The evening world., 1894-01-13
they DIEO FIGHTING.
Capt. Wilson and His Men Simply
Overwhelmed by Matabeles.
Details Of the Slaughter Near BuIu-
wayo lust Received.
British Troopers Rushed Into Trap
Set by Crafty King Lo.
10y Associated Press. }

CAPETOWN. Jar. l3.-Details of the
massacre of Capt. Wilson's party by the
fatabeles were received here to-day.
The news from Buluwayo shows that
| lapt. Wilson and his men made hard
light and died calamity, lighting to the
iAccording to the Buluwayo advices
bms natives, who arrived there on Jan.
In order to surrender their arms and
bake terms with the British commander,
ldmit that they were present when the
Wilson detachment was destroyed to n
man.. $50
These natives say that Capt Wilson,
Who was In pursuit of King Lobengula,
suddenly came upon a strong detachment
bf Matabeles headed by the King him
self The latter, who has now lost much
flesh owing to the privations ne has
suffered and the forced exercise he has
taken, was able to mount horse and
~ before the British advance. But when
the information was conveyed to the
King that the Wilson party was very
few in number, some reports placing the
detachment rs only forty British troop
ers and one hundred or so auxiliarics,
the King managed to get the Matabeles
| TO make stand and prepare to take the
I small British force in trap.
lnstructing the centre of his force TO
continue fetreating before the British
troopers. who were pressing their horses
onward through the Matabele ranks In
the hope of capturing the King, the right
and left flanks OF the Matabeles were
instructed to deploy to the right and to
the left, and then TO gradually con-
verge Inward so as to take the British
force on both tanks and in the rear
The British troopers, under the impress
sion that the Matabele power was en-
ttrely broken and that no further deter
mined resistance was to be expected,
pressed onward after the King. keeping
up running fire upon the retreat.ng
Matabeles.
In the mean time the mounted portion
OF Capt. Wilson's force had become sep
arated from the native auxilia ries. who,
on foot. formed the rear guard of the
small force.
When King I.obensula saw that the
British were surrounded OH three sides
he. made stand upon some high
ground, aud at the same time the Mata-
beies on the flanks began converging
inward. and the fate of the British de-
tachment was sealed
When It was too late Capt. Wilson
saw the trap into which he had fallen.
Hurriediy having the halt sounded.
Capt. Wilson gathered his men together.
and. surrounded on nearly all sides by
the advancing Matabeles, he prepared to
retreat upon the dismounted portion of
his command.
The fire Of the Matabeles, however.
soon became SO calling that the British
force was compelled to halt, the horses
heing shot from under the men. and
nothing but death or surrender was he
fore them.
Then began gallant fight to the
death. From behind their dead horses
the British troopers kept up u continual
fire from their carbines upon the steadily
advancing Matabeles. and when the car
bines were no longer of use they drew
their revolvers and awaited the last
rush of the natives.
1t was not long delayed, and then fol-
lowed hand-to-hand conflict.
Borne down by the onward rush of
overwhelming numbers. and fighting gal
lantly to the last, even when upon their
knees and dying, the troopers met their
death. During the latter part of the
stand made by the troopers against the
Matabeles, not man OF the British
force was unwounded. and some Of them
had received at least dozen wounds.
After all resistance had been overcome
] the triumphant natives stripped the
troopers OF every shred of clothing and
mutilated the bodies in horrible man.
ner.
Capt. Wilson'S force, outside of a few
natives. Is now said to have numbered
only thiFty-four British troopers. and
the number OF natives which surrounded
them is variously estimated at from
900 to 1000.
The Wilson party included Capts.
Fitzgerald. Judd. Greenfield, Kirton and
Barrow, and Lleutenants Hughes and
Iofmeyer. Among the troopers under
he command Of these officers were a
pit of youngsters belonging to some OF
he best families in England. who had
Unlisted as troopers in order to get their
irst taste OF campaigning. These
Foung men included among their num-
per the son of Sir Julius Vogel. formerly
The Agent General for New Zealand in
,ondon.