The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-18
THE BRITISH TROOPS FACE A HAIL
STORM OF BULLETS, A GREAT
MANY FALLING.
THE BRAVE GORDON H|GHLANDERS
Rushed Into the Face of What
Seemed Certain Annihilation-A
'- Wounded Piper PrOpped Him.
o.. self UP and Played.


by mail of the capture of Dargai Ridge
by the Gordon Highlanders OH October
~, during which that regiment eAhibit-
ed remarkable dash and courage. '~
On Wednesday, October 20, during
which that regiment exhibited remark
able dash and courage.
On Wednesday, October %, Gen. Biggs
sent the Second division to dislodge the
tribesmen from Dargai Ridge. The po-
sition was very strong one and the
top of this hill could be reached only
by o single path, along which the at
tackihg I9Kce,f at first leonsisting of a
Ghharka regiment, the Derbyshire regi-
ment and the Dorsettshire regiment,
was obliged to file in Indian fashion,
while three batteries shelled the breast
work of the hill men. Dargai Ridge,
from the direction of assault, presents n
frontage of about mile, the left end
OF which is sheer rock for 200 yards.
In spite of the difficulty of the ascent
the movements of the British troops
were fairly we'll covered, except IN the
case of low dip or small valley from
100 to $50 yards wide about half way
up the ridge. The dip was exposed to
direct fire from the summit of the cliff.
AS the Ghurkas supported by the Derby
shire and Dorsettshire regiments, reach
ed this fire zone the top cliff burst out
into fame. for a thousand !, tribesmen
had reserved their fire until that mo-
ment. Though decimatedif the Ghurkas
struggled across the dip and reached
the shelterGof few rocks, where they
lay down under cover for moment
led by their officers, they made n dash
for the cover of the cliff. But the
others could not follow, and the enemy,
with true military instinct, reserved
their fire. Though the remainder of the
Ghurkas, the Derbyshire and Dorsett-
shire regiments appeared on the fringe
of the dip, yet to step into the FIRE zone
was to court death. But the Dorsett-
shires again tried to advance TO the
men struggled into the open space only
to drop before the far side haven was
reached. Then, reluctantly, the senior
officer photographed down to the main
body of the British troops that the
passage could not be made.
At this juncture Gen. Kempster or
dered the Gordon Highlanders TO the
front. The time had arrived for desper-
ate action, for it was then 4 O'clock in
the afternoon and the dead and wound
ed were lying thick on every side. Over
one hundred men had already fallen and
the enemy were shouting their defiance
drums, confident of the impregnability
of their position and certain Of their sue
cess.
But the Gordon Highlanders had vet
to be reckoned with. Rapidly forming
his men, and after his now famous
speech-"Men of the Gordon Highland
ers, our general says that position must
be taken at all cost. The Gordon High
landers will take it''-Col. Matthias, the
commander of the Highlanders, dashed
out at the head of his gallant regiment
and in moment they were across, carry
ing every one with them in their ON
rush, storming the ridge with a resolu-
ton that was resistless and beating
down all opposition. When Col. Matthias
gave the order to advance he and his
officers leaped into the open and the
pipers of the Highlanders followed,
up ''The Cock of the North"
and with a shout the leading company
of killed men was in the fire zone. A
stream of lead swept over, through and
past them, bullets churning up tn. dust
Piper Findlater, blowing his loudest
and best, was among the first 10 show
the way across that deadly strip of
ground, and when, after traversing but
4 few yards he was laid low by a shot
through both legs, he managed TO prop
himself against rock and continued
with unabated energy to play "The
Cock of the North" animating his COM
rades by the familiar, stirring music of
his pipes. ~ =
But the FIRE of the enemy was most
Ind it seemed that the Gordon High !
anders would be annihilated. More,
however, sprang into the passage and +,
he leader struggled across to the cover. !
There was a lull, and, as one paper re- !
marks, Zone had time to see how cruel !,
had been the slaughter"
Then, with a second cheer, the mixed ,
roops, Highlanders, Dorsettshires, |
Oerbyshires and Sikhs, streamed across
md the enemy, seeing that the barrier
lad been swept away, left their loop
loles and rock barricades and fed pre-
ipitatedly down the reverse slope with
nut waiting for the line of cold steel
which was then nearly on the crest of
he ridge.
Piper Findlater has been recommend
d for the Victoria cross.
Robert Robinson of the Ghurkas a,so
cted with the greatest gallantry. After
aading his men across the fire zone to
he cover and finding the force there +,
rap alone and was MORALLY wounded
ihile leading the second rush of
to support the first body of
hat regiment.
pnnish Soldiers Arrive and Depart.
Havana, Nov. 15.-The Spanish steam
r Alicante returned to Spain today with
90 sick and invalid soldiers.
The Spanish steamer Alfonso XIII ar
wed here today, having on board SAM
Try Sub-Inspector General Mass, Brig.
~ g.