THE MASSACRE IN MATABELE-LAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4622, 15 January 1894, Page 3

THE MASSACRE IN MATA-BELE-LAND.

Weare.eure (says the New Zealand . Turn) that everyone in the Colony will sympathise deeply with Sir Julius and Lady Yog' 1, nfaoso second ton has fallen in the massacre •of Captain Wilson's detachment, lie waß a bright, promising young fellow, full of talent, and energy, and pluck. . Our readers will remember the lettei from Lis pen which «re published Borne time in November last, It contained an admirable description of the preparations for the campaign against the Matabele and tjiu'w some light on the situation there. Every young men bud volunteered, and was busy getting ready for the work Their talk was of horses, tides, kits, of tbe hardships and the joy of roughing side of the fortune of war, but to the dark side they made but short, passing reference. All that was reflected in the letter, which;' was written in the swinging/ dashing style of a you'h who had the neAspbero of life he bad chosen, mcN*in tbe highest spirits at :tie thought of having done his duty li/ke the rest by volunteering for aotjve , service, He was, we remember] to hare had charge of one of the Maxim guns. No doubt he cave account of it in the battles thai broke the Mala' bele power.' The probability id that bis steadiness in action obtained for him the honour of being seleoted to serve in Cnptain Wilton's detachment, which we judge by the numbtr of. oflio< rs it contained to have ' been a specially' picjjed lorce got together for the dangerous work of making a (Infill in pursuit of the enemy's chief. As the rainy season, which makes the country rsiy difficult for.moving about, in, begins in November and lasts till April, we can readily understand the difficulties before,tbe detachment, .We oan tin" Aan4 also how the disastrous fate oHbe detachment bos been followed by the prompt retirement of the commander (Major Forbes), wko sent it out at such a time on such an wrand. Jt is some consolation to their friends |hat wfaeil overmen find unabje to escape they faced the eneftiy to the last, and died like soldiers, with their prpiß in their hands. • y j 111 ji II i