The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-20
|B0ERS SUFFER SEVERE REVERSES.
Rumors of Appalling Loss of Life Before Maeking Through
the Explosion of Hidden Mine

LONDON. Oct e-The Daily News
Cape Town correspondent says:
II Is rumored tha, news has reached
Dsax junction that the Beers attacked
Mafek;ng IN force. but were repulsed.
The defenders, seeing the enemy retreat
ing. pursued them FOR some distance.
Then q feint was made and they COM
,nenced to retire on the town, allowing
themselves TO be driven in by the Beers.
who. eager TO retrieve their position. again
advanced TO the attack. and were drawn
over Iyddi,e mines laid for the defense
OF the town. 1t is rumored that $50
Beers were killed by the explosions.
Boer wounded Arrive.
The Daily Mails Cape Town correspond
ent says that refugee who has reached
Grahamstown from the Rand states that
a train arrived at Johannesburg on Mon
day from klerksdorp with 800 wounded
burghers. Every availsble conveyance.
the refugee says. was called into requisi-
tion to take the wounded men to the hos
pital
The Daily Mail suggests that these
wounded were from Mafeking.
Eager to Get News.
Yesterday was one Of the most exciting
days known at the war office since the
crowd attended there to learn the result
OF the relief expedition to Gordon at
Khartoum. The news that the Fifth
lancers had been engaged brought many
ladies and other friends of the regiment
to inquire for news. The gravest intelii-
geRce today seems to be me report OF the
capture OF train with officers at Elands-
laag, because IL was understood that the
whole cross country line was regularly
patroled.
AS no correspondents are allowed At
the front. 1t is impossible to gain definite
information. though 1t Is known that
SIR George Stewart White has been max
ing some extensive movements OF the
troops in that neighborhood and develop
ments are hourly expected.
1t is rumored that Commandant Gen.
Joubsrt's northern column. with twelve
guns. Is now at Dannhauser.
White Will Remain ON Defensive.
Although the Boers have shown consider
able activity In Natal, there Is nothing TO
indicate that they are yet prepared for a
serious combined attack and the gener al
belief here Is that unless something unex-
pected happens Gen. Sir George Stewart
White will maintain the defensive.
Mafeking news is still confined to a repe-
tition OF the stories that Col. Baden Powell
moved down 800 Beers with his Maxims.
The surrender OF Vryburg is not OF great
Importance. but 1t will be regarded tarcugh-
cut Boerdom as splendid triumph over the
British.
Some military critics think 1t not impos-
s!hle that Gen. Sir George Stewart White
may be able to withdraw his forces from
Glencoe and concentrate them at Lady
smith. there TO await developments.
The latest advices received here say that
the Natal carbineers. who were engaged
with the enemy at Resters station. had six
men wounded. An armored train has been
GENT from Ladysmith 10 bring In the wouni-
ed. Several spies have been arrested at
Ladysmith.
Large Contracts for Coal.
The admiralty has made large contracts
for the supply of coal to all British coal
Ing stations on the way 70 the Cape so
that any British squadron will be enabled
10 coal without weakening the present
supply
II is stated that the cruisers Argonaut
Furious, Pactoius and Peerus from the
channel squadron will escort the transports
from Queenstown TO the Cape.
Fighting at Besters station.
The Pietermaritzburg correspondent Of
TIE Daily Mall. In dispatch dated Thurs
day. says:
The brunt Of the lighting a, Besters sta
s1.-
unteer patrols. The lighting was brisk.
The Beers numbered 2ea The volunteers
at cne moment were in great peril. be-
Ing nearly cut off. bu, the officers handed
their men splenii3y. and the Maxins ef-
fectiveiy stepped tie Bocr rlsacs. The
Boer showing was wretched, The vo3un-
teers lost their kits. and altogether the
fight Was a pretty trying one. The men
were In the saddle three days and two
nights with hardly rest. Basuto natives
were lighting with the Beers. II ia re-
ported that sixteen Beers were killed.
Lieut. GaNeuay. WHO ls reported missing,
ls ,Ae eldest son of Sir N. H CalIerny.
chief tIstice c, Natal He is supposed 10
ts.e in hiding. ana searching parties have
bean sent oct % Try 20 Hni bin TIE
cavalry ara s;n h.youacklrg cut, and
slight skirnishes are frequent. I learn
ofYioially that C'oraurzniant Gen Jouh---t
has moved his headquarters 70 Dams
hauSer.
po~r Rev~r.e at spruitfontetu.
GRANGE RIVER Oct. II. s.;e.uoon--
tpeiavea r. tranErnisslon.}-TheB Beers suf-
.sresf reverse on Sunday a Spruitfon'e'n,
ter yr!lex south @. Kimberley. Al aTnor-
e5 train went cut 70 bring IL train re-
ported to have been captured ty the Bo"rs
r~ar the spruiTtontein siding. party of
Fsosrs who were carnpef near by lowered
the railway stgrai an1 displayed white
rax apparently with the .9ea CT ind1cing
ins train - proceed Tire driver suspected
,rst -re Beers wee IL T'csz@essioa and
s.oprea. the tTAiu. waeTeupon the Beers
issued IL large force snA opened Are. tut
wtthcslt eject TIE so.t!sr. replied from
re train ard aeou, dozen Beers were
killed The British we're uuscstasd
Boers BLOW Up . Stasioa.
Seven hur3ee. Boers surprised parry
= thirteen CAPE Cageny posice. who were
r7larssax the railway q; Rtv~rtnn read