Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-17

to some extent paralyzed the advance Of the
natives Some of them ran back to the
shelter under the house, but 40 or 80 of them
with loud shouting rushed forward.
"Give them one yolley," Ronald shouted,
land then to your horses"
Every loaded gun was discharged; the
men unhitched their horses, sprang into
their saddles, and dashed of. All were ac-
customed TO load on horseback, and as soon
as the cartridges were down and the caps on,
Ronald led them back again. The natives
were this time holding the orchard. Ronald
took a sweep as if to cut them off from the
house, and, afraid of being separated, they
ran back to rejoin their comrades. A vol
ley was poured in, and then charge was
made upon them, sword and pistol in hand.
For a minute or two there was a sharp
fight. Many Of the natives were shot or cut
down, while several of the burghers received
assegai wounds.
A large body Of natives were running up
to the assistance of their comrades, when the
six men of the Mounted Rifles rode up.
The advancing natives paused at the sight
of the soldiers, and before they could make
up their minds to advance, the greater por-
tion of those who had occupied the orchard
were killed.
"Draw off 30 yards" Ronald ordered,
and "reload rifles and pistols"
This was done. and several steady volleys
poured into the Katirs.
'That will do, Ronald said; "they are
beginning to slip Off Now charge straight
down to the house; I and my troopers will
leap off and enter. There is fighting going
we dismount, and ride off, and then open
fire again on the rascals from q distance.
We shall be able to hold the house if we
can once enter"
The plan was carried out With a des-
perate charge they burst through the natives
round the door. Ronald and the troopers
sprang to the ground and threw the reins of
their horses to the colonists, who caught
them and rode off again.
"Close the door behind you, Ronald said
as he sprang forward into the passage, which
was crowded with natives. The troopers
followed him, closing and barring the door
behind them. There was a sharp fight in
the passage, but Ronald's two revolvers and
the rifles of his men were more than a match
for the natives, and in two or three minutes
the last of them fell.
"Close and bar all the shutters" Ronald
shouted, as he rushed into the dining room
over the bodies Of eight or ten natives lying
inside.
His appearance was greeted with hearty
cheer, and Mr.. Armstrong and three or four
others ran in through the door of an inner
room.
"Thank God we are in time" Ronald
said, grasping Mr.. Armstrong; hand.
"Thank God, indeed" the farmer replied.
1--WE have had hot time for the last hour"
'Miss Armstrong is not hurt, hope"
'No, she has escaped without q scratch,
and think that that's more than any of the
rest of US can say"
'T must see about my men now" Ronald
said; will you get all the shutters down.
stairs fastened and barred?"
Ronald ran out and found that his men
had just succeeded in clearing the house.
They had found several Kafirs upstairs en-
gagged in the work of plundering. Some Of
them had been cut down, while others had
jumped from the open windows. As soon
as the shutters had been fastened, Ronald
and his men took their places at the upper
windows and opened fire upon the natives,
who were already drawing off, The fire Of
the defenders of the house was aided by
that of the burghers, and the retreat or the
natives soon became fight, many drop
ping before they were out Of range of the
rifles. As soon as the natives were fairly in
retreat Ronald again went downstairs, where
he found Mr.. Armstrong and the other de-
tenders of the house engaged in attending
upon the wounded. Ronald looked round
the room.
my daughter is in there, Mr.. Armstrong
said, pointing to the inner room. "She has
behaved splendidly through it all, but she
broke down when she found that the danger
was over. think we had better leays her
alone for few minutss."
"No WONDER" Ronald said, a. be looked
around the room. Seven or eight natives