THE MALAY AND THE TROOPERS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 27 July 1901, Page 4

THE MALAY AND THE TROOPERS.

The men who returned by the Tagus (says the Press) from South Africa give particulars of a tragedy which occurred at Worcester, a town in Cape Colony, about a hundred miles from Capetown, on the morning of June 2nd. On that occasion Trooper Dixie, of the Imperial i’comanry, was killed by a Malay named Abdol Talip, and Saddler Reed, of the Otago Company of the Fifth New Zealand Contingent, was badly hacked about by flic same person. It appears that the New Zealanders were mobilised at Worcester prior to embarkation at Capetown, and that Dixie, Heed, and another came upon a mob of Malays, and, not wishing to cause a disturbance, especially as they were outnumbered and unarmed, they attempted to escape by running down a passage-way. The howling mob followed them, brandishing the knobby', dangerous looking sticks. The three troopers found, too late for retread, that they were in a cul-de-sac, as at flic end o&it there was a high brick wall. They adopted the only apparent means of escape by diving through the window of an adjoining house. Dixie went first, and the occupier of the house, Abdol Talip, who had evidently been alarmed by the noise outside, struck him a blow on the head with a tomahawk, which split it open. Saddler Heed followed through the window, and the Malay attacked him with the tomahawk, inflicting a wound over the left eye, across the nose, and down the right cheek. Reed’s injuries were swell that he was taken to the hospital, but ho has now almost recovered from their effeers. The other trooper was also injured. At the magisterterial enquiry, Amiat TolVu, the stepson of Abdol Tab's, stated that on entering the room where the tragedy occurred he saw three soldiers, one lying partly on his face in a pool of blood, and the (wo others sitting about with blood on their faces. He advised Talip, who told him he had beaten the man, to report to the police that lie had caused an accident. He did not recognise the axe produced in court as the property of his step-father. Soldiers had kicked at his door that night. Another witness, Corporal Luck, admitted that he and his comrades were out on the spree, and had no very distinct recollection of what was said when tliey knocked at the window to gain admittance. The accused was committed for trial. When the comrades of the murdered man and the New Zealanders heard of the affray they attempted, on the Monday following, to burst open the gaol to get the prisoners, but were unsuccessful. They then went to the Malay location, and burnt (he man’s house, and also a Malay church in the vicinity. The officer commanding at Worcester attempted to stop them, as did also the New Zeaiand officers. The men were ultimately persuaded to desist.

In a conversation with Lieutenant Hazolden, he corroborates the above statement as he was present at the time ; saying that the troopers- had to face a mob of Kaffirs and Malays and nothing was done except in self-defence.