THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 339, 13 February 1902, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright

London, Feb. 11,

Colonel Vondunop, iu command ot the Composite Corps, surprised Poitgeiter’s laager at Ehenosterspavite, and the Free Staters laager at Janglingsfontein, near by. Thirty-six were captured, including Potgeiter, in his shirt-sleeves.

TWO NEW ZEALANDERS DIE OF ENTERIC. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighi

London, Feb. 12. The following deaths have occurred from enteric : Sixth New Zealand Mounteds, Privates L. Walsh, at Wakkerestroom, and Egbert Dawson, at Charlestown.

Sergt. Hatry Stewart Robinson, of the Seventh New Zealand Mounteds, has been slightly wounded at Omdraaihock.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. The Premier is advised that Trooper Louis Blundell, of Wellington, is dangerously ill at Charlestown, and that the following troopers have left the Cape on the return journey to Now Zealand : J. Davidson, Wellington, by the Gothic; J. F. Richards and J. Burroughs, both of Marlborough, by the Afric.

Wellington, Tuesday, Sergeant Arthur James Vogan, of the Prince of Wales’ Light Horse, returned to New Zealand by the Karamea this morning. He is the scout who, single-handed, captured Commandant Scheepers, who was afterwards hanged. Sergeant Yogau says that the capture was due more to good luck than to any cleverness on his part, excepting that ho was scouting ahead of the others. For six weeks the column chased Scheepers’ commando. A record march was put up, the pursuers trekking 144 miles in four days, without waggons. The chase was taken up by Squadron A of the 10th Hussars, who were originally given the credit of the capture. Sergt. V ogan was told oil as a special scout to accompany them. At 4 one morning Vogan went out and came in sight of a party of Boers at a farmhouse. He galloped back and reported his discovery. During the last fortnight of the chase Scheepers, owing to a wound, had been travelling in a Cape cart. Vogan, seeing that the marks of the wheels were fresh, pushed on with an unarmed blackboy, and hearing that Scheepers was lying in a farmhouse a mile and a half off the road, he galloped for it. As he rode up to the house several Boers fled. A farmer was leaning against the door, and Vogan said to him “ Where is Scheepers ?” The reply was that he had gone on the night before, but the sergeant pushed the farmer out of the way and rushed inside the house. As he hesitated w'hieh room to search first, a voice called, “ it is all right—lam here.” The room from which the voice came was in darkness, and as Vogan was in the light it was a plucky action, considering the “ slimness ” of the enemy, to go into the room. However, he did so, and tore the blind from the window, allowing the light to fall upon a man lying very ill upon a bed. “ What is your name ? ” asked the sergeant, and the sick man replied “ Scheepers ” (pronouncing it “Skippers”). When spoken to again Scheepers said, “ Don’t disturb me, don’t disturb me, I am very sick; I want the ambulance.” Sergeant Vogan then left the house and fired his rifle three times, and shortly the Hussars came up in skirmishing order. Although at least L 250 was offered for the capture of Scheepers, Sergeant Vogan has received no recognition of the act. He was recommended for the D. 5.0., but nothing further has been heard of the matter. Sergeant Vogan was born in England, and came out to Auckland, where he was attached to the literary staff of the Auckland Star for many years. Later on lie went to Australia and joined an exploration party to New Guinea, returning te Queensland, where he did more exploring work. As a result of his sojourn there he wrote the wellknown novel entitled “ With the Black Police,” which was published in Auckland by the Evening Star proprietory. He was a clever sketch artist, and did a considerable amount for leading London journals.