River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-11-23
LIEUT. CHURCHILL ALIVE.
Was Merely Wounded and Is Pris-
oner at Pretoria-sfory of the
Battle at Ladysmith.

London, Nov. 20.--The first definite
news regarding the fate Of Winston
Churchill was conveyed to his mother
Sunday evening by q representative Of
the press. Lady Randolph had Just
returned from quiet dinner with few
friends when the gratifying intelli-
gence that her son is living was con-
veyed TO her. The fact that his wound
is not necessarily dangerous and that
he is alive in Pretoria caused her the
greatest qualification, as she had been
hitherto without the least intimation
Of his whereabouts.
London, Nov. 20.-Saturday morning
the Beers attempted to rush Esteourt
from the northwest, but a shot from
naval gun and several long range vol
Ieys fired by the Dublin fusileers, how.
ever, caused them to retire hurriedly
and withdraw their guns from the sur
rounding ridges.
Durham. Natal, Nov. 20.-The Times,
of Natal, publishes the following, dated
Wednesday. November IS, from its spe-
cial CORES poudent at Ladysmith:
1.-THE enemy made a determined attack
on Thursday November g. Apparently all
the Boer forces participated Their artil-
lery opened at four a. m, pouring in shells
thick and fast upon the British positions
although with no great effect They
adopted the unusual tactics OF advancing
under cover of their guns TO positions on
the ridges and kopies adjacent TO hose &C.
cupied by the British troops, on the left
of our camp Continuing their advance.
the Beers crept up. using every availa BILE
Of la "a fff.trf Wit n u
steady. warm and accurate fire. which beat
back the enemy, Notwithstanding a dis
play of tenacity of purpose equal to their
desperate stands on previous occasions
The Boer attack was most elaborate on all
sides OF the town. The main attack how
ever. was made between the Free State
and Newcastle railway lines by a column
composed chiefly of johannesburg volun-
teers. brigade of Kings royal rifles
corps made a splendid defense The Beers
were repulsed, but soon rallied and re-
turned to he attack Again the British fire,
which was very hot, forced them to retire.
They had made a deep trench in front OF
the British lines, and, while Withdrawing
FOR their horses, they left this unguarded,
whereupon the Kings rifles, advancing at
double quick, occupied the trench.
This smart movement was not seen by
the enemy, who soon returned with the
horses. Carefully reserving their fire, the
Kings rifles allowed the Beers TO advance
almost TO the edge of the trench, and then
poured volley after volley into the astound-
ed Beers, who turned and fed. from an
awful hall of bullets. boiling across the
open. where the artillery of the British
poured in a terrible and effective she'll fire.
The enemy lost heavily.
Meanwhile. another section of the
Beers had brought a mortar into action,
firing heavy shells. Our guns, conccntrat-
ing upon ii. soon silenced this weapon, tho
pupr1VfG artfllarVrpQn TepiDg bcQdlOwp
The Beers then advanced in force, with a
view Of repairing the mortar, but our ar
tiilery shelled and scattered them right
and left The fighting was all over at
IL o'clock.
Promptly al noon General White or
dered a salute of p guns in honor of the
birthday of the prince of Wales. AS the
cannon doomed, cheer after cheer rang out
from the troops and a scene of enthusiasm
probably without parallel in history fol-
lowed.
AT Caesars camp. which protects the
town on the southwest, the Manchester
regiment held the position. Descending
under cover of the British guns for some
distance on the further side of the hill, they
detected several hundred Beers hiding in
the ditch, out Of the way of the British
shells. They poured volley after volley
into the enemy, scattering them and in
fiicting heavy loss.
THE Beers were driven back at every
point, with a loss estimated at SEQ men.
Nothing important occurred until Tues
day, November IA. when a strong force,
chiefly cavalry and artillery, reconnoiter-
ing. came upon the enemy near the CGenso
road, and drove them back to their main
positions. Our shell fire was most ef-
fective, and is believed to have inflicted
considerable damage. Our own loss was
one man.
THAT same day a Boer shell killed a
I a. a H.
was sleeping in his tent. All our men are
fit. well and in good spirits. 1t is reported
that the lyddite is terrifying the Beers, who
have to be driven to their gun positions by
revolvers pointed at their heads Lady
the other hand, it is reported that dyson
terry is working havoc in the enemy s
camp"