The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-08-08
TO THE CANNON'S MOUTH.
Brave Rush Of the Natives Aaaius,
British Soldiers.
WERE NET WITH SHOT AND SHELL
Leaden Hat, Of tho Deadly Maxim Guns
Tore Bloody Gaps In the Native
Ranks--british Victory.

Care Town, August 7.--(Cppyrightcd. |
1896 by the Associated Press "details |
have been received here OF the decisive
victory won Wednesday by the 200 British
troops composed OF Colonel Blumos col
umn over native force estimated to
have numbered from 500 TO 7op men. The
latter fought desperately and bravcly.
| charging up within u few yards OF the
British rapid firing guns. About 800 OF
the Matnbele warriors wcfO slain during
the engagement. which lasted several
hours. and the loss of the British Included
Major kcrshaw. Liou,errnt Harvey. tour
serreants and about thirty men Killed
ana six officera, scvcra, non-commis-
stoned officers and about fifty men
wounded, according to urofficial figures.
The Ma0bcl,s and their allies were COM
II andcd by the biz chiefs Sokcmpeo and
umugulus. and were divided into five
impis or reginssmts each of over 1000
mon. we'll supplied with arms and ammu-
milton.
AT O'Clock Il IN. Wednesday n force
or about 7N mon. whkes mud natives,
cavalry and infantry. all under British
! OFFICERS. marched to the timh mgula val
| ley. The white infantry, commanded by
Captain bercsford. with two siege guns
and Maxim Npd-flre gun. was detailed
to make de,our behind some hNls. ana
then take UP position from which the
valley could he shclied. 1t had been pre-
vionsy reported by shc scouts that The
army I'm strong force was cncnmpcd in the
valley preparing for a forward movement
upon the British position.
Tho main body of the British troops was
halted while Captain Bcresford's detach-
intnt was making It's way 10 the position
, u.S1gnnied if the mrtil.ry 10 occupy.
w hLle this movement was hcng executed,
the guns being moved over 10 an Isolated
kopJe, the Matabelrs matte "A auddcn ana
, determined dash at Captain Bcresford =
command lhsie WAS no strategy OF cun-
ccMmrnt, The natives ruah.d forward
IKE living tidal wave, ana In spglc Of the
bet FIRE which WAS promptly poured into
Lhler ranks suceevded III getting WITHIN
forty yards of the regiment ana reached
sno. tit'en yards from the Maxim
= rhpu IN" Euu before any OF the guns
could be got into action In fact nuothrr
. minutes delay IN opening fire with the
I guns might have proved fatal TO tho
rerosford detachment. az the wr'te in-
o iantry was apparently unable TO check
,he reckless wild Charge Of the trihesmen
4 attack uron tho column.
= h,n mo screw guns began flashing
into the rauhs and the deadly Maxim rat
< Ned tia han al lead into the hcLting, ser
I r,ed masses of the RAPIDLY mavins impls.
they h,unn Al, vINa way lrqvtn,, il tiind
md wouuded on The neld. Int rallied
ihy the chICfa yho breveiv rushed 10 t.lc
front cucouraring their followprs NV n
d spay Of mnpnificrnt d4ah th. naive
warriors reiuin,d 10 mo .horvc In tho
i. and CANAAN urrcsrord's forrns y',,rn fo, n
. few moments epmplntciv surrounded by
aurring waves OF warriors vino seemed
e to know no rcnr INC pnsittnn AZ The
e I3crrsford force. was then most critical
, mud their commander hurttrtllv ordered
Ma signal men to nHk Co,onnl f'ltner to
/, lose no time n ndVanoinu Win ia" main
=, hodv Ia their roS nj. While tho iipnnninr
U WIS In nroprcs,l n nn, and d,ierlntunI Ighi
T., | ragged around tho nuns and n,.v.raI iriti.h
: Officers and mem fen I'm ,he distance
. could be sncn two mor,, ia pis ~, hing FOR.
;, vnrd ia iotn IN thr nttnck unou Here's.
= I'M mniu body of mo British troons Ia
. advance The mounted mon were s<nt
| forward at n rnlIon To gform the hills
I, | on tho left OF Reresford's position from
which the natives were delivering a nasty
. dtnuuinp tre unon tho knnfe or,.inisd nv
l., tho Rriiaah runs rho rnynlry wts gal
, llnntlv led hv Major I[nrshnw ,yhn charged
= uu a. wi,hin rftnrn vnrds nf tho enemy 4
" rostion whom hc was shot through inc
y b,srt IN a native who almost Immediately
iafterwards frU riddled with bullets
a The advance Of the main body Of pmmo
a. w.. P.asst,,, rf.,trI NO nnresrord de-.
t,chm.nt lnd ii rails.d them TO tuke
, stcns ,o ,csrc.t a, order ia oscapr bolng
I | .nti.ht hot wrcn three 0rns The nuns " ~.
49,, ~. :, 4, L,t,.r ,x...tton ond IA
4 w@J dirertcd dro OF shcl ahot. followed