The record-union., 1899-11-07

ESTCOURT (Natal), Saturday, Nov.
just arrived from Ladysmith, passing
the Boer lines during the night, who
reports that heavy fighting occurred on
Thursday around Ladysmith. The heat
of the engagement was on George Tat
hams farm, on the Orange Free State
side of Besters. The British drove the
Beers back to their camp. The enemy
suffered great loss. and thirty mounted
Beers were captured.
The fighting was resumed yesterday
friday the Beers firing from Nosd-
wathshana hill, near Hepworth's farm.
Again they were driven back, with loss.
on their camp.
under John Vessels, has taken up a
position on the left of Beacon, locat-
ing on the Woodhouse, Picciones and
Langvaracht farms facing Besters and
a small commando is now encamped on
the south side of Pieters Station, COM
manding the railway.
of the railway near Peters Station,
and have burned the wooden portions
No damage had yet been done at
Colenso. The houses, stores, railway
and iron bridges remain intact.
The messenger says he heard that the
Beers would be in Colenso to-day, and
that the volunteers were leaving.
Much regret is felt at the unnecessary
alarm being created at Maritzburg.
when there is no need for it. The Ma
tai naval corps, with guns, will return
to Maritzburg to-day to reassure the
inhabitants.
BOER LOSS FIGURED AT EIGHT
HUNDRED.
ESTCOURT (NataD, Saturday, Nov.
4 a p. m.)-It is reported that the
Beers lost 800 in killed and wounded
and captured in Thursdays battle at
Tatham's farm near Ladysmith.
Colenso is now in the hands of the
Beers. Before the evacuation was de-
cided upon the enemy tried to cut off
our outposts. The Durham Light In
fantry, under Lieutenant Molineaux,
and a force of Dublin Fusileers, were
sent to the relief of the outposts, and a
brisk fight ensued. The Beers were
repulsed, leaving twelve dead Twenty
Boer horses were killed and the others
stampeded
The chief motive for the withdrawal.
however, was that the long range OF
the Beers had made the position unten-
able. No orders were received for re-
tirment
While retirement was in progress the
Natal volunteers at Fort WIGHT had
difficulty in getting away their nine
FOUNDER in the dark They were adj
vised to spike the gun, but were ex-
ceedingly unwilling to do this, resolv-
ing to make determined effort to take
ming the gun on its carriage down a
hill, the ropes broke and gun and car
riage rushed on, the latter being
smashed at the bottom of the incline.
Nothing daunted, the plucky fellows
undertook to carry the weapon itself,
which had not been damaged, and they
got it here safely.
The Beers shelled Colenso camp at
dawn yesterday, being apparently I'M
aware Of the evacuation. They loot
ed the stores. but did not harm the
bridges. saying that they would want
the railway themselves.
The women. and children here are
crowding the trains bound for Pieter-
maritzburg and Durham.
BOERS FIRE A DYNAMITE MAGA-
ZINE.
LONDON, Nov. THE Daily Mail''
publishes the following dispatch from
Kimberly, dated Wednesday, by way of
Popetown, Saturday. November 4th:
This morning the Beers fred the
veldt near Bronfield, seven miles from
Kimberly, and this afternoon the flames
set on fire the smaller of the two mag
azines. exploding the dynamite with a
terrific report. Fortunately no one was
injured. The veldt is still burning,
and it is feared that the larger maya
zine, where there are 1000 cases of
dynamite. will be ignited
BRITISH WIN BOTH BATTLES.
PIETERMARITzBUR {NataD, sat
urday afternoon, Nov. THE General
commanding the line of communication
with Maritzburg has arrived with his
staff at Estcourt. Telegraphic COM
municaticn north of Estcourt is entirely
stopped.
The natives report that the Beers re-
ceived a crushing blow at Ladysmith
Thursday. This is not officially con-
firmed, but it is generally believed.
Later evening The British forces at
Ladysmith, 1t now appears, were en-
gagged twice successfully on Thursday
and on Friday. 1t is reported cavalry
scored heavily, and that the infantry
did great execution with bayonets. the
Gordon Highlanders carrying the prfn-
cipal Boer position at the point Of the
bayonet. The Beers lost heavily III
killed and wounded. and a number SUR
rendered
Violated the Na1uIon. Law.
CHICO. Nov. 6. For some time 4
great deal ~ fl16~af - 1x,4nv Goj.svter ~ :