Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-01-14

by the Matabeles, were received here
to-day. The news from Buluwayo
shows that Capt. Wilson and his men
made hard fight and died gallautly,
| lighting to the last. According 10 the
BuluwayO adYices, some natives who
arrived there, ia order 10 surrender
their arms and make terms with tho
British commander, admit that they
were present when the Wilson detach-
ment was destroyed
The natives say that Capt. Wilson,
who was in pursuit OF King LobenGula,
suddenly came upon u strong detach-
ment OF Matabeles headed by the king
| himself. The latter was able TO mount
horse and flee before the British ad-
vance. but when the Information was
| conveyed TO the king that the Wilson
! party was few in number, some
reports placing the detachment
as only 40 British troopers and
hundred or so auxlliaries, the
king managed 70 get the Matabeles 20
make stand and prepared TO take the
small British force IN trap Instruct
| Ing the center OF his force TO continue
retresting before the British troopers,
| who were pressing their horses onward
through the Matabele ranks In the hope
| OF capturing the king, the right aud
| left Hanks OF the Matabelle impis were
instructed TO deploy to the right and to
! the left and then To- gradually converge
Inward 80 as 10 take the British force on
both TANKS and in the rear
CAUGHT ~ THE TRAP.
The British troopers. under the
impression that the Matabele power
was entirely broken, pressed onward
after the king, keeping up a running
ire on the retreatlng Matables. which
detracted the attention OF Capt. Wilson
from the vancouver which the king had
planned. In the meantime the mounted
portion OF Capt. Wilson's force had
become separated from TIE native
suxiliaries, who, on foot, formed the
rear guard OF the small force.
When King Lobengula saw that the
British were surrounded on three sides,
no made n stand upon some high
ground, and AT the same time the Mata-
beles on the TANKS began moving in
wards, and the fate OF the British de-
tachment was sealed. When il was too
late, Captain Wilson saw the trap Into
which he had fallen, owing 10 his over
confidence and TO the impulsive dcsire
OF the troopers To capture the king.
Hurriedly gathering his men together,
Capt. Wilson prepared to retreat upon
the diSmOunted portion OF his command,
IN hope OF being able to make stand
against the enemy, or, falling in this,
TO sell their lives as dearly NJ possible.
| But il was too late TO avert complete
defeat, and the fire Of the Matabeles
soon became so CALLING that the British
force was compelled to halt, as their
horses were being shot under them,
and nothing but death and surrender
was before them.
FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
Then began gallant fight to the
death From behind their dead horses
the British troopers kept upa continual
fire from their carbines upon the stead
lily advancing MatGbeles, and when the
car bineS were no longer Of use, owing
to the proximity OF the savage enemy,
they drew their revOlyers and awaited
tho last rush of the natives. II was
not long delayed, aud then followed a
brief hlnd-tO-hand conflict, during
which sword and revolver met assegai
and club, only to be swept down
beneath the onward rush Of overwheIm-
Ing numbers and thus. beneath a shower
OF assegais, the troopers, fighting gal
lantly TO the last and firing even when
upon their knees and dying, met their
death.
During the latter part OF the stand
made by the British troopers not man
OF tho British force was unwounded
and some OF them had received at least
dozen wounds. After all resistance
had been overcome the Triumphant ma
tyes stripped the troopers OF every
shred OF clothing and mutilated the
bodies In terrible manner.
HEROIC YOUNG TROOPERS.
LATEE-SOmo natives who have Just
arrived at Fort Tuli report meeting
number Of other natives carrying car
bines and revOlvers which had belonged
20 capt. Wilson's party, and from the
same fort came additional details Of the
massacre OF the British troopers. Capt.
wilson's fOrco, outside of a few ma
tiyes, is now said 20 have mum bered only
30 British troopers, and the number OF
NATIVES which surrounded them is
yarIous.y estimated 40 from 900 20
5000
The Wilson party included Captains
Fitzgerald, Judd, Greenfield, Kirton and
Barrow. and Lieutenauts Hughes and
HoGmtyer. Among che TROOPERS under
command ~ these officers wore n lot OF
young men belonging 90 some Of the
best families boz England, who had en-
listed as troopers in order 60 get their
FIRST taste OF campaigning These young
men Included among their number tho
""fl "N '.|l ' NIIAN NH'I IAE merry tho
Agent General OF New Zealand ln Lon
don.
All reports confirm the statements
that tho young troopers made the most
brilliant defense, Keeping the savaros
at bay for q comparatively long time,
owing Oh their excellent marksmaushlp
and The gallant manner in which they
faced tho enemy though wounded time
and again. The reports state that
every man among them bad one or
more wounds, aud that the Matabeies
Sere unable TO sweep over thom until
nearly every cartridge was exhausted
and The whole party was weak from
lsss of blood
DIhore has been severe fighting iD
PendoIand Chief Patokele was re-
pulsed with heavy loss. Tho fighting
may boz removed 90 any moment tits
reported that a number OF white tray
eIors from Iambesl Lave been murder
ed al lnyOya by The Mataboles
An Ola man Ruod
hDf-.r. IsIsgr0Dl 20 tte Suqflv Isgfs,sr
CrtrN4urtue w Va T~r,-~- r,