The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-25
a MIDNIGHT soRrlE INTENDED
But the Camp Of the Natives Is Not
Reached Until the Dawn.
The Machine GUNS Do Not Work Well.
and the British Charge, Fighting
Narrowly Escape Destruction. but
Cut Their Way Out and Retreat.

mur.cation with Buiuwayo was reopenet
for the tirst time today. Then there was
another break. While the wire was work
ing dispatches were received from several
sources in the bes.eged town. The rsws
Is somewhat conflicting, hu, the main
fact seems well established that British
sortie In force encountered large NUMBERS
OF Mafabeles and killed perhaps 100. The
British were al one time IN danger OF an
initiation. and finally retreated.
The official version of the sortie says
that the British force shortly after mid
night was quietly called TO arms. and with
out apparently alarming the native part
Of the town. force Of about 3Do men. uyi-
der Capts. Napier and Duncan. with ore
Maxim gun and a Hotchkiss Quick-firiHg
gun, mustered outside the harbed-wire de-
fenses, were served with q ration OF rum
and saddied up for dash at the enemy's
lines Swords ard all clattering accout-
terments were deadened with cloth and the
feet of the horses composing ths advance
guard were '.begged' Choofs covered with
strong sacktng). Owing to the precau-
,iors IL was necessary 20 take, there was
considerable delay In getting on. and the
first streaiD Of gray on the horizon COULD
be seen when the column arrived within
striking distance Of the enemy. The lat
ter were quietly camped behind their
stone-tcpped earthworks. about four miles
LTQn bUluWayO. buh. Ct1tsi ~ 90
pectations the Matabeles had thrown out
pickets. which. although surprised by the
advance guard. raised the alarm. This
was no sooner done than the troops In ad-
vance charged and shot down many OF the
fleeing natives. This was the signal Tor
the advance Of the main body of the troop
ers, and they galloped forward in fine
style to the support of their comrades.
Uniuckily for the plans of Capts. Napier
stx.r a
quite light, and the Matabeles had sprung
10 arms all along the line. As the British
advanced they were received by scat
tering rife fire from behind the earth
works, but the advance guard charged
right up 10 the mounds and spurred their
horses over them in several places. Then
followed a setback for the troops. The
Matabeles charged in force. and drove the
advance guard back, and, being met by
the main body Of the Buluwayo force. fire
was opened at about 40 yards on the Ma
tabeIe position. This was kept up until
broad daylight. when the advance was or
dered, in view Of the fact that too much
ammunition was being wasted.
Up to this time the loss on either side
had not been heavy. although the Mata-
beles had by far the worst of IL especially
when the Maxim and Hoichkiss guns wera
brought into play TO cover the retreat OF
advance on the Matabeie position the two
rapid-fire guns were again set TO work.
and for about quarter of an hour they
were made to sweep the Matabele position
in front Of the British force.
When the right moment seemed TO nave
arrived the charge was ordered. and there
was a prolonged period Of sharp fighting
at close quarters Pistols. rifles. shotguns.
warelubs, spears and knives clashed pret-
Ia 49, he MD fire sent
to the rear for fear Of their being cap
tured. having ceased.
Gradually the Matabeles, pressed on
ward by sheer force Of numbers, almost
surrounding the British. who. to avoid be-
ing encircled, refreated, fighting loot by
foot, but being driven steadily backward.
One squad for a time was quite cut off.
and only extricated itself by briIiiant
charge through the Matabeies.
Eventually the British were hard pressed
and gave ground fast; then. rallied by Ma
pier and Duncan, they again assumed the
offensive and drove back the swarms OF
natives under a well-directed nre- Then
II was the turn of the Matabeles to give
ground, and a squad of troopers charged
with ringing cheer. threw them In con-
fusion, and the British were apparently
getting the upper hand and slowly forc-
ing the enemy backward. when suddenly
the retreat was ordered and the British
moved toward Ruluwayo. which place
they reached considerably the worse for
wear and tear.
Much heroism was displayed by individ-
ual British troopers and volunteers IN
rescuing their wounded comrades. One
trooper Is said TO have charged alone close
up to the Matabeie works, to have picked
up a wounded friend, dragged him upon
hts saddle and retreated after emptyins
the magazine of his rife at the enemy.
Another trooper stood over fallen COM
rade and with the stock of his rifle beat
off the natives until both he and his friend
were rescued by a charge OF their COM
rafes.
The loss OF the enemy is said 10 have
been very great No correct estimate
could be made. the reports placing the
400 ard leeo- The loss of the British is
not stated. but it is believed 10 be more
severe than the commanders at Bullwayo
are willing 20 admit.
The unofficial account Of the sortie
places matters IN a somewhat different
light. II says there was a good deal of
unnecessary delay In getting the troops
away from Buluwayo. and that 1t was al
most daylight when they started. conse-
qusn,iy when they encountered the Mata-
beies they found the latter fully prepared
TO receive them. There was determined
fighting on both sides at close range. and
the British. who were almost surrounded.
retreat-d. fighting stubbornly, with the
loss OF many killed and wounded In brief.
the sortie was a failure, defeat for the
British, and, what Is worse under the cir
cums;ances, there was an expenditure ef
much OF tho small stock Of ammunition
remaining al Buiuwayo- The Matabeles
are believed to be flushed with victory.
They have driven back into BuluSayo
strong force. about half the garrison OF
that place. and, although they suffered Sc
vereiy the loss In prestige and ammsni-
ton to the British Is much more severe.
A third report received from BGluwayo
in regard 20 the sortie says that when the
TafabeieS' main body was first made out.
about four miles west Of BHluwayo, the en-
srny occupied a ridge, on top Of which we're
earthworks and stone parapets. and were
prepared 70 receive the British force. Con-
s<-qaently slight detogr vas made. 50 as
TO bring the column slightly north of Built
wayo The enemy were found TO be hover
ing four niles OF. IL weii-seiected posi-
tons on the north bank Of the Cr'numza
river. After fierce fighting the natives
drove the British back and down the bank.
Crossing the river In the retreat, r. G.
S@sosxs had a NJ XTrow escap@- His horse was
killed in Yassist-saEn. and ne became En-
tangled IN the st<rrups- When ne sxtri-
Gated himself he was half-tr5wrsa. ard
wOuid have sunk mad IL not been for L.eslt-
Windiey. who szam h.s horse out into the
middle Of the river in the face Of the fire
OF the enemy, rescued SeIotls and reached
ths leti bank without iajury-
When the British rallied and drove back
the Msiabe4@s they were engaged vzfh only
. portion of the Ma1ab@le force. aad 50 soon