The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-15
ESCAPE OF CHURCHILL
THE BRITISH DESTROY MOD
DERSPRUIT BRIDGE.
FRENCH HAS A SKIRMiSH WITH TIE BoERS
A Picturesque Figure at Magersfonten Was a
Young Boer Dude FaultIessIy Attired
Cigar in Mouth, CooIly Picking
eff British Officers.

London, Dec. 15.-4:45 a. M. Friday
The War Office is still without news
from Ladysinith other than that already
published. The general belief was that
the large Boer forces Lord Methuen en-
countered at Magersfontein were partly
drawn from Natal, and that General
Butler win strike a blow before these
have time 10 return.
The stories circulated yesterday that
General Butler and General Clery had
entered Ladysmith and captured 10000
Beers are totally without confirmation.
The War Office has heard nothing of
the relief of Ladysmith, and does not
credit the reports, saying that the relief
of the place at such an early date is be-
lieyed to be practically impossible.
THE FIELD AFTER THE BATTLE
Modder River, Cape Colony, Tuesday,
Dec. 12.-Details gathered here by a rep
resentative of The Associated Press,
among the wounded British and Beers
give some idea of the desperate nature
of the fight at Magersfontein. The
Highlanslers did M tlaat the most gal
liant troops in the world could do, but it
was impossible to face the terrible fire
of the Beers. The British artillery
again saved the situation and divided the
honors of the day with the Scots. The
batteries worked for hours under gall
ing rifle fire.
According to the Boer stories, it was
impossible for the burghers to nave es-
caped fearful loss One Boer prisoner
said a single lyddite she'll killed or
wounded over seventy and that two other
shells burst over two bodies of Beers
ensconced by the range, doing fearful
damage. All agree that the Beers fought
throughout with the utmost gallantry.
Their sharpshootels seldom missed the
mark
A Seaforth Highlander says that while
he was lying wounded ON the field he saw
Il Boer of typical German appearance
faultlessly dressed, with polished top
boots, shirt with silk ruffes and a Gig
ar in his mouth, walking among the ant
hills, picking off the British. He was
quite alone and it was apparent from the
frequent use he made of field glasses
that he was singing out v.-cers.
Another wounded Boer says that a lyd-
dite shell, fired ON Sunday, fell in the
middle of an open air prayer meeting
held to offer suppIcations for the sue
cess of the Boer arms.
All the wounded are full of praise for
the treatment they received from the
medical department. ON the battlefield.
While the guards were advancing on
the plain which the Beers Were shelling
from the adjoining ridges, they encounter
ed and cut up strong Boer picket posted
on q hill, for purposes of observation
All of the members of the picket We're
either killed, wounded or taken prison
ers.
CHURCHILL ESCAPES.
I1ourenzo Marques, Delagoa Bay, Dee.
14--Winston Churchill, the newspaper
correspondent and former officer Of the
Fourth Hussars, who was captured at
the time of the armored train disaster
near Estcourt, November 10th, has es-
capped from Pretoria.
EMBARKING MORE TROOPS.
London, Dec. 1.-THE War Office this
evening made the following announce
mAnt
'slte Sikh division has cen mohilized
and four battaions OF this division viii
have en,ba ked bv SUNDAY
THE Government has also approved of
the immediate mobilization Of the Seventh
division"
BRITISH DESTROY A BRIDGE.
London, Dec. IA special dispatch
received here from Weenen. Natal, dated
Monday. December 11th says that the
Ladysmith garrison has made a sortie
and destroyed the Moddersprlit bridge.
FIFTEEN OFFICERS KILLED.
London, Dec. IA revised list of the
total casualties to the British troops of
all arms at Magersfontein places the
number at S32.
There We're fifteen officers killed and
four wounded, and in addition five are
missing and one is known to have been
made prisoner.
The War Office has received message
stating that there were $50 casualties
among the non-commissioned officers and
men of the Highland brigade at Mayors
fontein.
The brigade lost. ten officers killed,
thirty eight wounded and four missing.
FRENCH DRIVES BOERS BACK.
London. Dec 14-The War Office has
received the following dispatch from
General Forester Walker at Cape Town:
"General French wires, under date OF
OAI. yt~tllt h Mt