HEROES FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 41, 20 February 1900, Page 3

HEROES FROM NEW ZEALAND.

PARTICULARS OF THE DEATH OF TROOPER BOOTH. GALLANTRY OF CORPORAL McKLEGG. Received 30, 1 a.m. Sydney, February 19. | The Evening yews' special, writing from Slingersfontein, gives the following account of the death of Trooper Herbert Booth, of New Zealand:— During a temporary respite of hostilities the Boer artillerymen took the opportunity to place a La Creusot gun in such a position as to command a plain five miles north and north-east of our camp, and their first shot, admirably aimed, burst right round a knot of men standing round the charger of General Clement, who was directing the operations. Troopers Booth and Culling, of the New Zealand Contingent, were the General'* orderlies for the day, the latter holding the horse, while Booth had charge of Lieut. Chayton's mount. A missilt 9truck the ground at Booth's feet, and he was killed almost immediately, the same shell knocking Culling insensible and wounding four horses eo severely that the poor brutes had to be shot. Booth, strange to say, made his will the day before, Culling being one of the witnesses. His body was laid beside the other New Zealanders on a kopje at the back of the camp. The same correspondent gives particulars of a plucky act performed by another New Zea Under, Corporal MeKlegg, with a scouting party. He had the bad luck to be thrown on his head, his horse putting his foot in a hole just as bg was galloping back with the main body. H>s horse scampered after the others, and McKlegg certainly would have been shot or captured if Trooper Walter Johnston, of his trcop, had not caught the steed, and, with coolness and pluck, gone back to his assistance amid a perfect hail of bullets.

"You'd better bo quick, sir," remarked the youngster, unconcerned as poseible; they are makiog .this place a bit too warn) for us."

Both got off scot free, though a musket fire was knocking up the dust all around them.