The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-01-15
ALLDIED FIGHTING
Story Of the Last Stand of Captain
Wilson and His Gallant
Troopers.
Surrounded by an Overwhelming
Force Of Matabeles, Led by
the King,
They Sold Their Lives as Dearly as
Possible--S0ns Of Titled
Englishmen.

Possible--Sons Of Titled
Englishmen.
CAPE Town, Jan. 1o.--Details of the
massacre of Captain Wilson's party by
the Matabeles were received here. The
news from Buluwayo shows that Cap
tain Wilson and his men made hard
fight and died gallantly, fighting to the
last. According to the Buluwayo adj
vices some natives who arrived there in
order to surrender their arms and make
terms with the British commander ad-
init that they were present when the
Wilson detachment was destroyed.
These natives say that Captain Will
son. who was in pursuit OF King Loben-
gula, suddenly came upon strong de-
tachment Of Matabeles,
Headed by the King Himself
The latter was able to mount horse
and fly before the British advance. But
when the information was conveyed to
the king that the Wilson party was few
in number, some reports placing the
detachment at only 40 British troopers
and 100 auxiliaries, the king managed to
get the Matabeles to make stand and
| prepare to take the small British force
in trap. Instructing the center of his
| force to continue retreating before the
| British troopers, who were pressing
their horses onward through the Mata-
| belle ranks in the hope of capturing the
king, the right and left TANKS Of tho
ploy to the right and to the left and to
gradually converge inward, SO as to take
the British force
/ On Both Flanks and in the Rear.
The British troopers, under the i'm
preston that the Matabele power was
entirely broken, pressed onward after
the king, keeping up running fire upon
the retreating Metabeles, which at
tracted the attention OF Captain Wilson
from the maneuver which the king had
planned.
i In the meantime the mounted portion
OF Captain MilsQp's forge had u hlefcoms n y AZ
who were ON foot, and formed the rear
guard of the small force.
/ When King Lobengula saw that the
British were surrounded on three
sides, he made stand upon some high
ground, and at the same time the Mata-
beles on the fanks began moving inward
and the fate of the British detachment
was sealed.
When it was too late Captain Wilson
saw the trap into which he had fallen,
owing TO his oyer-confidence, and TO the
!, impulsive desire OF the troopers to cap.
, | ture King Lobengula. Hurriedly hav-
|, ing the halt sounded, Captain Wilson
, gathered his men together and prepared
to retreat upon the dismounted portion
Of his command, in hope of being able
to make stand against the enemy, o.
failing In this, to. sell their Lives q
dearly as possible.
1t was too late to avert complete de
feat and the fire OF the ,Matabeles soor
became so calling that the British force
was compelled 10 halt, as their horse'
were being shot under them and nothing
. but death or surrender was before them
|, Then began =
@ Gallant Fight to the Death.
= From behind their dead horses th
] British troopers kept mp continual FIR
: from their carbines upon the steadil.
Q advancing Matabeles, and when the car
7 bines were no longer Of use, owing i
y the proximity Of the savage enemy, the.
drew their revolvers and awaited th
last rush Of the natives. It was no
long delayed, and then followed q brie
: hand to hand conflict, during whicl
sword and revolver met assegai an
a club, only to be swept down beneath th
i onward rush of overwhelming number
/ and thus, beneath shower of assegais
/. the troopers. fighting gallantly to th
i last, and firing even when upon thei
d knees and dying, met death.
o During the latter part Of the stan
o made by the troopers against the Mats
! beles, not q man Of the British force wa
unwounded and some Of them had +,
ceived at least q dozen wounds.
After all resistance had been overcom
n the triumphant natives stripped Ii
o troopers Of every shred of clothing an
9 mutilated the bodies in 3 horrible maj
70 ner.
y Among the troopers were q lot /,
% youngsters belonging to some Of the be-
q families in England, who had enlisted ,
q troopers in order to get their. first tas
:. ot campaigning.
Divorce Unnecessary.
c- YANKToE, s. D., Jan. 15.-Marti
ID Wolf, John Hudson and Robert Boyte
r were indicted by the grand jury &
be highway robbery and assault. Boytt
re came here TO obtain 8 divorce.
g pleaded guilty and will go to the per
;entiary.
y. Lacked Orders. yN
or BALTIMORE. Jan. is. The last fl
d mace at the Maryland Steel compan