The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-10-20
BAD LUCK FOR BOERS
Persistent Reports ofTheir Cost.
Iy Defeat by Baden.Powe
at Mafeking.
REPULsED WITH VERY HEAVY LOSS,
Two Fights with Armored Trains in
Which They Also Lose.


sistently reported from widely differ
ent sources that large force of Beers
resOlutely attacked Mafeking on Fri
day and after several hours fighting
were repulsed with heavy loss.
London, Oct. 18-The following dis
patch from Cape Town has not yet
been confirmed: '"Three hundred
Beers and eighteen British have been
killed in a battle at Mafeking. Colonel
Baden-POWell made a sortie from Ma
feking in force and attacked the Beers,
who were investing the town. After
fierce fighting the British carried the
day"
London, Oct. 18.-The Morning
Posts Ladysmith correspondent tele-
graphs that the Basutos have risen
against the Free State.
London, Oct. 1S.-A special from
Kimberley yesterday says: can ar
mOred train, while accommodating near
Spyfontefn, engaged the Beers, kill
ing five and wounding seven. The
armOred train approached unmOleSted
until within range. when the Beers
opened fire. The MaXimS were in
stantly set to work and did great eX-
ecution among the burghers. The lat
ter also used artillery, but Ineffective
Iy. The armOred train returned to
Kimberley unframed.
Roers Not Good Artillerists.
The crew of the armOred train say
the Beers fired thirteen shells, but
their aim was Wretched and not q
single shot struck the train, which then
made bold to approach nearer and
opened fire with the Maxims The
burghers replied with heavy rifles,
again shooting wildly. Only three or
four bullets struck the train. Suisse
quently the crew learned that five
Beers and two B0er horses were
killed, while several Beers and horses
were wounded. Not a member of the
British force was so much as touched.
Heavy Fighting Near Mafeking.
London, Oct. 1S.-A special dispatch
from Pretoria, dated Oct. IA, by way
of DelagOa bay, says: "A cyclist dis
patch was received from Ottoshoep,
near Malmani, at o'clock yesterday
morning, asserting that heavy fighting
had been in progress all day long
north Of NIafeking. The British
troops on board an armored train acted
as a covering force to military engi-
neers engaged in repairing the track.
A Maxim Oh the train kept up a con-
tinuOuS fire.
Train Once Forced to Retreat.
'COnspicuOus bravery was displayed
on both sides, but it soon became ap-
parent that the rifles of the burghers
were ineffective against an armored
train. The latter, however, was once
forced to retreat before a particularly
strong assault, but soon returned, &C
cOmpanied by a British mounted con-
tingent and the fighting was renewed
fiercely. Fighting still continues, the
Beers holding their positions we'll A
dozen Beers were killed or wounded,
but the British casualties cannot be
aScertained.
Fight Expected Near Ladysmith.
Heavy firing can be heard soC Il
of Mafeking, where General CrOnje's
command is operating. a corps of eX-
Derienced continental engineers, former
officers, has left Pretoria for the
southwestern borders, escorted by
command of picked Boer shots. 1t is
probably intended for large dynamit-
ing operations. A big engagement is
expected shortly in the vicinity of
LadySmith. The forces of Command
ant Piet Vys are encamped on a noun
tain overlooking Dundee, from which
point they will be able to observe the
movements of the British troops"