DEPARTURE OF TROOPS FOR THE CAPE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 98, 25 April 1879, Page 4

DEPARTURE OF TROOPS FOR THE CAPE.

SCENES AT THE PORT OF EMBABKATION, The Southampton correspondent of ihe Daily Telegraph, writing on February 19th, gives ihe (r.-liowing lively deficription of ihe eceneß which took piece on the departure of troops for the Cape: — As the eim nrnrs tbe hnttoa two steamers ere parading in the Channel. On th« fmaller « f <be two — one is gigantic in sze, whilst the other is tiry and comparatively iutiinifieai't — is a group of ladies and gentlemen, souifl of the latter wenring Her Majesty's nniforra, and one tlie baJcc of a general. The sterner ccx st3u<i for 11.0 most part bareheaded, ns they WRVe a saloto to tbo laryer en f f, and no bid her adieu. On board the hi?gpr ship the spectacle is tumultuous The rigying is crow.'od with sailors. On the bulwarks, in the netting?, on forecastle nnd poop — wherever there is space — is porebfd a soldier. Hi^h up in the centre of the vessel — etanJinc on tha cabin lights, ia fact — is a ban^, the players not r»n?ed in any crdei, but all crowded together, playing wiih co etranire en earnestness that tic hundreds of sfinilet-eoutetl men who are by join involuntarily in the refrain, mid declare that not for ever shall ''uuld p.rquaintanca bo forgot." The music reaeee, but the flont; goes on, caught up by the people on board the other vessel, and then by them wafted hack to their soldier friends; and there suddenly goes up a cheer which rends the air — a parting hurrah as the two ships are borne en their reaped ive W6ys. Io such faßhiou were the Princess Louise's Highlanders bade God-speed on their way to Nata' this afternoon. Southampton has long had a reputation for loyalty and patriotism; but never, I should imagine, did it -more fully press its claim than to-day. Long before a single soldier made nn appetrance in the neighborhood of the eplendid steamship Pretoria, the population of the town had taken possession of the dock- , yard. They wanted to see tbe men who were going to avenge the 24:h, and to give them a cheer, end with this end in view had occupied every point of vantage from which the coming Queen'd soldiers might presently be seen. The piles of merchandize and bales of goods were all regarded by thorn 88 co many legitimate pUtforms from wbicli eucb a view coulJ be obtained while heaps of bnila&t were 60 well utilised that pyramids of human beings, whose heads rose io tiers one above atotber in symmetrical order, were in many pluces to ba Been. On board the good ship itself already the friends of those who were going had congregated iv great Strength . Fathers of lads who were about to see their first field and their first bullet; sisters waiting to meet brothers from the train and bid them a long " goo J- bye ;" mothers, proud that their sons iv the re J coats and plaid trews were chosen es part of tbe fi-Bt corps sent to humble the pride of Cetiwayo, yet tearful as they thought of the perils to which their children would soon be exposed; and — shall I say it ? — sweethearts came io bid their lovers farewell. These stood in s crowd on the quarter deck, ranged themselves on the forecastle, blocked tbe companion ladder, obstructed the stewards as they Btrove to prepare the saloon, wandered through she main deck, sat down in the orlop deck, never thinking tor a moment cf ell the trouble (hey were giving, with only one thought, and that for the loved onss who would shortly be gone. They were not the only ones on board. From an early hour officers of (he Quartermaster's Deportment had been slowly perambulating the decks, now noting what was eatia factory and now calling attention to some little thing which had uot qnite met their views. Carpenters and shipwrights, too, were about, here knooking in a nail, and there screwing op a bolt; while iv every part of the ship during the tardy hours which intervened between daybreak nnd the time when tbe troops arrived, might have been seen the kindly face of Sir Benjamin Phillips, ts he enquired into every little detail and inspected every corner, making sure that on board the ship of which he is one of the owners, no barm should come to tbe Queen's men. Not that there was very much th&t could be improved upon, for, short as was the notice which the Union Steamship Company had receivedonly a week, I believe — the beautiful vessel was as fit to convey tbe 91st as though months of preparation hud been allowed. Long rows of tables, fitted with Btrong seats, met the eye wherreger it looked. On each table twelve tin dishes, pannikins, and strong tinned ipoons, a large cooking kettle and dish, a potato net, jars for salt aud mustard, and pepper.castorß were close at hand. By each mees stood its own pail and waahtub, and all the accessories which, for the sake of cleanliness, it w0u1.3 need. Then overhead were racks for knapsacks, and hooka for helmets and bayonejs; hooks, too, for hammocks, with numbers attached, while at the end of each large cabin etood racks for rifles and many other lijtlo appliances that I need not name. But while we were thus looking round the ship a shout went up on shore, and we were warned of the approach of the 91st. Through the dense mass of people who by this time thronged the dockyard came the engine puffing slowly, bearing in its wake a huge train full of troops. From mound and merchandise, from ship and wharf, such a cheer resounded as only English longs can give. From the train came

