St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-03
DEATH-DEALING BULLETS.
FIVE HUNDRED MaTABELES KILLED
IN A BLOODY BATTLE.
GREAT COURAGE DISPLAYED.

Leaden Hail From the English
Guns Moved Down the Afri.
cans Like Grass-Loss on the
British Side Very Small-king
Lobengula Retreats and His
Forces DishearIened.
CAPE Town, Nov. 3.-A special dis
patch to the Associated Press reports
tat King Lobengula is flying northward,
and that when last reported, at Fort
Charter, by the native runners sent out
in the rear to open up communication
between the columns in pursuit, that
the fugitive king was trying to rally his
troops in the vicinity of the Shangaie
river and the Kwelo. The king has
been located about 100 miles east Of
Buluwayo and about 40 miles west of
Fort Charter.
The dispatches to the Associated Press
say that King Lobegula seems to have
fallen into complete trap, as his fur
ther flight northwards towards the Zam-
best river is completely blocked, while
the Itesfy country is in his rear and
Fort Salisbury on his right flank. On
his left flank the British columns are
advancing, and thus it is expected the
king will be compelled to surrender
within few days time. During the
march towards Kwelo river the British
columns have seen numerous bodies OF
Matabeles, but the latter alwayc re-
treated upon seeing the
BRITISH TROOPS
advance IN force upon them. Contlnu-
ing, the special dispatch to the Asso-
ciated Press says that on the night of
Oct. 20 Mai. Forbes sent number of
scouts forward in the direction of the
insurgents kraal, headquarters Of the
strongest Malabele regiment. The
scouts, upon reaching the kraal, found
that Insogini impi was mustered there
in great numbers, and prepared to make
desperate resistance. On account of the
stand made by this notable regiment.
native galloperS were sent back to in
form Maj. Forbes of the warm reception
which was awaiting the soldiers under
his command. The British commander
determined to attack the Insogonini
regiment, and sent forward an advance
force of 100 mounted troopers, sup
ported by two Maxim rapid-fre guns.
The troopers cautiously telt their way
forward, and when within a short dis
tance in front of the kraal they charged
forward, after leaving the Maxim guns
| in commanding position upon neigh
boring hiIIock, where they could cover
| the retreat of the troopers, should the
| latter be swept back by overwhelming
| number.
But to the astonishment Of the
| CHARGING TROOPS,
not shot was fired at them from the
| kraal, and it was found to be deserted,
and in the distance could be seen the
| fleeing MatabeleS. A few, however,
who had hid in the kraal, were capt
ured.
On Oct. % small body of the British
Chartered company's forces. under
Capt. White, were guarding a body of
prisoners. when MatabeIe impi made
furious attack upon the guard. After
hot engagement, during which num-
Der of Matabeles were killed, the latter
were driven off, but not until the Brit
ish had lost several killed and wounded.
among the former being Capt. Burdett.
who was shot dead.
After the British columns crossed the
Shangale river the advance was very
slow, as they were surrounded by Mata-
beleS, who, however. made no open at
tack. Several war kraals were passed
and destroyed. This continued for sew
eral days, and on Oct. 81 it was evil
denced that the Matabeles were prepar-
ing for a general battle. The attack
was made between night and dawn, but
the British forces had made every prep
aration and were ready. The prepara-
tions to receive the Matabeles were
hardly completed, when, with wild yells
which rent the air, the Matabeles, esti-
mated to be 5000 strong, made desper-
ate rush forward upon the columns and
upon the camp, attacking from several
sides at once, and in one instance sweep.
ing by and over an
ADVANCE PICKET,
which had not been called in to the
main body. The Matabeles came for.
ward like solid brick wall, showing
admirable discipline and the greatest
bravery. The British commanders al.
lowed King Lobengula's impis to ad-
vance until they were within easy range
of the Martini rifles and Maxim guns,
when at prearranged signal deadly
fire was poured into the Matabeles. Fol
a moment or so, the Matabeles still
pressed braveIy forward in spite of the
hail of bullets directed against them
their war cries being drowned by the
fearful grinding roar of the machine
guns, backed by the deafening volleys
from the small arms in the hands OF the
colonists. Then, for a few moments
there was scene witnessed which was
peculiarly horrible, from the desperate
courage displayed by the Matabeles anC
by the display of terrible, engineering,
death-deallng skill ;machine guns, which
poured bullets, like water from a hose
into the bowling natives, moving then
down like grass. Before such a death
dealing fire it was not to be expected
that human beings could make a stand
and they broke and fed, still followed
by the leaden raiu, and leaving so
.. killed and wounded on the field, in ad
: dition to carrying with them hundred
/ of others who were wounded. while a
many more at least were able to stagge
away in retreat, being more or les
,, severely wounded, from which number
a | of them have since died.
The loss on the side of the British I
! too Insignificant to record, in view o
the wholesale slaughter of Mataheles
D Only two of the colonists were killed
! and six wounded.
! After the battle the British fore
spent some time in burying the dea
and in caring for the wounded, afte
which the march towards Buluway
y was continued, and the road was foun
!. clear to the capital, the Matabeles eyi
y dently being too disheartened to a