A BRILLIANT FEAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6713, 4 June 1900, Page 4

A BRILLIANT FEAT.

On entering Bethulie, Caiitain Hennessy, of the Cane Police, an officer on General Gataere's staff, was detailed to go to the railway station—soma distance from the town—and take ov*r the buildings. Entering the telegraph room he found the instruments jintact. and in a moment or two was pleased beyond measure to find himself in communication with the important junction of Springfontein, at which place an English railway ganger was manipulating the wires. The captain soon learnt that the rearguard of the Boers.was still at Springfontein, guarding some rolling stock, and, further, that the line was clear. Without waiting for further information, the gallant captain ran across another brave soul in the person of Captain Turner, of the Scouts. The two immediately commandeered a trolley, and were soon working up the line. On nearing Springfontein they espied the two trains standing in the station, one engine with steam up; and, having settled their plan of cam- I paign. the two intrepid officers sallied forth. Moving in and out ofitheala^^a the adventurous Pj*_%_^_t__wMFP WMrm^^^Smplete, sound asleep in one of the offices, yuqh an opportunity was not to be lost, and, quicker than I cap write the all-unconscious sleepers were carefully relieved of their guns and ammunition. They were then rudely awakened, mci told they were prisoners of war. Staggered apparently at the idea of two men holding them up, the men stretched out for their rifles, and the blank astonishment on their faces when they understood they were defenceless must have been almost too funny to witness. However the officers weren't there for entertainment, and they rather roughly stopped the pantomime by escorting the prisoners to one of the trucks. While one officer guarded the captives the other searched about, and was lucky in securing the services of an Engp'sh engine-driver, and with his help they succeeded, early next morning, in bringing the two trail's and the eight prisoners in triumph to Bethulie, where they were warmly congratulated by General Gfatacre. it is not always that it falls to the lot ol two officers single-handed to go right into the heart of the enemy's country, capture two railway engines, 40 odd trucks, and eight prisoners. It must also be remembered that the capture of the rolling stock was of the highesc importance, as our own engines and trucks could not be got aoioss the river, the railway bridge being destroyed.