PARTICULARS OF THIS DEATH OF THE PRINCE IMPERIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1009, 15 July 1879, Page 2

PARTICULARS OF THIS DEATH OF THE PRINCE IMPERIAL.

Bixff, July 14. The Lusitania brings Cape news dated 10th June :

Accounts of the manner in which the Prince met his death are extremely conflicting. The first statement was that the Prince was accompanied by a party from General Wood's camp. After riding some distance, the party dismounted in a mealic field. When about to re-mount, the Zulus, who had crept up unobserved, fired. At the first volley the Prince fell mortally wounded. A few days before, the Prince, while out with a few officers, was surrounded, only escaping bj* putting his horse at a steep krautz. The official account of his death states that on the alarm of Zulus, the reconnoitring party all mounted, but in the general light dispersed in different directions, the Prince and two others riding into a deep donga where more of the enemy were concealed. There they met their death. It is further stated that the alarm was first given by a Kaffir who was sent to the river for water. The Prince, who commanded the party (consisting of Capt. Carey, 78 regulars, CO of Beddingtou's liorse, and one Kaffir), gave orders to mount, but scarcely had he spoken the words when a volley killed a trooper, so frightening the Prince's liorse that lie was unable to mount, though he frequently attempted to do so. After running a great distance at the horse's side he was overtaken by some of the Zulus and assegaied. His body was actually found in the donga. It has been hinted that the body suffered mutilation, but there was not the slightest evidence. There were several assegai wounds, and a part of the clothing was removed. A religious token round his neck was untouched, and his watch and ring were found near the spot. Capt. Carey and the troopers rode towards the camp, meeting General Wood about three miles distant. The following morning a strong cavalry patrol recovered the body. The occurrence took place on ground covered by the British forces two daj ? s before, and believed to be entirely deserted by the enemy. On recovering the body, it was wrapped in rugs and conveyed along the British lines on a gun carriage, Lord Chelmsford acting as chief mourner. The Rev. Mr. Bellard, a. Roman Catholic chaplain, read the funeral service. The same evening the remains were enclosed in a rough coffin and conveyed to Maritzburg. At every village passed through tributes of respect were paid. On the cortege entering Maritzburg, the coffin was transferred to a gun carriage. A procession of all the regulars and volunteers available was formed. After the gun carriage followed the Prince's charger, the Lieutenant-Governor of Natal, the Colonial Secretary, General Clifford, &c. The body was placed in the Catholic chapel until removed to the British man-of-war in Simon's Bay. His death has created profound regret throughout the colony. A portion, of the festivities in honor of Sir Bartle" Frere's return to Cape Town has been postponed. Lord Chelmsford was not cognisant of the Prince having gone with the patrol. A third statement throws grave discredit on the gallantry of those who accompanied the Prince. The statement is that Capt. Carey, who had charge of the expedition, was met by General Wood galloping back to the camp, with the statement that his party had bepn attacked, and was evidently under the impression that the Zulu army were following them, and it was only after he made the statement that he seemed to have discovered that the whole party had got away, and that the Prince was among the missing. He was upbraided on what was styled his unofficerlike conduct, and the feeling in the camp on hearing of the occurrence was intense. It' is stated that a volley was fired into the reconnoitring party, which startled the horses. The Princess and two others' broke away, leaving the Prince and the two men on

foot within thirty yards of Zulus, who rushed upon and. assegaied them. The 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 to mind him. He then ran as fast as he could, but the three were soon overtaken and assegaied, the Prince having seventeen assegai 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 be held regarding the circumstances of the Prince's death, and it is reported that Captain Carey will be court-martialed.