The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-08
MAJUBA HILL.
A Clear Description of that Massacre
of British Soldiers.
Golfers Weekly.

Golfers Weekly.
England in the course of her history
many defeats. but never one SO humiliatng
to her national pride as her defeat at Ma
juba hill on Feb. q, 1881, by the rude Beers
of the Transvaal. That she then accepted
that defeat was due to the existence of a
Gladstonan Cabinet in England and the
ever present desire Of that party for peace
1t is TO avenge that defeat-outlanders'
grievances and suzerainty complications
withstanding-that Great Britain is now
in the field in South Africa with the PICK
of her army and her most trusted generals.
Feb. q. $751;
It was on that day that Gen: Sir George
doubted personal bravery, after a forced
night march took up position on the sum-
Of MaH6 wi sbe s b des by tSe
Beers at Laing'S Mex on Jan. Il MS COM
munications had been constantly attacked
by the burghers. and on taking up the nigh
ly important strategic position on MaJuba
he determined to once more assume the
offensive; The Boer forces filled the valley lie
covered the position taken by the British
forces they manifested every symptom OF
panic and made what at first seemed a gem
eral movement TO retreat Iney, however,
did not do So The counselS of Generals
Joubert and Smidt prevailed and the Beers
settled down to preparations for an attack.
On the English side overconhdence and
the inevitable panicky feeling that always
seizes q soldier when surprised by daring
movement such as that made by the Beers
contributed TO the days defeat: To Gen.
Colley and his officers the position on the
summit CT the hill appeared impregnable.
Its fat saucerlike top commanded the plain
have been given to artificial fortif1cation.
The Beers, however, knew that the sides
plain were SCARED by deep cliffs and gullies.
Up these Joubert determined TO send a
band OF his picked men, and TO cover their
operations the men in the valley opened a
he IN
accurate was the shooting Of the Beers that
the English soldiers kept under cover as
to return a volley. Little harm was done
by this long range firing on either side, and
so confident of their security were the Brit
ish soldiers that with every volley they
hurled taunts at the enemy in the distance.
For six hours this firing continued-that was
the length of time IL took the 80 Beers
who attempted the ascent to climb the hill.
Once there, one party of sixty burgherS &C.
cupied small peak standing on the SKIRT
of the summit, killing by single voiley the
small British picket that held IL. The rest
of the Beers poured themselves over the
saucer-like edges of the fiat-topped noun
tain and took the British soldiers completely
by surprise. The movement was so sudden,
so totally unexpected, that the English force
could not awake 10 a realization of what
had happened. They fancied themselves
penned in TO slaughter and all the efforts OF
their general and his officers could not re-
call them to discipline. They preciptated
themselves down the side OF the hill into
the very hands OF the Beers, who advanced
TO meet them.
a handful OF them remained to fight and
be killed, among them General Collcy. who
when he saw all hope lost. took his life with
his own hand Cameron, the war CORE
spondent. who was taken prisoner by the
Beers and Immediately released, described
the scene as one of the widest confusion
The defeat at Laing's Mex had already de-
moralized the handful OF British soldiers
who felt isolated in a strange country and
this new and startling attack was too much
for them Had the men yielded to the rally