Death of a Rhodesian Pioneer.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11699, 14 December 1899, Page 1

Death of a Rhodesian Pioneer.

Intelligence, says a London paper of September 28th, has just come to haui from Buluwaj o of the sudden death (hero of Mr Will Gooding, who was one of iha three men of Mr Wis.n's party wh > escaped the Shangani massic c, an I whose services to the cause of civiihation in Rhodesia had been acknowledge i and rewarded by the. lmperial authorities, as well as fully appreciated by th 3 British pioneers ia that couatry. Mr Gooding, who was a native of New B*rnet, was a volu- teer in v a small force, under Major Wilson and Captain Bor« row, which pushed forward from the main body of the British troops operate ing against the Matabele?, and, crossing the Shangani river in pursuit of Lobengula, found itself in dire peril of annihilation. It was important to oommuni*rate with the main body and hasten tha anival of reinforcements. Three men, of whom Mr Gooding was one, were specially solccted for the task because of their known pluck and daring, their knowledge of the country and their re* putation as fearlets and accomplished horsemtn. '1 he venture was regarded as a forlorn hope, 'lhe trio rode safely Lhrougb the cordon of hostile native*, and managed to cross ihe Shangani; though the river had become so swollen as to be almosi impassable. They wera repeatedly attacked by natives, bat escape ing death miraculously, reached tha main body unscathed, and shared in the ter* rible privations which the main force endured after tha abortive attempt to relieve Maj jr Wilton'a smaller party, which was massacred to a man. la the punitive operations against rebellious natives after lha Jameson raid, Mr Gooi« ing again volunteered for active service, and did good work as a scout. He had since held an important post in the Willoughby Consolidated Company, but | the privations and exposure which he had undergone during campaigning had undermined his health, and h's death, now itcordcd,* was due primarily to pneumonia. The London officials of the Willoughby Company no:ifi d Mrs Gooding, at New Barnet, the fact of her son's death, and the event baa evoked general sympathy in the neighbourhood.