Hi Mr.G.
I couldnt find my earlier post on Poole and Barton so here it is again , this from ' Blood On The Painted Mountain ' by Lock &
Quantrill ........ '' Somewhere in the flight from the mountain Barton came across Lt. Poole of the Border Horse alone and dismounted
At the risk of his own life , Barton took up Poole on to his already exhausted horse and together they rode on . With the Umcityu
drawing nearer and nearer but cautious of Barton's revolver . They were now about 8 miles from Potter's Store which until a few days earlier had been a holding depot for Wood's Irregulars and , presumably , a place still manned and guarded to the extent that it could
drive off a few mounted zulu . But , they would not reach their goal ; Barton's horse with its double load finally collapsed . The riders
sought escape in seperate flight but Poole was quickly overhauled and killed . Although Barton still had his revolver , it would not fire
and he waved it only as a threat . His pursuers closed in around him and drew his bluff ; he pointed the gun and pulled the trigger but nothing happened . Barton stood alone in the silence of the plain watching the man who had just killed Poole . He walked toward Barton and stopped . Placing his rifle on the ground , the warrior gestured that he should surrender . His name was Chicheeli and
as his king , Ceteswayo had given orders for a prisoner of some importance to be taken , he had decided to capture Barton .
It was an easy decision as he had already killed 7 white soldiers that day . The two men were close to each other and Barton slowly
put a hand to his head and raised his hat . At that moment another zulu approaching fired at Barton , who fell mortally wounded .
Chicheeli , believing the white man to be his prize and not to be killed by anyone else , stepped forward and speared Barton to death .
In due course Evelyn Wood wrote a letter of condolence to Barton's sister and next of kin , Mrs A Childers . Further on it mentions ....
'' Another burial party visited the mountain in September and reported that the remains of Barton and Weatherley had been found and put to rest . This report was false , no doubt made to pacify grieving relatives . Barton's Body was not buried until 1880 , after it had been found by Trpr Robert Browne DCM , who had been led to the spot by Cicheeli himself .
The following 'From Midshipman To Field Marshall ' by Evelyn Wood . '' Chicheeli told me that on Ityenteka nek he followed several
white men and killed them , one man , as he approached , turning his carbine and shooting himself . When he , with several others ,
got down on the plain , 7 miles from the Mtn , he overtook Capt Barton , who had taken up Poole on his horse .He fired at them , and when the horse , being exhausted , could no longer struggle under the double weight , the riders dismounted and seperated . Chicheeli first shot Poole , and then headed toward Barton '' We know what happened then , but Wood asks Chicheeli was he sincere
in wishing to spare Barton , '' Yes '' he replied , '' Ceteswayo had ordered us to bring one or two Indunas down to Ulundi , and I had already killed 7 men '' . After Barton was shot by another zulu , Chicheeli said '' I could not let anyone else kill him , so I ran up and assegaied him '' . Wood said '' Do you think you can find the body ? '' . '' Yes , certainly '' he said ; '' but you must lend me a horse ,
for it is a day and a half ''.. I sent Trpr Browne VC , with him next day , and , with the marvellous instinct of a savage , he rode within
300 yds of the spot where 14 mths previously he had killed my friend , and then said '' Now we can off saddle , for we are close to the spot '' and casting round like a harrier , came in less than five minutes upon Barton's body , which had been apparantly never been disturbed by any beast or bird of prey . The clothes and boots were rotten and ant - eaten , and tumbled to pieces on being touched. Browne cut off some buttons from the Breeches , and took a Squadron Pay Book from the pocket filled with Barton's writing,
and then buried the remains , placing over them a small wooden cross painted black , on which is cut '' Robert Barton , Killed in action , 28th March 1879 ,'' and then he and chicheeli buried the body of Lt. Poole .
In the footnotes , it says Chicheeli was reported as having been killed in Bambaata's Rebellion in 1906.
cheers 90th.
PS. This grave or Poole's has never been found .
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