LATER CAPE NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 168, 16 July 1879, Page 2

LATER CAPE NEWS.

HOW THE PRINCE IMPERIAL MET HIS DEATH. The B.s. Luaitania. which arrived at Melbourne from London on the 6th inst, brings Cape news to the loth Jur.e. The accounts of the death of the Prince Imperial are extremely conflicting. The first statement was that the Prince acconipauied a party from General Wood's camp, and that after riding some distance the party dismounted iv a mallet- field, and when about to remount, some Zuius. who crept up unob served, fired a tolley, and the Prince fell mortally wounded. A few days before, the Prioce while out in the field with some officers was surrounded, only escaping with difficulty! The official report announcing the Prince's death states that on an alarm of Zulus the reconnoitring party all mounted, but in the general flight dispersed in different directions, the Prince and two others riding into a deep dongra, where more of the enemy were concealed, and that there they met their death. It is further stated the alarm was given first by a Kaffir who was sent to the river for water. The Prince, who commanded the party (consisting of Captain Cary, 78th Regiment, GO Beddington Horse, and one Kaffir), gave orders to mount, but had scarcely spoken the words when a volley killed several of the troops and frightened the Prince's horse so that he was unable to mount, though he frequently attempted it. After running a great distance by bis borse'a side, he was overtaken by ZViU9 and assegied. It was hinted that the body had suffered mutilation, but there is not the slightest evidence of this. Several assegai wouuds were on the body, and his clothing was removed. A religious token round his neck was unloosed and his watch aud ring were found uear the spot. The captain and troopers rode towards the camp, meeting General Wood about three mites distant. The following morning a strong cavalry patrol recovered the body. The occurrence took place on ground covered by British forces two days before and believed to be deserted by the enemy. On recovering the body, it was wrapped in rugs and conveyed along the British lines on the Prince's own carriage, Lord Chelmsford acting a3 chief mourner. The Rev Bellard, Roman Catholic chaplain, read the funeral service. The same evening the remaius were enclosed in a rough coffin and conveyed to Maritzburg. Every village it passed through tributes of respect were paid to the cortege. On entering Maritzburg the coffin was transferred to a gun carriage and a procession of all the regulars and volunteers available was formed. After the gun carriage followed the Prince's charger, Lieut. Garr, the Natal Colonial Secretary, General Clifford. &c. The body was placed in the Catholic chapel until removed to a British war ship. The Prince's death has created profound regret. Lord Chelmsford wa3 not cognisant of the Prince having gone with the patrol. A third statement throws grave discredit on the gallantry of tho3e who accompanied the Prince. The statement made by Captaiu Carey, who had charge of the expedition, and was met by General Wood gailooing back to the camp with a statement that his party had been attacked, evidently under the impression that the Zulu army was following them. It was only after he made this statement thut he seemed to have discovered the whole party had not got away, and the Prince Imperial was among the missing. He was upbraided on what was styled his unofficerly conduct. The feelinjr intense. A fourth story is that a volley was fired on the reconnoitring party and startled the horses. The horses of the Prince and two others broke away, leaving the Prince with two men on foot within 30yds. of the Zulus, who rushed up and slew them. It is stated that others who succeeded in getting into their saddles, turned and called to their comrades, but the Prince told them to fly for their lives and not mind him. He then ran as fast as he could, but the three were soon overtaken and assegaied.the Prince having seventeen assagai wounds when his body was recovered. He had his right hand under his left shoulder, with an assegai wound through it into the shoulder. A Court of Inquiry was ordered to inquire into the circumstances of the Prince's death, which reported that Captain Carey should De courtmartialled. fADVT.I