The morning call., 1894-01-14
STRATEGY OF LO BENGULA,
Vengeance for the Machine-Gun
Slaughter.
LAST STAND OF CAPTAIN Will SON
His Brave Men Fought HOpelessly
Against the Assaults OF the
Wild Warriors.

CAPEToWN. Jan. 13.-The details Of the
massacre of Captain Wilson's party by
the Matabeles were received here to-day.
Natives who were with King Lo Bengula
at the time of the fight have arrived at
Buluwayo to surrender, and they tell the
story of the struggle.
Wilson's party consisted of forty British
troopers and about 100 native auxiiaries.
They came upon King Lo Bengula, who
had strong force. Confident that the
spirit of the Matabeles was thoroughly
broken and intent only on capturing the
King, wilson, without taking precautions
against surprise, dashed forward with
his troopers. LO Bengula, discovering
the smaliness of the attacking force,
plan ned successful ruse. He ordered the
center OF his column TO retreat before the
British advance, while the TANKS fell away
on either side in order to surround the
British. The plan worked perfectly, and
the troopers, dashiDg TeckleSsly forward,
soon left their native auxllares far be-
hind. Then the Matabeles In front made
a stand, and those on the TANKS began to
close in.
Wilson discoveredIhis danger and tried to
cut his way out to join his auxiliaries. but
the Matabeles pressed him on every side
in overwhelming numbers. The troopers
horses fell beneath them, and they were
finally compelled to make life and death
stand, fighting from behind their dead
horses as breastworks.
The ammunition for their carbines soon
gave out. and they then had to resort to
their revolvers, and when there were no
more cartridges for them, to defend them
selves with their swords, while the saw
age 8 pressed closer and closer, and finally,
with victorious wells, swept down upon
those who remained alive of the little
band, and with assegais and clubs beat
them to the earth. and all was over, after
a struggle characterized by almost unex-
ampled bravery.
So has ended another tragic chapter in
the history of Great Britain's military
operations in Africa, in which. as in 9TH
ers. persisted some of her bravest soldiers
and the young sons of some of her best
families. sent out to get the first taste of
war.
Among the officers in the Wilson party
were Captains Fitzgerald. Judd. Green
field, Kirton and Borrow and Lieutenants
Hughes aud Hoffmeyer. Among the men
in line who went down before the ire
pressible assault of the savages was the
eon of Sir Julius Vogel, formerly General
Agent for New Zealand In London.
During the latter part of the stand not a
man of the British forces was unwounded.
Some of them were hit at least a dozen
times. All the reports are to the effect
that the young troopers made most gal
liant defense, keeping the savages at bay a
comparatively long time owing TO their
accurate craftsmanship and the steadinesS
with which they faced certain death.
1t is estimated that about 1000 savages
participated in the attack. while the Brit
ish are said to have numbered only thirty
four. After all was over the triumphant
natives stripped the bodies of the troop ers,
mutilated them horribly and possessi
themselves Of their weapons,