Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1896-04-29
THE BRITISH DEFEATED
BATTLE NEAR BLLI NASo, MATA-
BELEs VICTORIOUS.
Desperate Fighting at the Breast
workr of the Natives, Who
Were Too strong.

Cape Town, April 24-Telegraph COM
munication with Buluwayo was restored
for a time today. News from the besieged
town is conflicting. 1t appears that the
British forces in sortie encountered the
Matabelcs and large number of the lat
ter were killed.
The official version of the sortje 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 300 men
under CAPTAINS Napier and Duncan, With
one Maxim gun and with a Hotehaiss
quick-firing gum mustered outside the
| barbed-wire defenses was served With a
ration of rum, and saddled up for a dash
at the enemy,s line. Swords and all claS-
tering aceoutermerts were deadened with
| cloth and the feet of the horses eompos-
| ing the advance guard were 4bagged
| Owing to the precautions it was necessary
| to take, there was considerable delay Ii
| getting off. and the first atreaks of gray
| on the horizon could be seen when the col
umn arrived within striking distance tf
| the enemy The latter were quietly camp
| ed behind their stone-toppea earthworks.
| about four miles from Euluwayo. But,
| contrary to expectations, the Matabeins
| ildh lilioai bal plehtI7t WIN flAiip9f54l
surprised by the advance guard, raised
| the alarm. This was no sooner done than
| the troopers in advance charged and shot
down many of the fleeing natives This
was the signal for the advance of the mlin
body of the troops and they galloped FOR
ward IN fine style to the support Of tn III
/ comrades.
| Unluckily for the plans of Captains Ma
| pier and Smith, it was getting light md
| the Matabeles had sprung 10 arms all
| along the line. As the British advanced.
/ they were received by scathins rifle fire
| from the earthworks. but the advance
| guard charged right up TO the mounds and
| spurred their horses over them in several
| places Then followed setback for the
| troopers. The Matabeles charged In force
| and drove the advance guard back. and
| being met by the main body of the Bulu-
wayo force, fire was opened a about 40t
yards on the Matabele position. This was
kept up until broad daylight, when an ad-
vance was ordered. in view Of the fact
that too much ammunition was being
wasted Up 10 this time the loss on either
side had not been heavy although tht
Matabeles had by far the worst of It, cs-
peeially when the Main and Hotchkiss
guns were brought into play TO cover the
retreat of the advance guard.
FIGHT At CLOSE QUARTERS.
lust previous TO the advance on th,
> Matabele position the two rapid-fire gun!
5 were again set to work and for about {
5 quarter of an hour they were made Z
: sweep the Matabele position In front o
5 the British force When the right momen
Il seemed to arrive the charge was ordere'
+ and there was prolonged period of sharl
5 fighting al close quarters. Pistols. rifles
# shot guns. war clubs. spears and kniNe
e eIashed prettily the music of the rapid
Il fire gums sent 10 the rear for fear of thel
v being captured having ceased. Grad
ualty the Matabeles pressed onward b
sheer force of numbers. almost surround
r ing the British who 10 avoid being en-
eircled retreated. lighting foot by foo
% hut being driven steadily backward, On
squad, for time, was quite cut off an
only extricated itself by brilliant ehara
. through the Matabele Gordon.
Eventually the British We're very har
= nushed and gave ground fast then, rallie
- hy Napier and Smith. they aga
en- assumed the offensive and dro'
~. h.ck the swarms OF natives nnd
wel-directed tire. Then it was Il
turn of the Matabeles to give ground al
- sauad of troopers charging them lhre
s., them into confusion. and the British we
-, anparentiy getting the upper hand a
~, slowly forcing the enemy backward wh
't'' The retreat was ordered and the Brltl
retreated towards Buluwayo, which pia
they reached considerably the worse
wear and tear
HEROIC DEEDS.
Much heroism was displayed by IN
viapal British troopers and volunteers
lies ,asening their wounded comrades.
atsy trooper Is said TO have charged alone el'
t3ns IN Ia the Mataheie works to pick III
arn wounded friend, dragged him upon
oek. saddle aud retreated after emptylne
mad ,,agaz,ne Of his rifle nj the enemy.
The Another trooper stood over a la
lar ,omrade and with the stock Of his
rope beat off the natives until ooth ne ne.
.,,ps h,s friend were rescued by charge
head their companions, -, :, \
''9' The loss Of the enemy Is said to