Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-17
ARMORED Train DISASTER
British Forces at Estcourt Led Into
a Trap.

a Trap.
DUBLIN FUSILIERS AND DURHAM
VOLUNTEERS AGAIN IN POSI-
TIoN TO GET THE WORST OF A
BAD SITUATION-THE TRAIN
WAS ATTACKED BY BOER AR
TILERY AND A CAR DERAILED,
LEAVING THE WHOLE TRAIN
AT THE MERCY OF THE BOERS.
LIEUT.. CHURCHILL DISTIN-
CUISINES HIMSELF.
| LONDON, November 17.-5 a. NJ
Misfortune steadfastly pursues British
employment of armored trains, the fas-
cination for which has given the Beers
their first and last victories. On this
last occasion the British seem to have
walked into deliberate trap, with the
result that, according to the best ac-
counts, ninety men are either killed,
wounded or missing. Of these the Fuss
iliers claim fifty and the Durham in
fantry forty. 1t is believed that few
escaped and that the others are pris-
oners in the hands of the Beers. Many
Of the wounded were brought back on
the locomotive and tender of the armor-
ed train. Captain Haldane, OF the Cor
don Highlanders, was attached to the
urit
them. The list of casualties is waited
with great anxiety. In time of trouble
Lieut.. Winston Churchill has proved
himself more a soldier than cores
pondent and his gallantry is highly
praised on all sides.
The rumor of the death of Gen. Jou-
bert is discredited 1t is understood
that the war Office has news that he is
still directing affairs. 1t is also ru-
mored from Pietermaritzburg that the
Boer losses at Ladysmith on Thursday
were heavy and included Gen. Lucas
Meyer, who vas either killed or wound
ed. The report as to Gen. Joubert
probably arose from the fact that his
wife has left the Boer camp at Lady
smith fer the Free State.
DSTCOURT. Natal Wednesday, No
vember 15.-An armored train having
on board half company CT the Durham
volunteers and half company OF the
Dublin fusiliers, steamed to Chievely
early this morning. On its return II
was shelled by the artillery or the
Beers, placed in four positions. Two
cars in front of the engine left the
rails toppling over. While the train
was thus helpless, the Durbans and
Dublins faced the Beers in skirmishlng
order and the Beers poured shot and
shell into the crippled train. The de-
rallied cars were with great difficulty
removed and the line was cleared,
when the engine and tender steamed
back.
During this juncture Lieut.. Winston
Churchill Of the Fourth Hussars, and
son of the late Lord Randolph
Churchill displayed much courage, as
also did the driver and fireman. 1t is
feared the Dublins and Durbans Jared
badly.
A Red Cross party has gone out.
ESTCOURT, Thursday, November is,
10 a. ma missionary, native but
reliable man, who arrived here yester-
day from Ladysmith, reports that big
fight took place these on Friday, No
vember 10. He says that volunteers
went out in the early morning and
drew the enemy from their positions
onto a fiat, where the regular troops,
under Sir George White, out-manoeu-
vred them by out-fanking the Beers,
administering crushing defeat and in
f1icting great loss.
More than 200 Kaffirs, the mission
airy says, were employed by the Beers
to bury their dead, and the two trains
each drawn by two engines, carried
away the wounded
ESTCOURT, Natal, November 10,
$50 .. NAT o'clock this evening
the Red Cross train returned. DR..
Bristoe reported that, on meeting the
Boer patrol, he was halted and asked
what he wanted. He replied that he had
ccme with the train to remove the
killed and wounded. The Beers told
him to make his request in writing, and
Dr. Bristoe complied
After waiting for two hours, another
Boer came and informed Dr. Bristoe
that, as General Joubert was very far
away, no answer to the request could
be furnished until tomorrow morning.
The Beer said that, if DR.. Bristoe would
then return with white flag, he could
count upon a reply from Gen. Joubert.
Dr. Bristoe inquired whether there
were many wounded. The Boer replied
that he had heard there were about
seven He declined to give any infor-
nation regarding Lieut. Winslow
Churchill. 1t has rained all day and is