SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS 1 SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS Downloaded from: “The Dump” at Scoutscan.com http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/ Editor’s Note: The reader is reminded that these texts have been written a long time ago. Consequently, they may use some terms or use expressions which were current at the time, regardless of what we may think of them at the beginning of the 21st century. For reasons of historical accuracy they have been preserved in their original form. If you find them offensive, we ask you to please delete this file from your system. This and other traditional Scouting texts may be downloaded from the Dump. 2 SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS [flyleaf] All England cheered this modest American. He acquired his scouting lore warring against Apaches in Arizona. After hunting gold in the Northwest and the Klondike he rode deep into the savage territory of Africa to slay the M’Limo, treacherous Matabele high priest. During the Boer War he performed many thrilling exploits as chief of Scouts. He was honored in the friendship of Lord Roberts, Theodore Roosevelt, Cecil Rhodes, and Dr. Jameson and received the highest honors of the British Empire. In this book he tells in full detail the fascinating story of his thrilling and varied career. 3 SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS 4 SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS BY Major FREDERICK RUSSELL BURNHAM D.S.O., Chief of Scouts under Lord Roberts ELICITED AND ARRANGED BY MARY NIXON EVERETT Originally published by GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING CO., INC. GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK 5 SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS COPYRIGHT, 1926 BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES BW TO MY WIFE BLANCHE BLICK BURNHAM MY DEAR COMPANION OF MANY A MILE I DEDICATE THIS BOOK 6 SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS “In real life he is more interesting than any of my heroes of romance” SIR RIDER HAGGARD “I have seldom been as much taken with a narrative” REAR ADMIRAL WM. S. SIMS, U.S.N. “I have read it all with enthralled interest” THEODORE ROOSEVELT “England was never made by her statesmen; England was made by her adventurers.” — GENERAL GORDON. THE ADVENTURERS They sit at home and they dream and dally, Raking the embers of long-dead years— But ye go down to the haunted valley, Light-hearted pioneers. They have forgotten they ever were young, They hear your songs as an unknown tongue, But the flame of God through your spirit stirs, Adventurers — O adventurers! They tithe their herbs and they count their tally, Choosing their words that a phrase may live— But ye cast down in the hungry valley All that a man can give. They prophesy smoothly, with weary smile Fulfilling their feeble appointed while, But Death himself to your pride defers, Adventurers — O adventurers! —MAY BYRON Extract from a letter from LT. GEN. SIR ROBERT BADEN-POWELL, K.C.V.O., K.C.V., written from Africa to his mother, in 1896: “12th June, 1896….Burnham is a most delightful companion…amusing, interesting, and most instructive. Having seen service against the Red Indians he brings quite a new experience to bear on the Scouting work here. And while he talks away there’s not a thing escapes his quick roving eye, whether it is on the horizon or at his feet.” 7 SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS FOREWORD SOME years ago, Sir Rider Haggard said to me, in regard to Major Burnham: “Burnham in real life is more interesting than any of my heroes of romance.” This appreciation by the author of “King Solomon’s Mines,” “Allan Quatermain,” and “She” was no idle compliment, but was earnestly expressed, and I know that the readers of this book will agree with the famous novelist that truth can be stranger than fiction. Haggard also told me that he tried his best to induce his friend Burnham to give him material for writing a series of magazine articles, and that Lord Northcliffe had offered Major Burnham £2,000 to dictate broadly his exploits, but that Burnham, from excessive modesty, had firmly turned this offer down. Such characteristic refusals account mainly for the fact that Major Burnham remains relatively unknown to the American public while his fame is spread throughout England and the English Colonies, where no modesty on his part could possibly suppress the record of his exploits in South Africa, the scene of his many extraordinary adventures. Of the many Americans who have contributed service to the winning of South Africa from barbarism, no one is held in higher esteem than Frederick R. Burnham. His extraordinary accomplishments, unblemished character, and