The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-25
WSFROlI BULUWAYO
Communicar,on Rec established
for Snort Time.
BRITONS HAVE A NARROW ESCAPE.

They Make n sorti. Upon the Matabeies.
Iniict Great Loss, Come Very Near Being
Annihiiated Themselves and Are Forced
to Rstrest-Two Reports Of the Fight
Which Differ Materialiy-sha-p Fight
ing at Clos. Quarters.
CAPE Tows, April 25.-[Copy righted.
1896. by the Associated Press. l-Tele-
graphic communication with Buluwayo
was reopened for time Friday, and then
there was another break, believed, how
ever, to be only temporary Interrupt
tion. During the time the wire was work.
ing dispatches were received from several
sources in the besieged town. The news
flashed south Is somewhat conflicting, but
the main fact seems we'll established
that the British have made u sortie in
force, encountered large numbers OF Mat
abcles, inflicted great loss upon them,
suffered In return, were at one time in
danger OF aunihilIation. and finally re-
treated The story Of the fight must be
divided into two chapters. the official re-
port and the unofficial account. The Of
fetal version OF the sorte says the Brit
ish force shortly after midnight was
quietly called TO arms AM, without ap-
parently alarming the native part of the
town, force of about 80 men under
Captains Napier and Duncan with one
Maxim rapid fire gun and Hotchkiss
quick firing gun, belonging TO the hag-
ship Sc. George, mustered outside the
barbed wire defenses.
Delay in Getting on
There the men were served with ra-
tion OF rum and saddled up for dash at
the eneiny's lines Swords and all clat-
tering accoutermenis were deadened with
cloth and the feet OF the horses composing
the advance guard were bagged thoofs
covered over with sacking) Owing to
the precautions IL WAS necessary TO take
there WAS considerable delay 1t getting of
and the first streaks OF gray on the hori-
zon could be seen when the column ar
rived within striking distance Of the en-
envy. The latter were quietly camped be-
hind their stono.topped earthworks, about
four miles from buluwayo. But, con-
trary to expectations, the Matabeles had
| thrown out pickcts which, although sur
prised by the advance guard, raised the
alarm This was no sooner done than
| thc troopers in advance charged ana shot
| down many of the fleeing natives. This
was the signal for the advance of the
main body Of the troopers and they gal
| loped forward in fine style 10 the support
| of their comrades.
Fight at Close Quarters.
| When tho right moment seemed to ar
| rive the charge was ordered and there was
| prolonged period of sharp fighting al
/ close quarters Both sides fought brave
ly. Ii was case of handful of well
| armed whites against u small army ol
| badly armed Mataboles. The former
were fighting for the helpless women and
| children In the bcleagurei town of Bulu
wayo; the latter were fighting for what
| they considered to be their own native
land, for Buluwayo. the old capital OF
| King Lobengula Gradually the Mata
beles, pressed onward by sheer force OF
| numbers. almost surrounded the British
who. to avoid being encircied, retreated
fighting foot by foot, but being driven
steadily backward. One squad for time
was quite cut off and only extricated It.
self by a. brilliant charge through the
| Matabele Gordon. The loss OF the enemy
is said to have been very great. No cor
rect estimate could be made, but the
reports place the number of Matabele;
| killed at anywhere between 400 and 900
The Unofficial Account.
The loss of the British is not stated, but
il is believed to be more severe than the
commanders at Buluwayo are willing u
admit. The unofficial account Of the
sortie places matters in somewhat diff
ferent light L. says there was grea
deal of unn ecessary delay in getting th'
troopers away from from Buluwayo ant
that 1t was almost daylight when it start
ed. Consequently when they encountered
the Matables they found the latte
fully prepared to receive them. There
was determined fighting on both sides
at close range and the British
when almost surrounded, retreated
fighting stubbornly. with the loss Of man!
killed and wounded. In brief. the sorti
was a failure. a defeat for the British and
what is worse under the circumstances
there was an expenditure of much OF tn
small stock Of ammunition remaining a
Buluwayo The Mataoelcs are believe'
to be flushed with victory. They hav'
driven back into Buluwayo strong force
about half the garrison OF that place. ant
though they suffered severely the loss Il
prestige and ammunition to the Britis
| a.. ,s,rnh mora savarp