The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-30
COURAGEOUS MOORS.
Spaniards Amazed at Their Mar.
yelous Bravery.
FOUGHT AGAINST FEARFUL ODDS

Charged RecIsIessiy in tho Face of Ter
rible Fire Until within Twenty Yards
Of the Forts-General MargalIa, tho
Spanish Commander, Killed.
MADRID, Oct 90.-The battle fought Fri
day night and Saturday In and about the
trenches before Melilla, which resulted in
the death of General Margalla, who com
manded the Spanish troops in the first
battle about Sid Quariach, has caused a
profound sensation here. The engagement
was commenced by General Ortega, who,
at the head of the reinforcements sent to
Melilla, drove the Moors from the trenches
they had occupied In front of the Spanish
fertilization. The Moors fought desper-
ately and with the greatest courage. Many
of the Spaniards were killed, and among
them was the unfortunate General Mar
gala, who only forty-eight hours pre-
viously exposed his troops to second de-
feat by sending mere handful OF men to
the onslaught Of the tens of thousands Of
Moors.
The Spaniards were amazed at the cour-
age shown by the Moors in the face of a
terrible fire. The Moors charged reck-
lessly forward until they managed to APP
proach within twenty yards of the forts,
driving the Spaniards into the trenches
before them, and cutting the telephone
and telegraph wires which had been
erected in order to keep up communica-
ton with the outlying forts and trenches.
4 The Moors again attacked at an opening,
driving the pickets before them, where
upon they advanced in force upon the
right flank as well as upon the rear of the
forts, with the intention of cutting off the
retreat of the Spaniards. This movement
would undoubtedly have been success
fully accomplished had it not been for the
skillful manner in which the guns of the
Spanish warship Venacito were handled.
The guns on board that warship kept
Pumping shells in front of the Moorish
advance, as well as dropping number in
the midst of the advancing hordes of
Moors. The explosion seems to have caused
the greatest CONSERVATION in their ranks,
for it drove them back where the fire of
the infantry seemed unable to stay their
progress. .". IS.
The Spaniards, in the face of this ad-
mirably planned attack, retreated inside
the forts, and had all they could do to
reach Che inside of tho Notifications in
safety. The Moors in the meanwhile
pressed onward, led by their chiefs and
holy men, regardless of the danger, and
succeeded in entering the Spanish trenches
and capturing two modern field pieces and
supply Of ammunition.
| The Moors, who had been recklessly ad-
vancing in spite of the fire directed upon
them with guns, were unable to with
stand the attack of cold steel in the hands
of Spanish soldiers The Moors had no
sooner got taste of the bayonet in the
hands Of their foes than they began to
retreat and the Spaniards succeeded in
dislodging them from the trenches and
driving them scampering before them.
During the moment of panic which fol-
lowed the death of General Margalla the
Moors succeeded in carrying off the body
of the Spanish commander, and 1t was this
more than anything else which enabled
the Spanish officers to rally their men and
make the charge which drove the Moors
from the trenches. During the rush on
ward OF the Spanish troops detachment
of them pursued the Moors who were
carrying away the generals body, and
after a desperate hand-to-hand conflict
with the tribesmen of the desert the Span.
iards succeeded in recovering the body OF
their commander
No systematic pursuit Of the Moors was
attempted, owing to the insufficient force
of soldiers at Fort Cabrerizas, but it is un.
derstood that General ortego is preparing
to take vengeance upon the Moors for the
death of General Margalla.
Dispatches received this morning say
that fighting between the Moors and the
Spanish forces at Melilla was continued
all day yesterday, and it is rumored that
there has been great loss of life on both
sides. The garrison made a sortie, 1900
strong. The firing on both sides contin.
ued until dark, and was of desperate
character. The Spanish forts shelled and
totally destroyed the Moorish village OF
Frejana and its mosque. The situation OF
the Spaniards is snid to be growing DIES
perate, and additional efforts are being
put forward to hasten the dispatch of re-
Inducements to the scene. In this city the
excitement continues to increase, and the
war fever seems to have taken deep hold
on the people