winning personality fully earned the high praise bestowed upon him by the people of South Africa and the patriotic pride of his fellow Americans in that country. I recall a conversation with Cecil Rhodes when discussing the winning of Rhodesia, that great territory about the size of California, which lies south of the Zambezi River and contiguous to the Transvaal on the north. Rhodes had been reading a letter which he passed over to me with the explanation that it was in reply to one that he had written to Burnham after the first Matabele War in 1894. Rhodes said that he had asked Burnham to suggest some way in which the British South Africa Company, the owner of the country afterward called Rhodesia, could recognize the invaluable service he had rendered as a Scout in that war. Burnham’s reply, and I well remember it, was to this effect: “While I appreciate the honour you pay me, in your generous estimate of the service you consider I have rendered, and your offer of recompense, I must frankly tell you that the part I played was not with the object of promoting the interest of your company but was in deference of the lives of the people who were at that time besieged by hordes of savages under Lobengula. For that reason I cannot consistently accept any rewards, but I sincerely hope that I shall be able to retain the appreciation you have expressed by what I may be able to accomplish in the future.” Rhodes exclaimed, “What an extraordinary letter! It is a rare experience to have an offer of that kind turned down.” I said, “Yes, but you respect him the more for having done so.” Later, Rhodes persuaded Burnham to accept a concession of mineral land as a token of his appreciation. One of the most enthusiastic admirers and devoted friends of Major Burnham was the late Lord Grey, at one time Administrator of Rhodesia and subsequently Governor General of Canada. Lord Roberts, Lord Milner, General Sir Robert Baden-Powell, identified with South African history, were among his many admirers and friends. Lord Roberts had a special admiration and fondness for Major Burnham, and whenever I happened to visit London, would call to see me particularly to make inquiry regarding his health and welfare. While I have said his fame has not reached the American public generally, Burnham was, nevertheless, well known to Theodore Roosevelt, Hopkinson Smith, Richard Harding Davis, Thomas Nelson Page, and other prominent Americans who greatly enjoyed his company. Hopkinson Smith, not a mean judge, once told me that he regarded Burnham as the best story-teller he had ever met. I recall spending several hours with Roosevelt and Burnham after a luncheon at the White House, to which we had been invited by President Roosevelt, and no higher tribute could be paid to the absorbing interest of Burnham’s narrative of South African adventures than the mute admiration of Roosevelt as he listened without interrupting. 8 SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS In addition to the fund of thrilling experiences that some of his intimates could by skilful manœuvring induce Burnham to recite, his comprehensive, clear, and original views, his picturesque exposition of great national and international problems were in themselves a source of edification and enjoyment to those privileged to discuss such matters with him. No life of Major Burnham would be complete without reference to his wife. She has been the ideal helpmate in his career, often sharing great hardships and dangers in his field of strenuous activity. An inspiring and sustaining influence in his life, she is held in the highest esteem by his host of admirers. The writing of this book has long been delayed, and it is only after years of persistent endeavour on the part of a few friends, of whom I am proud to be one, that Burnham has been prevailed upon to write this autobiography. JOHN HAYS HAMMOND. WASHINGTON, D.C. June 5, 1925. 9 SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE MAKING OF A SCOUT . 13 II. FIRST LESSONS IN SCOUTING . 18 III. THE TONTO BASIN FEUD . 22 IV. MY SMUGGLER FRIEND . 28 V. UPS AND DOWNS IN GLOBE . 35 VI. THE NECKTIE PARTY . 41 VII. GOLD MINING . 46 VIII. THE CALL TO AFRICA . 49 IX. THE LONG TRAIL . 52 X. THE TREK NORTH . 57 XI. THE WAR CLOUD . 62 XII. MASHONALAND . 68 XIII. THE FIRST MATABELE WAR . 73 XIV. WHEN THE COMPASS FAILED . 77 XV. CARRYING DISPATCHES . 84 XVI. THE DASH TO CAPTURE THE KING . 89 XVII. WILSON’S LAST STAND . 94 XVIII. FORBES’S RETREAT . 101 XIX. AFTER THE WAR . 106 XX. THE JAMESON RAID . 116 XXI. THE SECOND MATABELE WAR . 120 XXII. RHODESIA’S DARKEST HOUR . 127 XXIII. THE M’LIMO . 131 XXIV. KLONDIKE . 136 XXV. AN OPINION OF THE BOERS . 142 XXVI. PAARDEBURG AND MODDER RIVER . 146 XXVII. THE PIETERSBURG FAILURE . 152 XXVIII. CATTLE LIFTING NEAR BRAKPAN .