OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XX, 19 May 1900, Page 922

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

Mr E. Reynolds, who has been selected to ivnresent New Zealand at the World’s Cycling Championships, to l»r held in Palis in September, is well known throughout New Zealand for his consistent brilliant riding. Since 1894 hr has carried off one or more of ihe New Zealand championships each year, ami has al>o placed to his credit a championship of V ictoria, and the Five Mile Championship of Australasia. During the past season Mr Reynolds has liven riding more brilliantly than ever, and though meeting the cracks of America and Europe under many disadvantages we feet confident that hr will give a good account of himself when the struggle for holding the title of world’s champion comes to be undertaken. Mr Reynolds sailed for Paris, via ’Frisco, in the MnrijMma on Monday, lieing accompanied by Messrs Tierney and Draftin, two well-known Auckland cyclists, who intend competing in some of the principal events to l»e held in connection with the Ek position.

A DASHING EXPLOIT. The story of the capture of the train at Springfontein by Captains Pope Henessey, of the Cape Police, and Gordon Turner (Montmorency's Scouts), the subject of our illustration, proves it to have been one of the most daring and successful exploits of the campaign. Securing a trolley, the two gallant officers trollied from Bethulie until close to Springfontein Station, and under cover of darkness advanced cautiously right on to the platform. In the waiting-room they found six Johannesburg burghers (three Greeks and three Italians) asleep; a few moments sufficed to secure both guns and men. This was barely accomplished when the seventh man (a German) came into the room, and was immediately disarmed and secured. •

Captain Gordon Turner stepped out on to ihe platform, and ran right against the eighth man, also a German, who, when in Turner's powerful grip, meekly consented to relinquish ■his gun and be escorted into the waiting-room. A "train was standing in the yard, and the two gallant officers quickly interviewed the driver, who was found to be an Englishman with strong pro-Boer proclivities, and inclined to make a fuss. Argument, however, was brought to bear in the shape of a revolver, and the determined look of the two officers soon conveyed to him that resistance was useless, and he consented to their proposals. In a few minutes the engine, with twentythree trucks, some laden with provisions, guns, and ammunition (mostly Martini-Henry), was gaily steaming to Bethulie, which was reached shortly before midnight, and handed over to General Gatacre, who highly complimented the two gallant officers. Previous to leaving Spring-fontein, the two officers interviewed the stationmaster of Springfontein, and with due formality claimed all the buildings, rolling stock, etc., as captured by Gatacre's division. About three o'clock the next morning the General, with his staff and some men, took train to Springfontein. While engaged in an office about ten minutes after his arrival. General Gatacre heard a voice claiming the station, etc., as his prize. The General and his staff officer thereupon went outside, and came face to face with General Pole-Carew, who had just arrived with the Guards (Foot) Brigade by train from Jagersfontein road. Mutual courtesies were exchanged, and the fact explained that for nearly twelve hours the station had been in occupation of Gatacre's division.