WITH THE SECOND CONTINGENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11372, 15 May 1900, Page 6

WITH THE SECOND CONTINGENT.

THE MARCH TO KENHARDT.

SOME INCIDENTS ON THE WAY.

CROSSING A SWAMP.

WELLS POISONED BY BOERS.

SUFFERINGS OF THE CONTINGENT.

[TOM OUR SPECIAL

De Naautk, March 27.

After four days of persistent rain we made

another start. My last letter was despatched to Carnarvon by a mounted courier, but as he had to cross 18 miles of flooded veldt, and then send his letters over nearly 50 miles of bad roads, I cannot imagine when, or if you will receive it. Colonel Parsons went back to Van Wyck's Vlei, in a four-horse cart, and most kindly took some sick men with him, including Trooper Thomas, who I regret to say has been ordered into the nearest hospital by our surgeon. We had reveille at four, and left camp at.five. .The Major had previously reconnoitered our road, and had found a slough of a mile in width between us and the nearest high ground. Through this swamp runs a circular track marked by die tops of bushes, whilst' the rest of the valley is simply FLOODED VELDT. As our forage was nearly exhausted it was determined to risk the passage, although grave doubts were felt about the possibility 1 of getting our long train of heavy waggons through the water, which was now over 3ft deep, while the bottom was soft sticky mud. which afforded poor foothold for our tired overworked mules. The first waggon entered the water at half-past six, and after going a few hundred yards fell into a hole and stuck. The waggon guard being Canadians, tied their lassos on to the wheels and dragged it out. A few yards further the cart stuck again, and this performance was repeated every few yards till a couple of hours' hard pulling brought the cart to dry land, the mules and horses being utterly exhausted. The next waggon, the Canadian ambulance, nearly capsized, but was also safely dragged over. The guns and the heavier transport had been halted on the dry land till the progress of these two pioneers could be watched, and then each waggon was sent on, and the performance repeated. As soon as one stuck the mules of the front waggons were driven back and harnessed on to the bogged waggon, and men up to their waists in water tugged and strained at the wheels, whilst the nigger drivers, clad picturesquely in nothing but a large hat, (logged and yelled at the mules till a final tug and a long strain dragged on the huge cart a few yards more. The average timo taken over this mile was two hours, and not till halfpast three did the last waggon, with its exhausted mules reach dry land, nine solid hours being spent over the passage of a little under a mile- in width. It was really a pretty sight to see the long semi-circular waterway with its green bush markings, the long row of white-covered waggons,' and finally the guns and then the column of khakhi figures splashing along. Every one was soaked, and when we reached dry land at last the whole troop stripped and dried their sodden clothes in the fierce sunshine. Comedy always accompanies tragedy, and we had many

AMUSING INCIDENTS. One officer who rode a tiny pony, and had boasted greatly of the surefootedness of his charger, essayed the passage of the swamp full of confidence. He went gaily for 200 yds, and then the pony disappeared into a deep hole, burying his proud rider beneath him. A furious struggle ensued, and amid a whirlpool of mud and filthy water the officer reappeared quite unrecognisable, soaked, coated with mud and hatless, holding on for dear life to the bridle, while the poor little gee sat up and stared at its owner in a most pathetic way. The rider waded the rest of his journey, and his passage was marked by frequent disappearances into holes, his pony following him, and then the usual struggle took place— the officer, who was gingerly leading his charger, would fling up his hands and vanish into the hole, then the pony would hesitate on the brink and slowly subside on top of him, the next act being the reappearance of a muddy figure and then an equally disguised animal would appear, and then the pilgrimage would recommence. The vanguard safe on dry land roared and yelled with delight, and when the exhausted pair of sufferers eventually clambered ashore their merriment was doubled. The next act was equally comical. The officer stripped, and hung his garments on the waggon to dry, and clad in a kilt fashioned from his overcoat cape, and a big hat, sat down to think and gloat over tho sorrows of those following him. After an hour's silent language he rose to resume his garments and to mount his horse. Alas ! the waggon which he had made into a clothes-horse had moved on into the far distance, and far away could be seen his clothes floating in the wind. He looked for his pony. Away on the sky line was that noble animal grazing happily. Help there was none, and we enjoyed the spectacle of our gallant officer in extreme undress uniform gingerly picking his way over the stony veldt, leaping frantically whenever he struck a sharp stone or saw a lizard, in chase of his horse and clothes. Everyone felt it was ample compensation for our own sodden condition, and as one man expressed it we had not had such a time since the measles. We reached a farmhouse called Brcekcrrie, late in the evening, and camped. Three of the waggons stuck hopelessly two miles out of camp, and had to remain there for the night. CUR CAMP was a-half dry swamp, but we just fell into our blankets, and stupored till reveille. Next day we got the waggons up the hillside, and camped again in preparation for an early start. Captain Hayhurst, who at this time was 21 miles ahead, sent in a messenger to ask for medical assistance, two of his men : being sick, pathetically adding a postscript to say that a little whisky would be greatly valued. The surgeon and Trooper O'Neill were sent off in a postcart to join the captain's patrol. From their accounts they appear to have had a lad time, as they were benighted at a deserted farmhouse, and attacked by insects. It is reported that the i supply of whisky entrusted to them was "C----markably diminished by the time of their arrival, but this was accounted for by evaporation. The column reached Bastardsputs after a hard march of 20 odd miles, including one swamp. We were now only three miles from Captain Hayhurst, who joined us, and brought several prisoners, whom he had intercepted on their way to I Kenhardt. There was " ,

