SPORTING.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1943, 17 May 1880, Page 2

SPORTING.

WANGANUI RACES. [By Telegraph.] WANGANUI, May 17. The following are the nominations for the WANGANUI STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, Mr Mnrtagh’s The General Mr Callaghan’s Te Whetumarama Mr Gibson’s Otawa Mr Cameron’s Tupupaku Mr McAlister’s Eclipse Mr Gardner’s Tricotrin Mr Keith’s Hard Times, Ada, and Venture Mr Fraser’s Eangatira Mr Davis’ Matsu Mr Pott’s Raven Mr Higgre’s King Don Mr Mclvor’s Grey Mourns and Loch Lomond Mr Butler’s Agent Mr Jackson’s Old Ireland (late Victory) Mr Scott’s Abolition Mr Abbott’s Sunbeam Mr Douglas’ The Baron and Harkaway Mr Dillon’s Mickey Free DUNEDIN AUTUMN MEETING. [By Tblbgeaph.l DUNEDIN, May 15, The following are the general entries and acceptances for the above Meeting:— Handicap Hurdle Eace, of 30 sovs., 2 miles and a distance. Kildare Black Bess Theodore Isaac Romance Antoinette Huntsman Castro Maiden Plate, of 25 sovs.; distance, 1 mile. Maude Maid of the Mill Castro Boro Prothoneco Boadicea Concrete Grace Darling Play Boy Botanist Wanaka Messingham Nautilus Miller’s Daughter ( Birthday Handicap, of 80 sovs.; distance, miles. Titania I Satellite York I Tera Blue Peter | Adamant Novel Race, of 50 sovs.; distance, 1* miles. Sir William Seagull Spey Maude Concrete Mera Dolly Barwon Handicap Trotting Race, of 30 sovs.; distance. 3 miles. Native Cat Charlie Sam Polly Donald Modesty Kate Snip Farmer’s Daughter Bella Kafoozlum Zulu Tradesmen’s Handicap, of 50 sovs.; distance, 1 mile and a distance. Titania I Adamant York I Boadicea Blue Peter I Messingham Satellite | Boro Prothoneco Tera I Mannka AN ADVENTUROUS SCOTCHMAN. Among the many gallant lives that have been lost in recent South African wars, perhaps there is none mors remarkable than that of Mr A. H. Campbell, an Argyleshire man, who was killed at the storming of Secocoeni’s stronghold on the 28th December. A personal friend furnishes the “ Scotsman ” with the following sketch of his career;— “ When yet almost a boy he served in the Maori war, where he greatly distinguished himself, and was wounded. No sooner was this over than he joined a dangerous expedition to the interior of Australia, in search of Leichardt. After this, he went to the diamond fields in South Africa, but not finding this hard life sufficiently exciting, he left his claim to explore the wild country to the north. On returning, after two, years’ exploration, he heard that the Ashantea war was going on, and at once hurried off, but, unfortunately, arrived when it was over. However, determined not to be baulked, he actually went up alone beyond Coomassie, after all the troops had left the country ; and for a considerable time wag kept a close prisoner by the Queen, who treated him with the greatest kindness, but would never allow him to go out even a short distance without a guard. He at length managed to get away, to his great delight. After this ho had no further opportunity of gratifying his spirit for adventure until the Turkish war broke out, when he went to Constantinople, and with great difficulty succeeded in obtaining a commission. He joined the army at Shipka, rightly thinking that there would be the hardest fighting. Here he lived in a small tent by himself, the only English officer among the Turks. Ho made himself very useful in many ways, especially in laying down the difficult roads to the various positions on the mountains. At last the opportunity he longed for came, and he volunteered to lead the assault on the impregnable heights of St. Nicholas. How he led this forlorn hope, which would have succeeded had they not found on reaching the topmost rock, after fearful loss, that there was a chasm between them and another redoubt beyond ; and how Suleiman Pasha, seeing the Turkish flag waving on the heights, telegraphed to Constantinople that the Turks had taken the Shipka Pass, is a matter of history. For many hours, under a piercing autumn sun, Campbell kept together his devoted band, only protected from the galling fire of the Russians by the bodies of their own slain, waiting for the reinforcements which never came, till at last all their ammunition gone, the few who remained had to retreat down the mountain sides to the camp below. For this service Sullen »c Pasha offered him the command of a battalion, but this honor he refused, as he considered that his knowledge of their langaage was not sufficient to justify him in accepting it. In November, thinking that all chance of fighting had ceased, he went to join the army under Mehemet Ali assembled at Orchanie for the relief of Plevna; and with this he remained during all the hard winter’s fighting at Kamasli, subsequently accompanying it in its disastrous retreat to the JEgean Sea. All the Turkish soldiers who knew Campbell were devoted to him. He not only endeared himself to them by his bravery and marvellous coolness in times of danger, but also by his invariable kindness and cheerfulness under the most trying circumstances ; and those who did not know him personally were always ready to follow him anywhere, when they heard he was the Englishman who led the big assault on the heights of Shipka. He was in Ceylon when the Zulu war broke out, and unable to go there owing to an ’accident to his leg ;“but even before ho was convalescent he started, and arrived in time to lead the Swazies in the attack, where he met that soldier’s death ho had so keenly courted. Perhaps, owing to his not having been in the regular army, in reading the list of killed the name of this Scotch volunteer may have been passed over ; but no more chivalric spirit has passed away during the late war; and the many who knew him, both at home and abroad, on hearing of the death of Campbell, will feel that they have lost a friend and comrade in arms whom they can never replace.’ ’