The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-17

A dispatch received here from Preto-
ria, under date of November 9Th, says
the reports received there from Lady
at daybreak that some of the Boer
forces were within 1,500 yards Of the
British when the cannonading ceased
and rife fire commenced.
An undated dispatch from Mafeking,
received by runner, via Magalapye,
November Sth, says:
To-day all is quiet. We have been
bombarded pretty heavily all week.
Friday night Captain Fitz-Clarence
and Lieutenant Swinburn, with D
made a magnificent bayonet charge
upon the Beers entrenchment, driving
them from their positions and bayonet-
ing numbers of the Beers who must
have lost very heavily.
THE parity could not hold the
trenches and lost six men killed, two
prisoners and nine wounded in their
retirement. We expect a general at
tack tomorrow. The bOmbardment has
been most Intellectual. Every one re-
mains under shell proof cover. SO far
the shells have only wounded one man.
The enemy are using one 94-pOund
Howitzer, and seven other guns, from
to IA Founders. The town is most
cheerful and determined to resist at
tack to the utmost The Beers are en-
trenched on every side in great num-
berS and are pushing gradually closer
to the town Notifications. We are well
off for provisions and water, though
very tired lodging shells and fighting
Quite on civilized lines, General CrOnje
has always given due notice of a bonn
bardment, and allowed an ambulance
party two hours, on Saturday, to re-
cover the bodies of six dead left in the
vicinity Of the Boer trenches. On Fri
day night Jan Botha, the we'll known
Boer commandant. told q man with the
ambulance party that ,their loss had
been heavy and that his heart was
very sore. The wounded include Cap
tain FitZ-Clarence and Lieutenant
Swinburn, both slightly
'In a skirmish at the outposts yes
terday one trooper was killed and nine
were wounded.
"Only fifty-five men of D squadron
were engaged in the attack, though
they were assisted by the flanking fire
of a gun of the Cape police. The Beers
back the British and their rear
trenches opened terrific fire, in every
direction, the flash of the rifles light
ing up the entire position. A hail Of
bullets ratified on the roofs of the
houses of the town.
Upon completing a circuit of the
Boer front and the line of trenches the
British withdrew in independent lines
of retreat covered by the flank fire
from the Cape police. The Beers con-
tinued to volley alt intervals during the
night. The Boer loss is estimated at 100
killed and wounded. The Boer COM
mander informed an officer in charge
of a flag Of truce that he estimated the
attacking squadron ait 1000, and he
was not aware that the British force
at Mafeking was so large. The Beers
were observed from Mafeking burying
their dead ali day long"
UNEASINESS AS TO LADYSMITH.
London, November ia Paris pa
per today gleefully announces the Tall
and capture of Ladysmith, but reports
from this source no longer cause rip
pie Of excitement. Nevertheless, there
will be considerable anxiety here un-
til THE war office or some independent
version of the latest developments at
LadySTnith is known
A private message from 9 Mafeking
reports that all was we'll there Novem-
ber 9Th. The details of the fighting
at Mafeking received by way of Cape
Town and Magalapye, relate to the en-
gagement of October 25th already re-
ported. The story, however, is pleasant
reading to the British, as it shows the
garrison was cheerful, we'll provisioned
and confident.
MORE TROOPSHIPS ARRIVE
1t was officially announced this af-
ternoon that the British troopship
Goorkha with the First brigade staff,
the Third battalion of grenadiers and
detachment of the Royal engineers;
the transport Manila, with the Second
Devonshire and the transport Nomadic
with the remounts, have arrived at
Cape Town.
London, November 15.-The troopship
Howardin Castle, with the Second bat
talon Of the Royal Irish fusileers, has
arrived at Durham, bringing the num-
ber of reinforcementS that have landed
there up to 5,227. Five other troopships
are now en- route from Cape Town to
Durham.
The total reinforcements that have
arrived in South Africa since Friday
are $4,000 men, chiefly infantry; nearly
IL, 900 horses and mules, three batteries
of field artillery and a number Of
quick-firing Maxim guns.
SPOILT CANNED BEEF.
London, November ia letter in
The Times written by an Officer on
board the transport Nubia asserts that
50, 600 raltions Of saEt carrion, labeled
New York, 1S99,' had ito be- thrown
as It was full of disease"
adding: They only salt down the
very worst portions of verys inferior
beasts and pigs"
This has aroused a storm of indig-
nation against the 'rascally contrac-
tors and incapable admiralty transport
officers who allowed filthy, salted
brisket beef to be furnished 10 the
troops"
The war Office has accepted gift