Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1896-04-29

been very great. No correct estimate
could be made, but the reports place the
number of Matabees killed at between
400 and 1000. The loss of the British is not
stated, but il is believed to be more severe
than the commanders at Buluwayo are
willing to admit
SORTIE WAS A FAILURE,
The unofficial account of the sortie
places matters in somewhat different
light. 1t says there was a good deal OF
unnecessary delay in getting the troop
ers away from Buluwayo and that IL was
almost daylight when they started conse-
quently when they encountered the Mata-
beles they found the latter fully prepared
TO receive them. There was determined
fighting on both sides at close range, and
the British, when almost surrounded re
eated, fighting stubbornly with the loss
Of many killed and wounded.
In brief, the sortie was failure, 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 Suluwayo.
The Matabeles are believed to be flushed
with victory, They have driven back into
Buluwayo strong force, about half the
garrison of that place and also, while
they suffered severely. the loss in prestige
and ammunition to the British is more.
T. c. Selous. the explorer with a
squad of 50 troopers, WAS last reported on
his way to Mangwe to complete the re-
pairs of the telegraph line at Fig Tree
and protect the line as far as possible from
marauding bands of Matabeles.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Further particulars received from Bulu-
in, Ia 40 ba
when the Matabele main body was first
made out about four miles west of Bulu-
wayo the enemy occupied a ridge on the
top of which were the earthworks and
stone parapets, and were prepared to
receive the British force. Consequently
a slight detour was made as TO bring
the column slightly north of BuluWayo.
The enemy were found u be covering -four
miles of we'll selected positions on the
north bank of the Gmgumza river After
| fierce lighting the natives drove them
| back and down the bank. Crossing the
river in the retreat f, Z. Selous had a
! narrow escape. His horse was killed In
| midstream and he became entanged in
| the stirrups. When he extrieated himself
| he was half drowned and would have sunk
| had 1t not been for Lieutenant Windley
| who swan his horse out into the middle
| of the river IN the face of the fire of the
| enemy rescued Selous and reached the
left bank without injury.
| When the British rallied and drove bach
/ the Matabeles they We're engaged Will
| only portion of the Matabele force, ane
| as soon as the enemy swarmed over tn,
/ ridges In large number they almost sur
rounded the British, compelling the lat
ter to retreat. The squad of troopers pre-
viously said to have been for a time quite
cut off and only able to extricate itself by
| a brilliant charge through the Matabel'
| Gordon, was Captain Gray's scouts, The,
were to a certain degree ambushed ant
| almost in the hands of the enemy when
| by a desperate rush. they extrieatet
themselves.
1t is now said that both the Hotchkis
and the Maxim rapid firing guns worked
badly, and We're only used for a compare
| lively short time. No correct estimat
of the killed or wounded has yet been re
ceived, the only statement made ON th
subject being that of the official report
which says that the British loss was Yer,
slight, and that the Ma beles lost Yer.
heavily.
The opinion is gaining that the Britisl
suffered bad defeat, and that the Mata
belle loss was not 50 great as at first re
ported
BOERs ON THE MOVE.
London April 25.-A dispatch from Cap
Town to the Times says:
1t is reported from Johannesburg tina
numerous Boer wagons, all in charge c
white men. with no Kaffir drivers, ar
? leaving Pretoria with ammunition an
! field requirements their destination bein
6 unknown.