Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1896-04-29
Closing in on BuluWayo In Or
der to Cut Off All Outside
Communication.
Whites Make an Attempt to
Drive Them Back, but
Don't Succeed.
Rapid Fire Guns of the Eng
lish Caused Havoc With
the Blacks.

CAPE Town, April 27.,-The news Of
Saturdays events in Buluwayo show
that the Matabeles are displaying great
boldness and energy in the pursuit Of
their purpose to surround the town
completely and out off all communica-
ton with the outside world.
On Saturday morning it was found
that the hostile forces of natives had
surrounded the town on the north, east
and west, their ranks being much too
close to the town to allow of any free
dom of action by those within. The
pickets of the enemy were found to be
in no case beyond four miles distant
from the Buluwayo lines. They threat
ened thus to work an approach to the
town which was speedily putting the
place in jeopardy. Immediate steps
We're perceived to be necessary to
Dislodge tine Lines OF the Enemy
and drive them back. A column for
attack was hastily formed, consisting
of 100 whites, 100 Cape "boys" and 100
natives. They were supplied with two
rapid fire guns and were placed in
command of Captain MacFarlane.
They were speedily ready for an often
sive movement and thus commanded
and equipped they sailed forth from
the Buluwayo defenses at Z o'clock on
Saturday morning. They took di-
rection northeasterly from the town in
the direction of the Umguza river.
They had proceeded only about five
| miles on this course, advaning eau
| tiously with scouts in advance and out
riders ON each side, when the enemy
opened the attack. The Matabele
force numbered not less than 5000 and
their attack
| Was Eager and Well Directed.
The column from Buluwayo was
just crossing small stream, q tribu-
tary of the Umguza, when the attack
opened. The overwhelming odds, 10
to /, hurled upon the little column
drove it back by mere weight of num-
bers and the advance parties were glad
to retreat in haste across the stream.
The Matabeles again advanced upon
the little band of warriors in formid-
able array, their line extending in a
crescent formation, the horns Of the
crescent advancing to the front. AS
the bowling savages closed in on the
column they afforded an excellent tar
get for the sweeping discharge of the
rapid fire guns. The engagement
which ensued
Was q Hot and Desperate One,
and dark, ieaping bodies seemed to
spring up as fast as they were moved
down. The Buluwayo force kept the
river in their immediate front. The
firearms did heavy execution among
the hostile natives as they rushed up to
the opposite bank, This only partly
checked their fierce onslaught and
many gained the side on which the
whites stood. These were charged by
the troopers and cut down or driven
back into the stream.
When the Matabele in front were
finally driven back they were seen to
have sustained heavy loss. The little
river was dyed dark crimson with the
blood of the victims of the Maxim gun.
One observer counted 140 dead lying in
small circuit close to the column.
The losses sustained by the whites
were
Three Killed and Several Wounded,
the exact number not being stated.
Although the attacking party came
off without any very heavy losses, they
did not drive the Matabeles back, but
simply repulsed their attack. The hos.
tile lines are practically as near to Bul.
uwayo as ever, and it is certain that
only a part Of the Matabeles who are
beleaguering Buluwayo were engaged
in Saturdays fight. The uneasiness
here regarding the situation in the
hard pressed settlement is unabated
and about the only agreeable factor is
that telegraphic communication with
Buluwayo is still open.