ented this and precipitated war, which

ided straggling white settlers together in
ose effort at self-defence. Just prior to

s, Rhodes had formed the chartered
itish South African Company.

[It was into such a hotbed that Fred Burn-
nm found himself catapulted, and it was
ht down his alley. Hundreds and thou-
ids of powerful and well-armed, fast-
nving, fearless natives against a mere
ndful of whites whom the natives had
termined to exterminate or drive into
2 sea.

Burnham attached himself to Rhodes’
all military commando as a scout, and soon
-ablished himself as a man of daring and
source in the bush, and it was shortly
terwards that Burnham performed one

his most notable feats, in what is known

“Major Wilson’s Last Stand.”

Major Wilson was in charge at Victoria.
7hen Burnham, with his wife and his little
n, arrived at Victoria in Mashonaland, in
s little American buckboard with its
ules, the little town was in a state of in-
nse excitement, with Lobengula at Bula-
ayo and 10,000 frenzied warriors planning
. attack. Seven hundred whites decided
st to wait to be attacked, and set out to
sht Lobengula and his 10,000 warriors at
ulawayo.

In a letter home, Burnham tells of a raid
hich he and three other scouts made on
veral hundred Matabele who were driving
f 400 head of cattle, and also of a duel
> had with a native chief.

“Some of the natives were very plucky,”
e said, “and one of their chiefs singled
ce out. He walked coolly from cover,
irew down his shield and blanket, and
egan to shoot at me. I dismounted, knelt
n the ground, with my bridle-rein on my

arm, and we poured lead at each other at
a lively clip. He was a fairly good marks-
man and grazed my head and threw dirt
in my face with his first and second shots,
but the fortune of war favoured me, and
his shield and spears are now among my
trophies.”

In camp, Dr. Jameson ordered Burnham,
with another scout named Vaversol, to
locate Bulawayo from where the flying
column was, and bring in a report, with
orders that one man was not to wait for
the other, if separated, as life and the success
of the campaign depended on it. The two
went right to the heart of Matabeleland,
located Bulawayo, and returned to the
column with a knowledge of the exact route.

With the occupation of Bulawayo by the
Colonial troops, the first Matabele War
was over. But the capture of the king,
Lobengula, was necessary to end the cam-
paign. Two hundred and forty volunteers
undertook the dash after the fugitive and
his following. These men went out under
command of Majors Forbes and Wilson.
They set out just as Burnham and another
scout of the name of Ingram were returning
from a hazardous and trying scouting ex-
pedition. The two volunteered to go after
the column, to assist, and did so.

PLAYED ON NATIVES’ SUPERSTITION
They joined Major Forbes and Major

Allan Wilson as they were expecting a
night attack from the Zulus. Burnham
and Ingram were asked to try by strategy
to prevent this attack until daylight. So
they rode out and into the heart of the
camp of the Zulu impis—two men against
thousands—Ingram held the horses in readi-
ness and Burnham crept close and fired
three rockets into the midst of the natives,

Const. F. J. Clunk (Chemainus), Const.

Left to right, back row: Const. H. J. Parsley, Const. J. K. McNamara (Duncan), Const. E. Holm,
J. W. Todd (Youbou), Const. J. Lockie (Highway

THIS SMART B. GC. POLICE SQUAD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
IN VANCOUVER ISLAND'S DUNCAN DISTRICT.

a yee RRR

Patrol). Sitting: Const. Robert Ross (Shawnigan Lake), Corp. J. A. Henry, in charge of the
district, Inspector Robert Owens, O/C “A” Division, Const. A. Grant (Cowichan Lake) and
Const. E. G. Sarsiat (Duncan):

THIRTEENTH EDITION

—Photo by E. Burhoe, Duncan.

PALACE HOTEL

ALBERT L. WILSON

Proprietor

LICENSED PARLOUR

Nanaimo, British Columbia

General Auto Sales

LIMITED

Distributors for

Chevrolet and Oldsmobile

FRONT STREET, NANAIMO, B.C.
Phone 1200

PHONE 8 183 Commercial Street

CITY TAXI (Nanaimo) Ltd.
JOE HEWITT, MANAGER
5 & 7-Passenger Radio & Heater Equipped
Cars for Hire Day and Night

NANAIMO B.C.

“The Canadian Ex-Service Men’s Organization”

THE CANADIAN LEGION OF
THE BRITISH EMPIRE SERVICE
LEAGUE

Nanaimo Branch, No. 10, B. C.
NANAIMO, B. C.

Hotel

Malaspina

THOMAS STEVENSON, Manager
Dining Room and Beautiful
New Coffee Shop

An Impressively Good Hotel
Reasonable Rates

Noted for Good Food
e

NANAIMO, B. C.

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