eirae bark no answericg •'Hurrah!" — t^e nhout of the gallßnt fellows about 10 eiislißik. Out they 6prn»g, an.l formed up on the quay. There was not a moment to be lost, for yet another detachment was corning, and the trains must be out of the way. A very few minutes elapse, and then with another cheer, the remainder of the regiment is welcomed. It perade-s not long Bfler, in a long double linp at the watei'a cd<:p, and "Stands at ease " while its numbers are certified. Now, Prince E.iwnrd of Saxe-Weiinar ea general of the district, «rrivee and tikes up a piece on the deck of the fchip; vow, too, the last group of friemis nifckes it appearance, and the numbers of the travellers and leavetakera is complete. "The men may embaik," fays o colonel, who appears to be superintending the operation? of the day. end very soon file after Gia ere to bo seen coming on board. As each company rnicisthe ship, and is forwarueJ to its place, there is no disorder or noiee, so weli devised are the arrangement which have been tned^. There nre sue!) shrkinz of hands su 1 greetings, however, below deck as 1 uee.l not attempt to deecribe; such tearful encounters as may well be pardoned at such & time; but the men tre light-hearted, and running down the hatchways, Ht&ck their rifles and pack awry their valises without any loss of time, seat tliemsslves at their tables, or stroll on to the decks, na though, insiea 1 of being young soldiers ail unaccustomed to such a scene, they had lived in it all their lives. The day wears on — ell kinds of gool wißhte had been over and over ajjain expressed; such "Good lucks" and " Good-byee" as are only heard when each partings corae— when the ship bell rings a waruiug note, and it is time for friends to depart. The mother folds her son to her heart tearfully; the wife bids her husband furewell; hearty is the hnnd-shake and outspoken "God-speed" as the ship is quilted by those who have only come to see her depart. There are some of us who remain on board yet a lit la while, and aa we eland on the deck of the handsome steamer the &i»ht is one thai it is not easy to forget. The wharf is thronged by eagerly sympathising thousands ; on the deck are 1200 gallant men coing to do battle for the State. The ship moves a little, almost imperceptibly at first, but the people nebore see it, Aud send up a loud loug cheer, which we on our part return la that the farewell ? No. Up springs the banJ, never minding in what order — a voluntfer holdß the drum, aud the baesoon rests on the shoulders of a corporal who has rushed forward to help the players — aud '' Auld Laug Syne "sounds clear above tbe swell of human throats Yet another minute, and it's "Rule BriUnnia '* that we hear, and then a verse ol 11 Nancy Lee," with such a chorus from 'tween decks and everywhere else, that the brass and reed instruments tre everywhere drowned. Another hurrah, and yet another from the ehorr, ami then tbe welkin rings, as our men on board respond. Glengarry in haod, to the farewell of their friends. There is no distinction of rnnkat such a moment; officers and privates are all crowding together. " Good-bye ! Hurrah ! Goodbye ! " is the shout as the band sends forth the notes of •• Oh, whsre, and oh, where, is my Highland laddie gone 1 " Powerful engines bear as away from the wharf ; the last farewell with the shore is over. Steaming oat of Southampton waters, the gallant ship, now attended by a tug, gots on her way ; w'hilet those of ua who belonged to the land sat down with those who for three long weeks are to have their home on the sen, and pledged each other in a parting glese. The genial figure of Sir Benjamin Phillips was now to be seen in the president's chair ; on the right ia Prince Edward, of Saxe- Weimar, on the left the commandant of the 91st After what fashion good wishes were expressed, and how the brave men and true, who were going were toasted, it needs no pen of mine to explain. There were some wbo, like Deputy Commissary Yoang, had dope good service in many lands, and had on their breaeta tokens of the distinctions they had won ; some who were young to warfare, but meant to do or die, if need be, wherever occasion offered. Of course, the Qjeen was not forgotten, nor did Sir Benjamin touch an unsympathetic chord when he Cilled upon all present to drink success to tbe aea and land forces of her Majesty. There was not much speaking, bat what there was went straight from tbe heart, Prince Edward expressing an evidently personal satisfaction when he thanked the chairman for all the successful efforts to secure comfort for the troops.