The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-23


slaughter must have been great The
Gordon Highlanders say the storming Of
Dargai ridge was mere child's play COM
pared with this attack.
The Boer loss must have been very
heavy. The best estimates place 1t at
certainly over 400 killed. One of the
captured Beers told me IL he had known
British soldiers could shoot as our men
did he would never have come Another
Boer said he knew he was fighting for
lost cauae. Yet third expressed sur
prise that he had to shoot men wearing
khaki. He was terribly detected. He
had been told TO shoot at men with red
coats and white collars, and he saw none.
His impression seemed to be men who
fought against him were not English
men.
Scenes After the Battle.
heavy rain. heavier than 1 have ever
seen, fell Immediately after the battle,
making piteous scene of the battlefield
where many wounded were lying. The
Deyonshire regiment captured three
Boer flags CoGnmandant De Mellon. OF
johannesburg. was taken prisoner. 1t Is
reported that Piet Joubert, who was
wounded and captured. has succumbed TO
his wounds. A bugle boy OF the First
lancers. only II years old. shot three
Beers with q revolver. On turning after
the fight he was carried shoulder high
around the camp.
Everybody testifies to the splendid fight
Ing and stubborn bravery OF the Beers,
but this tribute requires some qualif1ca-
ton. as I have learned today that while
the Gordon Highlanders were bringing
in the wounded last night, sharp fire
was opened upon them by some Boer par
ties in hiding. Our losses, considering
the desperate nature Of the engagement.
are regarded as light.
The Fight at Glencoe.
LONDON, Oct. PA correspondent In
Glencoe camp. telegraphing on October 20.
and describing the fighting that followed
the first engagement in the Boer attack
upon the British position that day, says:
1T was after the battle was renewed.
following the lull that ensued upon the
sharp cannonading Of the British, which
sf.enced the guns of the Beers on Smiths
Hill. that the trouble began. The corps OF
coolies under Maj. Donegan, of the Eight
zenith hussars ran out. keeping in the
rear of the advancing infantry and ar,il-
lcry. that had galoped from the second
position 10 the town. amid the cheers OF
the citizens. At this point the Beers be-
came cratic
Duel of Artillery.
''Our artillery was firing on the hill
where the Beers were stationed In great
numbers. but the return fire did little dam
age. The enemy kept UP az incessant
shooting. but our shrapnel began TO tell its
tale. with the result that the Boer FIRE
visibly slackened. From a ceaseless rattle
the rifle fire dwindled to struggling shots.
"A corporal OF the Dublin fusileers was
carried past me To the rear on streteher
MAJ. Davidson, of the Irish fusleers, was
shot through both legs and Co.or Sergt.
Anderson. of the Dublin fusieers, was
brought In wounded In the right shoulder.
'FInnking the Beers.
THE artillery in front was Smelling the
hill, and the Kings Royal rifles, on the
right front, were busy with the Maxims,
making the Beers anxious about their pc
sition. Their artillery had been siIenced BY
the splendid service OF ours. Meanwhile a
squadron OF the Eighteenth hussars and
mounted company OF Dublin fusleers were
creeping around on the enemys left flank,
while another squadron OF the hussars and
mounted company of the Kings Royal
rifles deployed to the right flank at the
cornfields. The artillery continued TO play
on Smiths hill with n range OF nearly
3,He yards. Under its cover the Dublin
fusileers pressed forward.
Casualties TO English.
1T was IN the action OF this meneuver
that the casualties TO our infantry &C.
CURED. several men being killed or wound
ed, Firing row eased of on our side and
only 4 solitary shot was returned now and
then. Gen. Symons. taking advantage Of
this Iull, rode forward with his staff In
1ff 10 IL,
OF a plantation near the base OF the hill
Ali this time our infantry. In extended for
maticn, had gradually pressed forward,
watching the Beers. from the rear Of ar
til!ery and marching on the extreme left Of
the hill.
Storming Alena Hill.
II saw three shells in quick succession cut
some 10 pieces and drive others away. The
Beer fire was becoming hot but the nrs:
battalion Of the Kings Royal rifles and the
Irish fusiiesrs. led respectively by Col.
Cunning and Col Carlson, continued TO
move on the hill. Gradually they extend
ed along the ridge. and al - o'clock after
four and half hours az artillery firing.
to SCREEN them. they managed Ia reach a
wall running parallel with the ridge ABOUT
go yards fron the summit.
This position was gained under cover os
some magnificent shooting by oar ertil-
ierymen. who placed sheeIs at points where
to Beers wee Uassed with aInazins ac-
-uraCy. compelling them u retire $50,
not fer long ON again the determined
cnesgy w5u.3 come. only n be- beaten back
asain bv the excellent shooting ~ the
Thirteenth ana Slxiy-nirth batteries under
Mag d ik!ns and Mai Kirg
Fusiieers and Rides Advance.
"At = As a, III. the frirg had alzros.
ceased and cur infantry were over TIE
NAL IN A JwtakirE and r7sshe<. towards
;hs plateau 81 :he E4se OF top o. second
ury rtaKe- The defense by the Beers was
s}l - determined. Ikc enemy again Tni
again pouring u long fssllade FIRE into
tae British ranks. which Nss hotiy re-
iar~gi r. wei directed VoseYs ~ tha
slowly a1ysncing asbHn flsLleers and
Kings Boyai rifles a Iares body % Beers,
driven frorn Smiths bill. tsok refuge ~ a
cattle kfasl intending q croes-are Tire
Tairseeny6 Aatt~Tv opened FIRE however.
and poured IN 80 R han o: bullets as
raussi sseu srea.ilT % snifI sAelr pcsl-
ticH.
aocrs' Fine Courage.
.rr"Aeys <er 49, rr&y~s haE sfEuy4vAs -.-