Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-22
Cover of Little Avail,

tableland the dead lay thickest, this being
the main spot where the attack had been
checked, but the white flag was already
there, and strings of coolies were digging
the trench which too often is the soldiers
resting place.
I'VE rode back to the Boer position-the
little kopje upon which Colonel Schiel and
mis- tWenty-three men had made their last
stand. The bodies of the fifteen that had
fallen of this little band were grouped as
death had taken them. Some lay with
heads sunken upon their rif1e-stocks. fight
ing to the end Another had placed his
hat upon prominent stone five yards
away, and had died with his fingers press
ing charge into his magazine.
There remained no doubt that our shell
fire had played upon the position with full
effect, and one could only marvel that the
Beers had stood to their guns so long The
slaughter among the horses must have
been almost as heavy as that of the men,"
Winston ChurchiIrs Capture.
Bennett Burleigh the Daily Telegraph's
war correspondent, supplies full account
of the annihila ton of the armored train
contingent at Chievely, when Winston
Churchill was captured Capt. Haldane of
the Gordon Highlanders who commanded
the party, rallied his men, and, amid a hail
OF bullets from the Beers, began to clear
the line. while others We're pouring deadly
vo!leys into the almost unseen Beers, hid
den behind the rocks, about / 900 yards off
The blueiackets, bravely commanded by
their petty otficer-who was the incarnation
of coolness-got their 7-pounder into action
They sent in two. If not three, well-aimed
shells at the Beers: but just then a shot
from the cnemy's 3-pounder or field gun
hit the small naval 7-pounder, knocked
gun and carriage onto the veldt and
wounded several Of the seamen."
The Pail Mall Gazette's correspondent de-
scribeS Winston ChurchilPs conduct on this
occasion, as follows:
"A party of volunteers. consisting prin-
cipally of plate layers, &c, led by Winston
Churchill, who behaved throughout with
most heroic courage, succeeded in replacing
the rails. Mr. Churchill had previously as
sisted in carrying in no less than twenty
men under terrible fire Some idea of the
accuracy of the enemy's fire and of Mr.
Churchills courage may be obtained by mar
rating the fact that "a Boer shell burst in
front of Mr.. Churchilrs face, killing two
men on eaeh side of him. Our wounded
were now dotting the veldt on each side.
The continued rife fire and the weird sound
OF the GuIck-frers added to the horrors of
the situation. AT last the line was clear,
and the engine with one carriage of the
armored train, was enabled to return to
Frere. leaving Capt Haldane's party fiercelv
engaged. The Beers gave it passing salvo
of shells: hitting the tender. and nearly de-
railing the train second time
Strict Guard Mt EsquimauIt.
A dispatch from Victoria, B. c.. yesterday
says: Whether or not there was an at
tempt to blow up the cruiser Leander as
reported a few nights ago, the Esquimault
authorities have become more strict. Where
there was one officer in charge of the dock
yard at night, there are now two, and
twelve additional marine sentries patrol the
naval yard.
Visitors are refused admission, and the
big gun commanding the port is now man.
ned by crew of gunnars night and day.
The officers disclaim all knowledge of the
reported plot against the Leander.