The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-15

mn and were about to move forward when
they heard a sudden outburst OF musketry-
at first the deep roar of the long, heavy
guns carried by the natives. and then quick
~ afterward the continuous rattle of the
soldiers muskets.
a cry of rage broke from the troopers
Capt. Twentyman, who was In command
of the soadron, saw that cavalry could be
of no use in the gorge, and that
they would only add TO the confusion did
they try to 60 back TO assist the infantry.
He therefore spread them out IN the shape
of a fan in front of the entrance to the
gorge, to protect 1t against any body of
natives who might be approaching. Rifles
in hand, and with eyes strained into the
forest ahead of them, the cavalry sat their
horses, anxiously listening to the din behind
them. Presently the infantry began. to
emerge, and at last the whole of tle force
was reunited. It was found that the as
sistant surgeon and eleven men had been
killed, and two officers and seven privates
wounded. They had, however, beaten off
the enemy with considerable loss.
As it was clear that, now the kaffirs had
broken into open war, it would be unsafe
in the extreme with the force under hin to
endeavor to peutrate further. Col Mack
innon ordered the force to retire. The
gorge was thoroughly searched by infantry
before the movement began, and it was
completely deserted by the enemy that the
column moved back. They reached camp
in the evening, and the governor, upon
hearing what had taken place, Immediately
proclaimed martial law, and ordered IL
strict inquiry to bs made into the conduct
of the Kaffir police In the morning, how
ever, the encampment OF the corps was
found deserted, 3S5 men, taking with them
their wives, cattle and equipments, having
fad ba Ilio obi
Two strong patrols were sent out to crry
the news to the commanders of the other
two columns, and to examine the state of
the country. They came upon sight that
enraged the troops, even more than the
attacks upon themselves. A party of the
Forty-fifth regiment, consisting Of SER
geant and fourteen privates, escorting
wagons from Fort White TO King Williams
town, had been suddenly attacked by the
Kaftirs, who had murdered the whole
party.
Ronald Mervyn did not hear OF this un-
provoked atrocity at the time.
At daybreak, six detachments-thre
drawn from each troop of the Rifles, and
each composed of six men and non-coin-
missioned officer-were ordered to start at
once to various settlements on the border,
to warn the colonists of the outbreak of
war. Ronald was placed in the comma I'd
of one of these detachmentS, and was
choos IN to command that which was to
warn the settlers on the river, as he was
acquainted WITH the country there. 1t was
hoped that these detachments would arrive
in time, for it was supposed that the attack
on the column had been an isolated fair,
the work of the tribe in the immediate
neighborhood. Circumstances proved, how
ever, that that action was only part of a
preconcerted plan, for next day, Christmas
day, a simultaneous attack was made upon
almost all tho border settlements.
Some of these were military villages, gov
eminent having at the conclusion of the
previous war given grants of land and as
sistance to start in their farms to a nu nber of
discharged soldiers, upon the condition of
their turning out at any time for the de-
Tense of the country. A number of pros
porous little villages had thus sprung up.
and the settlers lived on most friendly
terms with the neghboring Katfirs, con-
stantly entertaining them as their guests
and employing many of them on the farms.
In a few cases the news of the fight 1T
keiskamma arrived in time for the settlers
| to prepare for defense, but in the great
| ma ority of cases they were taken by sur
prise and massacred, often by the very
men who had just been sharing their
| Christmas dinner. Many of the villages
were entirely destroyed, and in some cases
not single man escaped to tell the tale.
It needed no orders for the messengers to
use speed. Ronald and his men went at a
| gallop, only breaking into slower pace at
| times to enable the men to breathe their
horses. They had long ride before them,
| and anxious as he was to get on, it was nee
! es'ary to spare the horses as much es posi-
| BILE. He arrived at the station his detach-
| ment had before occupied al about o'clock.
| The inhabitants were just sitting down to
| dinner. A good many .Katfirs were scat
| tered about through the village. These
looked surprised at the arrival of detach-
ment of cavalry, and gradually disappeared
supposing that Ronald'S party was but tho
advance guard of larger body. As soon as
the news spread, the Inhabitants hurried
from their houses, men, women, and chill
dren, loaded with such articles they could
snatch up in their haste, and all fastened to
the building which they had before decided
should be used as citadel in case of need.
Boys galloped out to the fields to drive
the cattle into the kraal that had been con-
structed within easy range of the guns of
the defenders of the fort. Men were placed
on sentry, while others brought in from the
houses food, bedding, and clothes, and in a
short time the village was prepared for q
defence.
Ronald made stay of few minutes
only. A mouthful of food was given to
the horses. as he watched the settlers col
4SCblu5 ubL0uC6 buSu, StblS1bu LDdb
they we're prepared against surprise here,
he rode on with his men. AT the isoa ed
farmhouses he passed., horses were put into
light carts as soon as his news was told. In
these women and children were slowed. A
bundle or two of clothes were thrown in,
the men then mounted, and the whole made
off at the top of their speed toward the
nearest town. A few of the younger men,
and those unencumbsred by women and
children, mounted their horses, and taking
their arms, joined Ronald's party The
next village was five miles from 10 first,
and as they approached they heard piercing
ing screams mingled with yells. Putting
spurs to their horses the little party dashed
on. Round each of the five or six houses
in the village were groups of Kaffirs who
were dragging the inhabitants from the
houses and massacring them. One or two
shots were heard as they rode up, showing
that some IF the men were selling their lives
dearly. With a shout, the little party of
horsemen, counting fifteeI men, dashed in
upon the Kaffirs. Taken wholly by sur
prise, the latter did not see their foes until
they were just upon them, and it was too
late to throw thsir ais with effect.
Pouring in volley from their rifles the
troops rode in among them. hewing right
and left with their sabsrs, the sharp cracks
Of their pistols folio wing in rapid succession.
With yells of dismay the Kaftirs, although
numbering upwards of a hundred at once
fed, making for the forests. The Infatuated
troopers and settlers followed them, cutting