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Charles Leach displays the rifle that belonged to William Eagle, the only North American Indian in the old Transvaal Police, who died in 1908 from the wounds that he suffered in an encounter with a lion.
Trooper Eagle’s story may be captured in film
News Date: 24 November 2006
There is virtually no doubt that the rifle that belonged to William Eagle is the same one that was showcased at the Zoutpansberg Skirmishes and Heritage Museum.
"This is the same rifle that William Eagle used in his encounter with a lion in 1908," said local historian Charles Leach.
However, William Eagle, the only North American Indian in the old Transvaal Police, died from the wounds that he suffered in the attack. It was actually no wonder because the rifle was not of a calibre that could kill a lion. The rifle belongs to a collector in the area who kindly allowed the museum to display the rifle for a while.
"The William Eagle story matured to such an extent that the whole picture is almost complete. The documentary evidence researched by Mr Cobus Holtzkampf was so phenomenal that we have reached a very high phase of development of the story. The Zoutpansberg Skirmishes and Heritage Foundation has even been approached by a film company to film the life story of William Eagle," said Leach.
Eagle was enlisted in the 5th Canadian Mount Rifle Brigade and his physical and medical records are still available. He arrived in South Africa after the war was over and wanted to join the police force. Being an Indian, he was initially refused, but when his fellow soldiers threatened to leave with Eagle, he was accepted. The records show that it is highly probable that the very same rifle that he brought with him is the one that was displayed at the museum. On the rifle is inscribed .22 cal Nr 87059. On the barrel it says OHTS PT F. A. Mfg Co, Hartford Conn USA, Patented May 29 and it is followed by the inscription of some dates Sept 12.83, May 26.85, June 15.86 and Feb 22 1887.
"This is a historical rifle of which very few replicas are available," says Ms Inga Gilfillan of the Skirmishes Museum at the Lalapanzi Hotel.
Eagle was later transferred to Pondrift and was known as a loner. The Elim hospital register shows the entry of Eagle where he was admitted to the hospital on account of wounds suffered by a lion attack. He died on October 10, 1908. Eagle’s grave is found in the Fort Edward Police Cemetery, a site that forms part of the Skirmishes route.
The story of Eagle as well as the Bushveldt Carbineer story is regarded by battlefield authors as some of the best researched stories.
Written by
Linda van der Westhuizen
Linda van der Westhuizen has been with Zoutnet since 2001. She has a heart for God, people and their stories. Linda believes that every person is unique and has a special story to tell. It follows logically that human interest stories is her speciality. Linda finds working with people and their leaders in the economic, educational, spiritual and political arena very rewarding. “I have a special interest in what God is doing in our town, province and nation and what He wants us to become,” says Linda.
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