The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-04-30

strong sacking Owing to the precau
IONS II was necessary to take, there
was considerable delay in getting of
and the first streaks Of gray on thu
horizon could be seen when the co.
um m arrived within striking distance
Of the enemy.
t.45 a Great Fight.
The latter were quietly camped be,
hind their stone-topped earthWorks
about four miles out Of Buluwayo
But contrary to expectations, the
Matabeles had thrown out pickets
which, although surprised by the ad,
vance 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 main
Dody OF the troopers, and they galloped
forward in fine style to the support OF
their comrades. 7. $50
Unluckliy for the plans of Captains
Napier and Duncan, by this time il
was getting quite light, and the Malta.
Deles mad sprung to arms all along the
line. AS the British advanced they
We're received by a scattering rifle fire
from behind the earthworks, but the
advance guard charged right up to the
mounds ~ and spurred their horses over
them IN several places. Then followed
a setback for the troops. The Mata.
peles charged in force and drove tho
advance guard back, and, being met
Dy the main body of the Buluwayo
loice, nre was opened at about 400
yards on the Matabele position. This
was Kept up until board daylight, when
the advance was ordered back. 1t is
now SAD that both the Hotchkiss and
me MAXIM rapid-fre guns worked bad
~ ana that they were only used for
comparatively short time, as the
mechanism damned repeatedly. No
correct estimate of the killed and
WOUNDED has vet been received, the
only statement being that Of the Brit,
1sn omclal report, which says that the
6rltlsh loss was very slight and the
Matabeles lost heavily.
The opinion is gaining that the Rrit,
1sh suffered bad defeat, and that the
Matabele loss was not so great as at
first rumOred. 'D0sS'
Cape Town, April 2S.-The news of
Saturdays events in Buluwayo show
that the Matabeles are disnlavino
great boldness and energy in the Dur-
suit of their purpose to surround The
Town completely and cut off all COM
nu ~ with the outside world.
On Saturday morning it was fond
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
freedom Of action by those within,
Their lines were being energetically
extended in both directions and threat
ened to close in on the south and cut
off communication. with MangWe and
Mafeklng, along which the expected
relnforcements and supplies Of proyis-
ions are coming. 1
A column for attack was Yesterday
hastily formed consisting of 100
whites, 100 Cape ''boys'' and 100
natives. They We're supplied with one
Maxim and one Hotchkiss rapid-fre
guns, and were praced in command Of
Capt. MacFarlane. They had pro-
ceeded only about five miles when the
enemy opened the attack. The Malta
Dele force numbered not less than
5000, and their attack was eager and
we'll directed. The column from Bulu-
Wayo was just crossing a small stream.
q tributary of the Umugaz, when the
attack opened. The overwhelming
ODDS, 10 to 1, hurled upon the little
column drove it back by mere weight
OF numbers, and the advance parties
were glad to retreat. in haste across
the stream. This retrograde move
ment was, however, effected in good
order, and, fighting as they went. thus
drawing the enemy across the river.
The Matabeles advanced upon the lit,
tie band of warriors
In Formidable Array.
Many came on brandishing their
assergais and shields and giving forth
fierce yells in true savage fashion. AS
the hoWling SavageS closed in on the
column they afforded an excellent tar
get for the sweeping discharge of the
rapid-fire guns. The enga cement which
ensued was a hot and desperate one,
and dark, leaping bodies seemed to
spring 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 We're charged by
the troopers and cut down or driven
back into the stream.
When the Matabeles in front were
finally driven back they were seen to.
have sustained heavy loss. The lit
tie river was dyed dark crimson with
the blood Of the victims of the Maxim
gun. An observer counted forty dead
lying in a small circuit close to the
column. The whites had been holly
engaged in front and when they sue
ceeded in repulsing the attack there.
they found more work still waiting
for them. The advanced ends Of the
enemy's line had got under their tanks
and they found
Squares of the HowIinE Black
men in their rear when they turned
their attention in that direction. This
came near proving a greater peril than
the onslaught from the front, but it
was luckily deferred until the first at
tack had been repulsed and the forces
Of the Matabeles weakened there.
But for the open nature Of the
ground toward Buluwayo, the enemy's
tactics would certainly have succeeded
against the small force opposed to
them. AS it was, it was possible to
Y,arnaivn th cir r7oounr1n a