A SNAKE SCARE, one yellow brute being killed near the cookhouse, and a big, two-puff adder died a violent death close to the camp. We left this camp at half-past five, and pushed on. and reached a dam at midday, where we watered the horses, but could not drink ourselves, dam water being yellow rain water, and quite justifying its name. The major had given instructions that all horses met on the way should be roped in, and the Canadians were overjoyed at the idea of lassooing stray animals. We also seized two waggons, which were broken up for fuel, all the ironwork being reserved for picketing pegs. Lieutenant Crawsbaw and Lieutenant Inglis were sent out with patrols to reconnoitre as far as Kenhardt, and we marched on, hoping to camp nine miles further at Brootlat River. The heat was intense, and w« pushed on eagerly to reach water. At our proposed destination we found both good wells had been rendered useless by the Boers, who had broken the windlasses. Nevertheless, we got up 30 bucketfuls, and then fcund that it was * ■

POISONED WATER, „ dend , nmb „ . f „ £ The men wwe fm . ious I(nd re i irnil | io ho t minihoil wk . re con| . fires * d bcen , it) kicked (he burn| wood Qm om ~m l ]mM tbc fw sticks of rotten j^ [tnre ! )eft I)y tLc rel)ch Thcre WM notlljn „ to df) ! bllt niake a forced mavch t „ the next water, i „j ne m jl M ahead, and this we reached three

hours later, stopping at Reitfontein farm, and getting our tea. 14, hours after our first and only,' meal ' of the day. V- .This was the first place where trees were in • evidence, and it was a.huge pleasure to see them after 100 miles of barren country. Lieutenant Inglis joined us here, and reported that the rebels had evacuated Kenliardt, and that Lieutenant Crawshaw Had hoisted the Union Jack. One hundred and fifty rifles were seized and 18,000 rounds of ammunition. We marched early next day, and reached Mottel's River farm by (midday. Hero Colonel Parsons joined us, and held an informal trial of the prisoners. The rebel owner of the farm was absent with the rebels, and located on the waggons. There was a young regiment of chickens, and the major hinted that if these bipeds disappeared he would not hold an inquest. ' Immediately a furious hunt began. Canadians, New Zealanders, and niggers raced for the- fowls in one wild mob. Every conceivable missile was pressed into service. _To see a huge Canadian catching his spurs in a New Zealanders leggings, and falling in a heap, whilst the wily nigger seized the hen, was lovely. Everyone joined in the, hunt, and after a rattling burst of twenty minutes the last surviving biped was run to earth; and vanished into a haversack. There were no casualties on our side except a few bruises, inflicted by stones, which missed the chickens and hit.'the rival hunters on their shins. Leaving at a little after midday we reached Kenliardt at four, and here we really suffered greatly. Strict orders had been issued forbidding any man to drink unboiled water, and our bottles being empty, we had to wait till the tea was m.dy, parched and speechless with thirst.

April 1. Kenliardt, tho rebel centre, is the most forsaken hole I ever saw. Its only good point is the presence of a few trees, which looked very out of place in the wilderness. The magistrate and constable had been seized, and, after vile treatment, had been

CARRIED OFF BY THE REBELS. The colonel and staff camped in the deserted residency, in front of which our flag was flying on an extempore flagstaff. The ono rebel store, which had not been looted, was placed under the charge of QuartermasterClark, and sentries were stationed over all the other stores. The Boers had left evidence of their presence— smashed open, jewellery extracted, floors covered with bottles, a big piano case broken open, and filth everywhere. A few loyalists welcomed us, and one lady gave hen'whole house up for the hospital. Our sick were ever so glad when lifted out of the waggons into clean beds, and already show what a little good nursing can do. At half-past eight this morning a full parade was held. The men were marched down to tho residency, and formed into hollow square. The 'colonel came out of the building, and, after a flourishing call from the bugles, the good old flag was hoisted on a new flagstaff, and a Royal salute fired. Three cheers were heartily given for the Queen, and the parade was over. The rebels milled clown the flag on February 28, and just a month later we hoisted it again, never to be struck, I hope. The Resident Magistrate, from Carnarvon, joined us here, and arrests are being made daily. Lip loyalists are coming in, bringing guns and ammunition, and the rebellion here is quashed, much to the anger of the Canadians, who swear, that they will get up a war of their own.

