MR ARCHIBALD FORBES' LECTURE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1262, 30 January 1883, Page 2

MR ARCHIBALD FORBES' LECTURE.

THE INNER LIFE OF A WAR CORRESPONDENT. The great warrior-journalist appeared last evening at Parnell and Boylan’s Hall, and delivered his first lecture entitled as above. There was a very good attendance considering the unpleasant weather, and those who were present had every reason to be satisfied with the intellectual treat supplied The lecture is excellently ■ written, and abounds in thrilling nnri ratives of “ hair-breadth ’scapes i’ the imminent deadly breach,” of perilous I and wonderful feats of horsemanship I undertaken in order that the world I might be supplied with information of the trials and hardships of a war and correspondent's life, but as there is a silver lining to every cloud, Mr Forbes has here and there introduced sparkling little anecdotes, which were delivered with a certain amount of dry humor which evidently pleased the audience. Mr Forbes is not a brilliant elocutionist, but the story of his life i as told is so full of interest, that one loses thought of oratory, and intently follows the narration. Last evening the lecturer was listened to with marked attention, each and all appearing to be anxious that they should not missa single word. Mr Forbes explained that in speaking of hitnself it might be thought that he was somewhat egotistical, but this it was impossible to avoid. He proceeded to recount the many dangers incurred by a war correspondent who understood his work, and was determined to do his duty, and then gave a description of the “ ideal” correspondent. This latter required so many qualifications that after enumerating them he confessed that he never met one, and was convined he never would. A very touching story was told of a young soldier who was killed tn battle iui- | mediately after his marriage. He was I found on the field with his baek I against a slump, holding in his hand a ■ portrait of his bride, which was stained i with his life’s blood. The imaged face of his wife was the last thing on which his eyes had gazed. Mr Forbes proceeded to give a vivid description of the state of Paris during toe siege, and of the misery and starvation which existed in the city. He also gave a spirited description of his wonderful exploit of riding to Carlsruhe, sending a lengthy message, to the London “Daily News” and returning to Paris in 48 hours, having travelled 700 miles during that time. The lawlessness existing in the “Queen City of the World” during the red days of the Commune, and his personal adventures were listened to by the audience with the greatest attention. Ho described how he had been seized by a mob who mistook him for a Prussian spy, and was only saved from being shot by a French General who was ■ passing at the time. Mr Forbes gave j some amusing descriptions of certain war correspondents he had met, and we were pleased to hoar him praise in the highest terms a rival, Mr MeGahan, a brilliant writer, and a gentleman equal to every emergency This gentleman died at the early age of thirty-two, of malignant typhus fever through his devoi tion to a sick friend whom he nursed, and who had been attacked by the fell disease. The lecturer proceeded to give his experiences during the Russo-Turkish War of 1876-8, and minutely detail' d the difficulties which had to be overcome by specials, and the labor and fatigue they had to undergo in order to provide news for the : public. His narration of the defeat j of the Russians at Plevna is a masterly | piece of word painting, all hough he lacked that fire which we would have liked to have seen in his description of this terrible battle. The episode of the Kyber Pass was vividly pourtrayed, and save instance of the dangers which a war correspondent had to risk in the field. Mr Forbes proceeded to give a history of a special's life in Zululand, and the ghastly scene upon the field of Isandula was depicted with all its horrors. The lecturer said that it was not for some time after the carnage that he visited the field. The dead lay like a string with knots in it at intervals, the string being represented by single bodies, and the knots by small numbers of corpses, which clearly proved that occasionally a brave but ineffectual stand had been made by the unfortunate slain. There was one most singular thing in connection with the dead bodies, and that was that the vultures, which in a short space of time would reduce the carcase of a bullock to nothing but bones, hud never touched the hod’cs Mr Forbes recounted the story ol i.. rd William Beresford's gallantry when, at the imminent risk of his own life, he saved that of a sergeant whose horse had fallen. Lord William turned back, dismounted, and ordered the sergeant into the saddle. The latter refused, but was informed by the nobleman, that if he did not do so he would have his head punched. By persuasion and physical strength he placed the sergeant in the saddle, clambered on behind, and started in pursuit of his companions, closely followed by the fierce Zulus. Sergeant O I'oole was also highly eulo gised for his bravery in the aflair, as he not only killed several of the < neiny, but assisted Lord William Beresford Io convey his injured fellow sergeant to a place of comparative safety. Mr Forbes made mention that on this memorable occasion the three concerned came from

the “ Green Isle,’’ A description of the battle of L’lundi followed, and the lecturer Rave credit to the Zulus for wonderful courage. The manner in which they fought proved that they could face death without flinching. In this Mr Forbes was at his best, and the telling manner in which he pictured the scene when the British square was attacked, and all that could be hoard was the calm voices of the officers “ Fire low men,” as well as the subsequent cavalry charge caused the blook to leap in one’s veins. His famous ride in order to forward the news were related, ns well as the thanks he personally received from Sir Garnet Woheley after his wonderful feat, and this concluded the lecture. During the evening life-size photographs of the following celebrities were shown; — Generals Skobeloff, Ignatieff, Trochu, Tchernieff, and others; also of Osman Pasha, the Emperor William, Marshal MacMahon r Sir Frederick Roberts, Cetewayo, Col Buller, Lord Chelmsford, and Sir Garnet Wolseley.

The subject of Mr Forbes’s lecture this evening is “ Kings and Princes I have met ” Ar this deals with royalty Mr Forbes will appear with all “ hii j honors thick upon him.” Medals , crosses, decorations, etc., presented t< » him bj r Foreign Emperors, Kings, anti Princes.