The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-10
How the British were Licked OFT
from Spitz kop!

reinforcing their fighting line in pre-
paratiOn for an assault Soon after
o'clock a terrific fire suddenly btOAe
forth from the right lower slopes OF the
hill, the side on which firing had all
along been heaviest. \ tremendous
rush was simultaneously made b. the
enemy. Our advance line was at once
nearly all shot or driven back upon our
main position. This position may be
described as an oblong basin on the top
Of the hill. 1t was about 200 yards
long bv 80 broad. Our whole force now
lined the rim Of the BASIN and fixed
bayonets to repel the asaallants- The
Beers. with shouts OF triumph. swarm
ed up the sides Of the hill. and made
several attempts to carry the position
with a rush Each time, however, they
were driven back with the bayonet.
After each charge the firing, which
nearly ceased during the melee, broke
out with renewed violence, and the air
above us seemed alive with bullets.
The troops did their duty we'll and
steadily, and, trying as wasthe occasion,
fought with great coOlness, encouraged
by the their officers.
AT last the Beers. who had gathered
near the edge of the slope, made a ire
mendous rush at a point beyond that a
which they had before been attacking.
and where the number Of defenders was
comparatively small. They burst
through the defenders and poured IN
over the edge Of the basin, and our pc
sition was lost. The main line OF our
defenders, their flank turned and taken
in reverse, made a rush along the
| plateau to endeavor to form and rally,
but it was useless. With fierce shouts
and 2 storm of bullets the Beers poured
in. There was a wild rush, with the
Beers close behind. The roar OF the
| whlstling of the bullets and the yells OF
the enemy made up a din which seem-
ed internal. All around men We're fall
ing. There was no resistance nc halt.
1t was a fight for life. AT this momen
Twas knocked down by the rush aui
trampled upon, and when came to my
senses the Beers were firing over me al
the retreating troops who were moving
| down the hill. Trying to rise, 1 was
taken prisoner and led away. On the
hill | found the body of Gen. Colley
shot through the head. After CONVEX
sation with the Boer General | induced
him to grant me a pass to come into
our camp and bring out succor Tor the
wounded. They were lying thlckil
Doth on the plateau and everywhere
on the descent Of the hill. They took,
it is true, a few articles | had about me
but no troops III the world could, on the
Whole, nave behaved better a. vlctor>,
Talking with Inc they ascrlbed Their
victories, not to their arms or bravery,
ont to the righteousness OF Their cause.
"As to the completeness OF their vic
tory there can be no question. They
carried by sheer fighting a position which
our General himself considered to be,
defended by the force at his command,
impregnable. Even now | can hardly
understand how it was done, SO sudden
was the rush, so instantaneous the
change from wat we regarded as per
feet safety to imminent peril. 1t cannot
DE denied that the capture OF MaJela
!. Hill is an exploit Of which any troops
! IN the world might be proud. During
the enemy's advance our men hardly
! caught sight of a single Boer. The
: Beers crept through the grass, taking
: advantage ofevery stone and every III
equality of ground. When driven bach
by our fire at one point they woult
: work around unperceived and thenc'
! open with heavy volleys upon lis, them
q selves being all the time invisible
: Greensboro PatltOt: Houston 4 Bro
to-day purchased twelve hundred doz
ems Of rabbit skins. These skins a
{ present bring 80 cent per dozen.-
J Mr. viii Womhle, of Raleigh Is i
the city engaged with Mr.. Robertson
al his mark lie works.
q A farm, a few miles from Winston
q which was sold a few months ago fc
IL s., 700 was resold last week for 81, llt
Ne are glad TO see our farm lands walk
ing p.-Winston Sentinel.
Let ali hands walk for immigration
lie Greenville Express: There was an at
ne tempt to break jailmade by the inmatt
on Sunday evening about : O'Clock
a Tkey had cut a hole through the Wa
V. on the South side of the Jail, and Bi
IA Harris, colored, was nearly out when
: was discovered. The alarm was in
in nediately given and the escape WI
prevented.
i The citizens of Durham deserve
er more than they nave received at tt
ns hands of our Legislature. But no
that the new county has been establls
ed: Let no unpleasant feeling exist b.
p tween the section from which it Is forr
ed. Great credit Is due Maj. w.
n Blackwell and Mr.. Julian ). Carr
or Representative Green, Bradshaw, al
others in the House and to Senat
of Staples for their efforts in behalf of q
ge new county. "Nathing succeeds Ill
success. - Greensboro Patriot.
OF In 1877, fudiu1 tnat OF i large nuu
We Der of a lticles the e3cessive tolls on t
ne Erie Canal had forced the carriage e
oS tirely intothe hands ofthe railroad COZ
II; ~panies, the authorities of New York I
1o solved upon the bold srep Of putt.
Id these articles on the free list The l
US suit of this policy has been mos ben
&c. fetal. The canal has not only recover
lie its share Of business in frelghts that
zee not pay toll, but the revenues from t
icy paving freights have been large
ild increased. Prof,ing by this experienc
he it is now proposed to abolish all tolls
ase westward freightS. Ii l. the exFectati
ne of the advocates of this measure I'll
OIL the compensating gain IN eastward bu
he ness will make up for all deficiencies
he revenue -Phila. Record.
1ut Here is a suggestive hint for Sout
; a ern roads. Cheap rates would doui
to theil business.
Raleigh Netcs- Observer: GranvI
~ county items: Warren Whitfield, . t
ycar-old son of y. @. Whitfield, |