AN ACCIDENT, which was fortunately unattended by loss of life, happened to a patrol to-day. Lieutenant Findlay, with a patrol consisting of Street, Neale, and Cassidy, were sent out to bring in some rebel waggons. They had to cross a river, ordinarily dry, but now in Hood, owing to the bursting 'of a huge dam, and Lieutenant Findlay's horse got out of its depth, and became unmanageable. The rider, therefore, slipped off its back, thinking to swim ashore, but was whirled down the stream. Cassidy seeing his plight, pluckily turned his horse's head, and swam after him. He reached the lieutenant, and gave a hand, but the extra strain turned Cassidy's horse completely over, and obliged him to let Findlay go, who, fortunately, clutched at a clump of bushes in midstream, and dragged himself into safety. Cassidy got his horse, and managed to reach the shore far below. Street and Neale with difficulty got out, and then sent off a galloper for the doctor, and pes. I heard of the accident, and hurried down to life river. Sixty fret from the bank appeared the forlorn figure of our lieutenant, standing up to his knees in water, apparently on a clump of bushes. The major arrived, and ropes being procured, three niggers essayed to carry a line across the current. Three times they tried, and each time were swept down, just as they grasped the island. Then the Canadian's guessed that it was their turn, so stripped. The niggers having lost half the rope, it was necessary to get from island to island, till near enough to allow the rope to reach. This they did very cleverly, one halfcaste Indian swimming like an otter. The lopo was at last stretched, and reached from Findlay's resting-place to where we stood. The half-drowned oflicer was then stripped, and helped from bush to bush up the stream, and then, with the assistance of two Canadians, brought across. His watch was lost, and a few other things, and he was dreadfully exhausted when he got ashore. We got him to camp, but later he had to be taken down to the hospital, as the muddy water he had swallowed caused him extreme pain. He is all right to-day, but looks verv shaken. There is no doubt that Cassidy's'pluck and coolness averted a serious catastrophe, and we all envy his good luck at being in the show. Three carbines were lost, however, and are beyond recovery. I endeavoured to get some milk and eggs, but the owners of these luxury-producing animals said sorrowfully, " It's no use; every hen, goat, and cow lias a man watching' it, and every egg is seized and every goat milked before one can turn round." Sad, but true. One trooper I found looking searchingly at a minute kid. He remarked, " I guess that animal would go right well into a stow." I believe it did, but I turned my back on what I knew was going to bo a tragedy for the kid. Another trooper coursed down a leveret after breaking its leg with a stone, and in a minute that poor animal was skinned and hanging up in the waggon. Last night OUR FIRST TELEGRAM arrived—"Joubert dead. Victory near Bloemfontein," and then, so extremely characteristic of the Englishman, "Prince of Wales' horse Ambush won the Grand National," an event which caused more excitement than all the other news in camp. We had a stormy night. Tents blown down, and torrents of rain, such a.downpour that, has not been seen here for 22.years:. This will delay the advance of General Settle, who is to relieve us here, and allow us to go back to the railway and entrain for the front. I hear 1 that Colonel Parsons is greatly pleased at the way the column, has done its work. Although no actual "lighting has been done, it is freely admitted that our rapid advance has completely quelled this rebellion, which was spreading like wildfire. As a proof that it caused anxiety to the military authorities, it is sufficient to mention that Lord Kitchener himself left the front to take charge of one of the columns, and sent the late Governor of Atl)iira, Colonel Parsons, to direct another. I hear that as a reward we are to return at once and go by train direct to Bloemfontein. Personally I shall be overjoyed to leave this district, as 10 per cent, of the population died three years ago of typhoid fever, and our own doctor has already ten per cent, of the column down with dysentery. THE RETURN MARCH will be terribly dull. Horses will have to be led, and the waggons probably will bo full of sick, whilst these heavy rains will render the road one long slough. I regret j that I have no startling events to record, but, nevertheless, our boys have home real hardship and privation, scanty rations, intense heat, continuous marching, and, above all, intolerable thirst, and yet I never hear a grumble, except at the absence of the longexpected fight. Skilly and veak tea do ! not conduce to cheerfulness. Thirst and j wet clothes arc not good for health, but we \ arc all cheerful, and everyone does his best, i The Canadian cowboys are an endless source i of amusement, and their quaint remarks j are mirth-provoking. The evidence given I by THE REBEL SUSPECTS.

before the Court of Inquiry quite justifies the legend that Ananias was of South African descent, but Colonel Parsons has had experience of the wily Soudanese, and generally bowls out the injured innocent neatly. One of the boys encountered a scorpion in bis saddle this morning, and is now in hospital on brandy diet. He was in great pain whon I saw him, but no serious trouble

is 'anticipated. Trooper Moore is now-act-ing telegraphist here, but-we don't get any news through the:wires.""; I hear that our poor battery t with : Captain ? Smith is still sitting at Maitland camp waiting for orders. I can guess how the inaction will chafe on the men, and only hope they will get up to the front soon. <