has been all collected in the colony.