The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-23
FIGHT OF GLENCOE.
Latest Account Tells of Beers Bra
very Under Fire.

very OnCGF TiFe.
London, Oct pa correspondent in
Glencoe camp telegraphed on Oct &c
and described the fighting that followed
the first engagement of the Boar at
tack as follows:
1t was after the battle was rem
dered, following the lun that ensued
upon the sharp cannonading of the
British, which silenced the guns of the
Beers on Smiths hill, that Ola casual
ties began. The Indian hospital corps
Coolies, under Major DOnegan Of the
Eighteenth hussars ran out, keeping in
the rear Of the advancing infantry and
artillery, that galIoped from the second
position through the town, amid the
cheers OF the citizens.
cat this point the Beers became err
ratio. The British artillery was firing
on the hill where the Beers were sta
toned in great numbers, but the return
fire was light The enemy kept up an
incessant shooting, but our shrapnel be-
gan to tell its tale, with the result that
the Boer fire visibly slackened. From
a ceaseless rattle, the rifle fire dwiadled
to struggling shots
"a corporal of the Dublin fusileers
was carried past me to the rear on q
stretcher. Major Davidson of the Irish
fusileers was shot through both legs
and Color Sargent Washington of the
Dublin fusileers was brought in wound
ed in the right shoulder.
THE artillery in front was Smelling
the hill, and the Kings royal rifles, on
the front, were busy with the MaXlms
making the Beers anxious about their
position. Their artillery had been ST.
fenced by the splendid service of ours.
"The Eighteenth hussars and
mounted company of the
Dublin fusileers were creeping around
on the enemy's left flank, while another
squadron of the hussars and a mount
| ed company of the Kings royal rifles
deployed to the right flank, at the corn
| fields
"The artillery continued to play on
| Smiths hill with a range of nearly 3OCC
| yards. The Dublin fusileers and the
| Kings royal rifles pressed forward. II
was in the execution of this maneuvre
that the~ casualties to our infantry &C.
| CURED, several men being killed o.
wounded.
| THE firing now eased off on our side
| and only solitary shot was returned
/ now and then. Gen. Symons, taking ad-
| vantage Of the lull, rode forward with
| his staff in front of the guns, laKin2
a place at the rear of the plantation
near the base of the hill. All this time
| our infantry in extended forma ton had
gradually pressed forward attacking
| the Beers from the rear of the artillery
and massing on the extreme left Of the
! hill.
| II saw three shells in quick succession
! cut some to pieces and drive Others
! away. The Boer fire was becoming
| hot; but the first battalion Of the
| Kings royal rifles and the Irish fusl-
leers, led respectively by Col. Cunning
! and Col. Carlton, continued to mount
| the hill. Gradually they extended along
| the ridge, and, at 10 O'Clock, after foul
and a half hours Of artillery firing, t.
screen them, they made the hill, run.
| ming parallel with the ridge, ABOUT 6Ot
yards from the summit.
This position was maintained un
der shooting by Our artillery who placed
| shots at points where the Beers were
| massed with amazing accuracy, com
pelling them to retire. But not for long
On again the determined enemy woult
come only to be beaten back by tn,
| excellent shooting of the Thirteenth
and Sixty-ninth batteries, under Maj
| Dawkins and Mai King.
''At 11.45 a. m. the firing had almos
ceased and our infantry were over tn,
wall in a twinkling and rushing tow
ard the plateau at the base of the tor
or secondary ridge The defence mad
| by the Beers was most determined
the enemy again and again pouring
| long fusilede fire into the British ranks
which was holly returned in well di
! rected volleys by the slowly advancing
! Dublin fusileers and the Kings roya
rifles.
Smiths hill, took refuge in a cattl