Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-14
ENeLAED's LATEST REVERSE.
Particulars Of the Massacre on the In.
tomhs River.

LoNDeN, April S-Thc Standard
dispatch from Cape Town says tn
convoy from Derby was obliged to en-
camp on the banks of the Intomb
river, which was too full to cross
Lieut.. Harvard and the survivor
were encamped on the Dueburg sid
of the river. Although there ha,
been some previous alarms, the sur
prise was complete. The sentry onl.
saw the Zulus when they we're within
fifteen PAGES. Lieut.. Harward's mel
poured a steady fire across the river
The Zulus lost heavily, but were un
daunted. Only fifteen of Captain
MOrarity's men escaped across tn,
river. They were sleeping in wagon.
when attacked. The sentry was tn,
only one who had time to fire. Tn,
scene of the surprise is a hollow, sur
rounded by long grass and weeds
One gun the Hulus had not removed
has since been recovered. The relic
column for Ekowe numbers 5000 men
A dispatch from Cape Town say.
much sickness is reported in Colone
Parsons command at Ekowe, anC
provisions are getting very scarce
There is reason TO believe 20 1000 Zului
are posted near Ekowe.
A dispatch to the Times from Dur
ban says the soldiers reported as miss
ing at the disaster on the Intomb,
were probably drowned. The sur
prise occurred during a dense mist
Further fighting on the Intombe il
reported.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
LONDON, April ga severe shocl
was given to the public this evening
by the receipt of intelligence of anoth,
er disaster which has befallen thu
English troops in Africa. AS wa,
stated in these dispatches some day,
ago, the supplies in possession Of Col
Pearson in his beleagered post o
Ekowe, were supposed to be almosr
exhausted, and it was feared that he
would have to choose between deatl
and starvation or a desperate attempt
to cut his way through the African
forces which surrounded him. Thi,
proves to have been the case. The
mail steamer which arrived at Fort
Vincent to-day brings the sad intelli-
gence that Colonel Pearson, no doubtin
desperation at the critical situation in
which he found himself, made an at
tempt to cut his way out. The Zulus
attacked the sortie party in great force
and the fighting was desperate. To
add to the misfortune of the English a
heavy, dense fog came on, and then the
advance became bewildered. The re-
suit was that the sOrtie was repulsed.
nearly all the English troops in the
party being killed. Few particulars
Of the affair have as yet arrived, but
it appears certain that Colonel Pear
sons situation is alarming, and that
his destruction, with all his command
is inevitable, unless the relieving force
mas reached him ere this. 1t is even
thought probable that ere reinforce
ments can reach him he will have
been destroyed, and that King Getty
wayo will then attack and probably
defeat the advancing regiments in
detail.
Further advices from Cape Town
stated that 1000 Zulus attacked and
overpOwered a company of the Eight
eth regiment-Colone Rowland-who
we're escorting a wagon train to the
front for the relief of Colonel Pearson
at Ekowe, and only five of them
effected their escape.
Additional particulars of the disas.
ter to the company of the Eightieth
state that the company was
composed of l04 men, who were escort
ing a number Of ammunition wagons
toward EkOwe, for the relief of Col.
Pearson, and when between Derby
and Luneberg they were attacked by
a body of 1000 Zulus, who completely
overwhelmed them, and but few
escaped.
Later information fully confirms
the previous report telegraphed of the
complete failure of Colonel Pearson's
%sor.ie, and Ekowe is still unrelieved.