HOW THE LAST MAN DIED AT INSANDULA.

Patea Mail, 19 April 1881, Page 3

HOW THE LAST MAN DIED AT INSANDULA.

The 'Times of Natal contains a touching account, obtained from native sources by Mr Osborn, the British Resident in Znlnland, of the memorable disaster at Isandula. Several new facts of great interest are mentioned, notably the discovery on the battle-field of Lord Chelmsford’s written orders to Colonel Pulleine. The description of the stand made by “ the last man ” is full of pathos. “He struggled on and on, retreating higher and higher up the hill till he reached a small cave or recess in the rocks, into which he crept, and with his gun kept off the enemy. The ground in front of the little cave (which was pointed out to me) falls steeply down, and the Zulus, taking advantage of the rocks and stones scattered about endeavored two or three at a time to approach and shoot him. The soldier, however, was very cool and wary, and invariably shot every Zulu as he appeared ; he did not blaze away hurriedly, but loaded quietly, took deliberate aim, and ‘ killed a man with every shot ’ till all the Zulus being now very tired, a number of men, good shots, were brought up with guns, who fired simultaneously at the unfortunate man, and so killed him. This lasted far into the afternoon, ‘ and the shadows were long on the hills’ (probably about five p.m.) before this man, who, my informant said, was the last to die, met his death.”