496 
OBITUARY. 
anticipated, feelings of the deepest regret and indignation. 
Instantly every man not on duty, armed, mounted his horse 
and galloped to the scene of the revolting murder. The 
body was found quite dead, the ball having entered his right 
breast in a position instantly to cause death. His pockets 
had been rifled, his watch taken, and the five horses stolen. 
The corpse was conveyed by some of the soldiers to Baltschik, 
and upon the return of those who scoured the country 
(though unsuccessfully) in search of the miscreants was 
buried there with full military honours. Mr. Peirce was 
much beloved by his brother officers and the men of his 
company, who were at the time of the despatch of our cor- 
respondent’s letter eager for the confirmation of a report that 
had reached them of the apprehension of four men, who, 
there appeared to be little doubt, were the actual murderers, 
as the horses were reported to be found in their possession. 
Hardly had the camp recovered from the shock produced by 
the before-mentioned painful occurrence, when it was again 
plunged into still deeper gloom on the following Tuesday 
by an event attended with equally fatal consequences, 
though the result of accident. It appears that Mr. Elkes, 
the veterinary surgeon of the detachment, had, a few days 
prior to this date, given a full-dress dinner to the officers 
in honour of his birthday, and among the guests was an 
old college friend named Western, who was so anxious to 
be present that he came from Balaklava to the dinner. Huts 
being scarce, Mr. Elkes and his friend had to sleep in the 
same room, and from the insecurity that reigned around, each 
had his arms by the side of his bed. Before daylight on the 
morning of the 10th of June, Mr. Elkes, for some cause 
which will ever remain a mystery, got up and moved about 
the hut, but it was too dark for his friend to recognise him. 
Mr. Western said, “ Elkes, there is some one in the room, 
and if they do not speak I will fire but he made no reply. 
Mr. Western again called out, “ Fred (meaning Mr. Elkes), 
I see the shadow of a man moving in the room, and if he 
does not speak l will fire but still no answer. He fired, 
and the ball went through the heart of his friend, who fell 
exclaiming, “ Oh, Western, you have shot me through the 
heart,” and never spoke more. The father of Mr. Western 
is a clerk of high standing in the bank of England, who will 
doubtless feel most deeply the melancholy tidings. Mr. 
Western is placed under arrest, though he will upon his trial 
be acquitted, as he is entirely free from blame, and appears 
to have exercised much forbearance in refraining to fire so 
long, having the murder of Mr. Peirce, which only occurred 
a few days before, fresh in his memory. 
