The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-22 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

made her more than twelve hours late. Considerable
anxiety was felt as to the news which she would
bring, and not only were the officials and the agents
of the owners (Messrs. Donald Currie and Co.) on
the alert, but all the points of vantage were perambu-
lated by civilians until a very late hour, despite
the heavy gale which was blowing, and which was
accompanied by drenching showers. It was not
however, until morning had well set in that the
customs authorities espied the Dunrobin Castle and
then every precaution was made to board her. The
Rail tender Sir Francis Drake, beside the usual
officials, took off a good number of representatives of
the press. When the Duntobin Castle was reached,
Mai accertsined that she had but very few pas-
sengers, and that her cargo was very light owing to
the haste with which she was despatched. Her
mails, however, included three sacks for the Colonial
Offices, and in case these should embody any from
the High Commissioner Lord Chelmsford, every
effort was made to get them to London in good time
and they were forwarded by the Great Western
express train.
The officers of the Dunrobin Castle say that the
excitement in Cape Town consequent on the con-
firmation of the news ef the defeat, and which at
the time of the departure of the Dunrobin Castle
from Natal was only rumoured, was intense. The
populace became alarmed, and universal demand
was made for reinforcements, considerable satis-
action being expressed when it was announced that
telegrams should be sent via St. Vincent to England
for more troops, and that all those remaining at
Cape Town who could possibly be spared should be
at once despatched. On board the Dunrobin Castle
was a military officer, who, on being asked a few
questions relative to the opinion of the Colonists on
the defeat, observed that immense excitement pre-
vailed for fear that the Zulus would remain un-
checked, and that they mieht overrun the whole
country. He asserted that the war was a necessary
one, and that Sir Bartle Frere's policy was generally
approved, the only objection being that he did not
commence hostilities earlier. He did not blame
Lord Chelmsford, but he considered the men in
change of the convoy were to blame for not having
made better use of the wagons by forming them into
a square, where but a small body of men could have
made a much firmer resistance. He considered
however, that the troops now in the Colony were
sufficient to keep the Zulus at bay, and predicted
that with the additions which were being sent out
Cetewayo would soon be visited with just chastise-
ment.
The particulars received by the mail bear out in
every respect the telegrams sent to this country ten
days .ince. In a special edition the Cape Times thus
speaks of the attack on the convoy at Rorke's Drift
"The action began at eleven a, m. with the
enemy's skirmishers, who were supported by the
dense masses of the Zulus. These, in spite of the
heavy losses inflicted on them by the fire of our
men, gradually closed in and overpowered them.
Some of our men made good their retreat in the
same direction that captain Stafford and Mr. Davis
did, and, crossing the river at a fort before Rorke's
Drift, reached Helpmakear the same night. They
believe that others cut their way through the
enemy in the direction of the General's main force
but there seems no room to doubt that our loss has
been very heavy. The exact forc3 engaged is not
known, but it apparently consisted of three com-
panies of the 24th Regiment and detachments of
the Carbineers of the Buffalo Border Guard, a por-
tion of Commandant Lonsdale's regiment of the
Natal Native contingent, and about 800 natives of
Colonel Durnford's battalion, with two guns and a
rocket battery from Durban. The news was tele •
graphed that engagements had taken place between
4,000 Zulus in ambush and the first column, under
the command of Colonel Pearson, at Inyoti. After
an hour's fighting the Yulus retreated, leaving 300
men killed, while the British loss numbered ten
killed and 1 hirteen wounded."

Alluding to the disaster, the Cope Times says in
a leading article :
"In Cape Town the loss of so many men per-
sonally known to our citizens has created a pro-
found impression. To-morrow a public meeting
will be held, at which the Chief Justice will pre-
side, in order to strengthen the hands of Govern-
ment in this crisis, and the Hon. R. Southey has
already initiated a subscription for the purpose of
relieving the immediate necessities of the unhappy
women and children bereft by this destruction of
six companies of the 24th Regiment. Although no
such disaster has befallen the British army since
the annihilation of the 45th Regiment, with a large
force of native troops, in the Bohian Pass, it must
not be supposed that the British army in Zulu-
land has suffered a defer t, or that the punishment
of Cetewa,yo will be foregone. Lord Chelmsford is
now in Maritzburg with the High Commissioner,
and the 3rd column, deprived of all its baggage
train and supplies of ammunition, has temporarily
retired upon Helpmakaar, a few miles on the Natal
side of the Buffalo River; but Col. Hood's and Col.
Pearson's continue theix advance on their several
lines, and we have hope that they will give a good
account of the enemy. Directly the news became
known at Cape Town steps were taken to reinforce
the forces under Lord Chelmsford."

The Standard and Mail says that the 300 men of
the 4th Regiment who had been left behind to gar-
rison Cape Town, it being expected that they would
not be required in Zululand, were in a state of tile
greatest excitement on the receipt of the welcome
news that they were to proceed to the front on Sat-
urday. While some were undergoing an examination
by the doctor others were making small but neces-
sary preparations for th,-;ir departure, or conversing
eagerly about the late event. They were evidently
in capital spirits, and by no means did they seem to
regret that they were ordered to the post of danger.
Even the bandsmen were not excepted. for they had
been ordered to proceed with rifles on their shoulders
to Natal, and been obliged to hand in their musical
instruments. The men seemed to care no more for
what they had to face than if they were about to en-
ter a ball room. The news of the disaster, if it had
a slightly depressing effect, had apparently mad
them determined to avenge the loss of their com-
rades in arms. There was no rest for the men dur-
ing the whole of Saturday night, and on Sunday
morning aumerous preporations had to be made for
the departure to Natal in the Union mail steams hip
African. They marched down to the steamer from
the barracks in high spirits. There was a large
assemblage to see the African leave the docks, which
she did between eight and ten o'clock. Before they
left the men were laughing and cheering to their
hearts' content. As soon as the intended departure
of the 4th became known an intimation was con-
veyed to the commanding officer of the Volunteers
kat they would be called upon to do garrison duty,
and on Saturday evening the several guards were
relieved by Volunteers. The Volunteers will con-
tinue to discharge this duty until relieved by regu-
lar troop,. Every avaiiable soldier had left Cape
.
Tewu for Natal, the only regiment the colony
being the 88th, stationed at King William's Town,
and which it would be dangerous at present to move.
It is reported that the men of this regiment fret so
much under the news from Zululand that great dis-
content exists among them at not being sent on
active service. Lady Frere has written to the chap-
lain of the forces, asking him to express her sympathy
with the wives and children of the men who tell in
the engagement, and desiring that messengers should
be sent to the Colonial Office, where only correct
information could be,gaiued, and of which the High
Commissioners desired the afflicted to be apprised.