THE NATIVE MENACE IN NATAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8100, 21 March 1906, Page 3

THE NATIVE MENACE IN NATAL.

SUB-INSPECTOR AND TROOPER ASSEGAIED. MARITZBURG, February 9. The Magistrate at Umgena went out on Wednesday last to culleot the poll tax from the chief Moeli. at Henley. While there the chief informed him that some of his tribe * from the Richmond district were on the hill near by, aimed with assegais. The magistrate sent up a European trooper and two of the chief's brothers to find out if the statement was true, and they found that a party of 27 natives, armed as stated, /■ had collected together. The chief's X brothers identified a good many of V * De men i anf l depositions wore taken and warrants of arrest issued by the magistrate. Yesterday (Thursday) a body of 24 of the Natal European Police were Bent out from headquarters to effect the arrest of certain of the natives uoncerned o» Mr tl. Hosking's farm. at Byrnetown, and ou arrival two of the natives were arrested and handcuffed. An armed body of natives thereafter approHohed the police and demanded the release of the prisoners. A conflict between the police and natives ensued, with the result that Sub-lnßpeator Hunt and a trooper nave been killed. Sergeant Stephens, who was with the party, was wounded, but not seriously. MARIIZBURG, February 10. In connection with the Richmond I affray. Sergeant Stephens, who was wounded, iu the course of an inter*"*view wtih a newspaper representative, described the arrest of the natives, after wbiob, looking round, he saw some objeots moving behind a rock a little way up the hillside. He sent a trooper up to reconnoitre, and the latter found an old native dressed in a black suit with a black bard hat on his head and a stick in his hand. Ho was brought down ' ana* it was discovered that be was also one of the wanted uatives. He was accordingly arrested, handcuffed, and placed with the other prisoners. At that moment one of the troopers shouted out that he could see someone up BEHIND THE ROCKS. Sergeant Stephens, looking up, caught sight ot what appeared to be a number of heads showing above • the rocks, and he ordered an investigation to be made.- Trooper Arm- - strong went np and shouted back to the reßt of the force: "Come d~ od, there's an armed party here."* r Sub - Inspector Hunt left two troopers the prisoners at the kraal, and one man at the house and with the rest of the party climbed

.up thekopje, where they found an party ;hdmbering at tba,t time closeupon.4o naf;|ve(?. .'The ground in the vicinity was very steep, and covered with rocks'and boulders. The police surrounded the natives and Mr Huut went right in among them, and ASKED WHAT THEY MEANT by being armed. The natives were very excited and kept rushing up to several of tbe v prisoners, flourishing their assegais tbe while, and saying in Kaffir: "You have come for our money. You can shoot us, but vev»illnot pay this money." Inspector Hunt called the interpreter forward, thinking the natives wore yery rowdy, and that it was impossible to get hearing. Eventually they quietened down a little and the sub-inspector told the interpreter to ask them if they did not think they were foolish in doing this.xHe asked them to lay aside their assegais. and oome down the bill with him and be would speak to them".' He would not speak to them so long as they were armed in this way. Several of them yelled back in reply: "If we put our assegais down you will make us prisoners, and «ve will bave to work in prison." By that time it was getting close to seven o'clock. Sergeant Stephens says that ho on two or three ocoasons attempted to dissuade Mr Huut from continuing further, and asked him if it would not be better to retire and laave the natives till the morning, seeing they were AN INFERIOR FORCE. to the natives, and were placed amongst the rocks and boulders. Mr Hunt, however, continued talking with the natives, and eventually turning round, he ordered the old native who had been captured near the kraal to be brought up. The urder was obeyed, Sergeant Stephens going down himself and removing the bandouffs from him, and bringing him within a short distance'of the armed party. Mr Hunt ordered tbe interpreter to tell the old rran to instruct the armed natives to put their assegais down quietly for the "inkosi." The old man commenced speaking to them, but they made a rush at him, saying: "If you side with tbe white man we will kill Jou." Mr Hunt and two or three of the party ran up to prevent the old man being killed. Sergeant Stephens was one of the party. Upon this the natives dragged tbe old Kaffir amongst' them, but still he oontlnued to do bis best to persuade them to put aside their assegais. They knocked him about considerably, some of them beating him with sticks. Realising the seriousness of the position, Sergeant Stephens again asked Mr Hunt if it would not be BETTER TO RETIRE. This course of action was considered tbe most feasible, and a backward move was made in the direction of the kraal, tbe natives followed them for a little way, jeering at them all tbe time. On arrival near the kraal, Mr Hunt bad another look round him, and addressing Sergeant Stephens, said: "We will take these two prisoners with us." Sergeant Stephens accordingly put the two prisoners between the two mounted men, who were placed in the front of the party. Four police boys, who had accompanied the party, had retreated daring the early part of the confliot. The small cavalcade had not proceeded more than about ten paoes before the natives, yelling aloud, made a rush for the prisoners. Turning, the members of the party drew their revolvers, but the natives rushed at them, and grabbed the two prisoners. Sub-Inspector Hunt, Sergeant Stephens, and one or two

others rode at tbeir assailants, aud ordered thetn to release the prisoners. This they refused to do. By thio time A GENERAL TUMULT had set in. and in the darkness and mist it was almost impossible to tell exactly what occurred during the next few cioutes. Sergeant Stephens, said be was unable to say whether one of the natives then struck Sub-lnapeotor Hunt or not, but he distinctly saw one of the natives hanging on to his bridle rein, and he assumes that the subinspector, seeing bis prisoner taken from him by the arujed nacives, must have become exasperated, for after hesitating a second or two, and finding the party closing in around him he levelled his revolver and blew the man's brains out. No sooner was the shot fired than the natives made a determined rush at the party, and coming down the slope nt a terrific pace, wore upon tbem in a moment. Two or three young horses reared up, and dashed away with their riders. Sergeant Stophens, who was with Mr Hunt and Trooper Hargeaves, says they were all practically surrounded by the natives, and there was nothing for it but to draw their revoivors, which they did, emptying the contents amongst the frenzied crowd of natives. Darkness had now practically set in, and together with the drizzling rain, it was impossible to see much; rut Sergeant Stephens distiuotly recollects seeing Trooper Armstrong's horse rear and then go over, before he could go to him the Kaffirs were SWARMING ON THE TOP OF HIM, and just then Sergeant Stephens was wounded, receiving three separate stabs within a very short space of time. The blood began to flow copiously, and he hardly realised the full extent of his iujuries; but findjug himself surrounded by the native horde, and having expended all his aminunhion, he aaw nothing for it but to retreat. He accordingly drew off a little way and rounded up his men, returning to the spot again, foiloved by five of the troopers. A basty consultation was held, and Sergeant Stephens askea his men what course of action they would advise. His own idea was to go for assistance, Ue and two of bis men were positive that Sub Inspector Hunt and Trooper Armstrong bad been killed. They decided to send the two Eiohmond men back to their j station,, while he and the five o|;ber men he bad picked up made for Tbornville Junction. Hunt,'wbo had seen l 7 .years' eer : vice, leaves a wife and four young , children. Armstrong, who was a coraparatvely recent recruit, had no relatives in the colony.