Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-05-01
THE BRITISH DEFEATED
BATTLE NEAR BULUWAYO. MATA-
BELEs VICTORIOUS.
Desperate Fighting mt the Breast-
works of the Natives, Who
We're Too strong.


town is conflicting. 1t appears that the
British forces in sorte encountered the
Matabelcs and a large number of the lat
ter were killed.
The official version of the sortie says
that the British force shortly after mid
night was quietly called to arms and.
without apparently alarming the native
part of the town. force of about 800 men
under Captains Napier and Duncan. with
one Maxim gun and with a HotchAiss
Iquick-frirg gun. mustered outside the
Ibarbed-wire defenses. was served with
ration of rum, and saddled up for dash
at the enemy's line. Swords and all clat-
Ftering accouterments were deadened with
cloth. and the feet of the horses compos-
ing the advance guard were "bagged.
Owing to the precautions 1t was necessary
to take. there was considerable delay in
getting off, and the first streaks of gray
IN the horizon could be seen when the col
Imn arrived within striking distance tf
the enemy. The latter were quietly camp
ed behind their stone-topped earthworks.
about four miles from Buluwayo. But,
contrary to expectations, the Matabeles
had thrown out pickets who, although
surprised by the advance guard. raised
The alarm. This was no sooner done than
he troopers in advance charged and shot
Town many of the fleeing natives. This
was the signal for the advance of the main
body of the troops, and they galloped for
ward in fine style to the support OF thor
comrades.
Unluckily for the plans of Captains Ma
pier and Smith. it was getting light md
he Matabeles had sprung to arms all
dong the line. AS the British advanced,
hey were received by scathins rifle fire
rom the earthworks. but the advance
guard charged right up to the mounds and
'purred their horses over them in several
places. Then followed a setback for the
roopers. The Matabeles charged in force
md drove the advance guard back. and,
| being met by the main body of the Bulu-
yayo force, fire was opened at about 400
yards on the Matabele position. This was
Kept up until broad daylight, when an ad-
vance was ordered. in view of the fact
| hat too much ammunition was being
wasted. Up to this time the loss on either
| side had not been heavy, although the
Matabeles had by far the worst of it, cs-
,ecially when the Main and Hotchkiss
guns were brought into play to cover the
| retreat of the advance guard.
Il FIGHT AT CLOSE QUARTERS.
| Just previous to the advance on the
Matabele position the two rapid-fire guns
we're 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 arrive, the charge was ordered
md there was a prolonged period of sharp
| lighting at close quarters. Pistols. rifles
lab NJ 81.
FLASHED prettily. the music of the rapid
| fire guns, sent to the rear for fear of their
| being captured, having ceased. Grad
lally the Matabeles pressed onward by
sheer force of numbers, almost surround
| ing the British. who. to avoid being en-
circled, retreated, fighting foot by foot
but being driven steadily backward. One
squad, for a time, was quite cut off and
only extricated itself by a brilliant charge
| through the Matabele Gordon.
| Eventually the British were very hard
pushed and gave ground fast, then rallied
| by Napier and Smith, they again
| assumed the offensive and drove
| back the swarms of natives under
| a well-directed fire Then it was the
turn of the Matabeles to give ground and
| a squad of troopers charging them threw
| them into confusion, and tine British We're
| apparently getting the upper hand and
slowly forcing the enemy backward when
the retreat was ordered, and the British
retreated towards Buluwayo, which place
they reached considerably the worse for
wear and tear
| HEROIC DEEDS
Much heroism was displayed by indi-
sidual British troopers and volunteers in
rescuing their wounded comrades One
trooper is said to have charged alone close
up to the Matabele works to pick up =
wounded friend. dragged him upon his
saddle and retreated after emptying the
magazine of his rife at the enemy.
Another trooper stood over a fallen
comrade and with the stock of his rifle
beat off the natives until both he and
his friend were rescued by a charge OF
their companions.
The loss of the enemy is said to have
been very great. No correct estima te
could be made, but the reports place the
humber of Matabeles killed at between
100 and 1000. The loss of the British is not
stated, but it is believed to be more severe
than the commanders at Buluwayo are
willing to admit.
SORTIE WAS A FAILURE.
me unofhcial account of the sortie
places matters in a somewhat different
iSht. IL says there was a good deal of
unnecessary delay In getting the troop
ers away from Buluwayo and that it was
Almost daylight when they started. conse-
4uently when they encountered the Mata-
beies they found the latter fully prepared
70 receive them. There was determined
nghting on both sides at close range and
me British, when almost surrounded re-
treated. fighting stubbornly with the loss
Or many killed and wounded.
In brief, the sortie was a failure. n de-
Feat for the British, and what is worse
under the circumstances, there was an
expenditure of much of the small stock
OF ammunition remaining at Buluwayo.
The Matabeles are believed to be flushed
with victory. They have driven back into
4 uluwayo strong force, about half the
garrison OF that place and also, while
they suffered severely. the loss in prestige
ana ammunition to the British is more
e. c. Selous. the explorer with n
squad of so troopers. was last reported on |
n s way TO Mangwe to complete the re-
pairs OF the telegraph line at Fig Tree
ana protect the line as far as possible from
marauding bands of Matabeles
FURTHER PARTICULARS |
Further particulars received from Bulu-
wayo In regard to the sortie show that |
when the Matabele main body was first |
made out about four miles west of Bulu |
whyo the enemy occupied a ridge on the