Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-11-16
BOERs SHELL ARMoRED TRAIN.
Feared Dubiins and Durbans Have Fared
Badly.

Badly.
Estcourt. Natal, Nov. 15.-An al
mored train carrying half a compan V
| of Durham volunteers and half COM
pany of Dublin fusiiiars. steamed to
the Chevelv early this morning and
| on its return was shelled by the Beers.
Two cars in front OF the engine left
the tracks. The Durbans and Dublins
faced the Beers in sBirmishing order.
7 he Beers poured shot and shell into
the crippled train. 1t is feared the
Dublins and Durbans fared badly.
Estcourt. Natal, Nov. 10.-An al =
mored train returned from a trip to
Colenso. No Beers were seen. 1t
p;cked mp n native runner at Frere,
who said that Ladysmith was bonn
barded Nov. 9 by six 4O-pounders.
The British big naval guns were
silent and little damage was done by
the bonn bardment
Estcourt. Natal, Nov. 12.-Guns
were heard in the direction of Lady
smith early this morning.
Estcourt, Natal, Nov. 13.-The
bonn bardment of Ladysmith has been
resumed. Heavy firing was heard this
morning.
E-lcOuFI. NdldI, NON- IO htuDTs
reports Whites cavalry had an en-
gagement with the Beers at Bester's
station, with result unknown.
Durham, Natal, Nov. ia corre-
spondent in Zululan reports that
many Beers who fought at Dundee are
now quietly blowing; that nothing
will induce them to return to the bat
tleheld.
London-A Durham special of Nov.
13 says a member of the Natal field
force who succeeded in traversing the
Boer lines with Ladysmith dispatches
arrived at Pietermaritzburg. and re-
ports a determined attack made by
the Beers on the British garrison
which met the advance with such
a heavy, we'll directed fire that the
Beers were driven off, leaving many
dead.
London, Nov. 16.-A PietermaritZ-
burg special says an armored train
engaged in accommodating was at
tackled by Beers. One British soldier
was killed and Is wounded.
London, Nov. l6.-Ihe most interest
ing-and, in fact, the only-news of
the war now comes from the western
frontier, the accounts of Col Baden
Powells brilliant exploits at Mafeking
forming quite lively and encouraging
reading. Both at Mafeking and KIM
berley conditions seem altogether IA
vorable. So far as Natal is concerned
the Britisher must possess his soul in
patience and trust to General Butler.
Related dispatches from Ladysmith.
dated Nov. 4. tell of Il languid lombard
and that the Beers have ditched to
within 1.5000 yards of the British posi-
tion and are keeping up Il rifle fire.
The statement that the Beers are en-
trenched SO closely to LadySmith Is
held in some quarters to indicate that
they are running short of ammunition
for cannon. All General Buffers ar
rangements for the advance from Dur
ban it is rumOred are practically COM
pleted, and news of il may be eX-
pected in 4 few days.
Baden Powelrs Stand at MafekinG.
\ dispatch to The Daily Mail from
MafekinG. sent by way of Magalapye
because the runners sent southwark
were unable to traverse the Boer lines.
gives an interesting account of the
fighting during the last week in Oc
tober. The correspondent says: Aft
er the failure to rush the town, Cen
eral Cronje had recourse to the tactics
employed during the siege of Potchef-
stroom in 1881. making an advance TO
the town by a succession of trenches
in echelon. Such a move had been
anticipated by us for some time and
for that reason there had been sent out
parties TO worry the Beers incessant-
IL by night attacks. These tactics
the enemy disliked. but he cOntented
himself with a daily shell fire which
exposed him to little personal risk.
Bayonet Charge In the Dark.
Then Colonel Baden-Powell played
his trump card by sending out FitZ-
clarence'S party TO worry the occu-
pants OF the trenches The little force
hardly 100 in all-Stoie out silently
in the darkness. No shot was fired