davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31

were pushed back several miles. When
it is considered that the censorship is
very severe, the only conclusion that can
be arrived at is that the action was ex-
tremely inconclusive. The fighting began
with a frontal attack on the main Boer
position, which, however, was found
evacuated. The enemy having retired,
now made a change of front and de
veloped heavy attack on Colonel Grim
woods brigade.
which had been shelling the evacuated
position, also changed front.
Grimwood's brigade was promptly REIN
forced, but soon was obliged to fall back
rapidly, with consequences which might
have been serious had not the Fifty-third
fed battery pluckily covered the move
ment at considerable loss to itself.
1t is quite certain that General White
failed to accomplish the object he in
tended. and the days proceedings are an
instructive example of the difficulty of
operations when the enemy holds an ex-
tended position by which he is able to
make sudden and unexpected develop
ments and changes of front
Sir Redvers Butler cannot arrive at the
scene of the fighting until the end of this
week. In the meantime General White
will need all his resources to prevent the
Beers around Ladysmith linking their
forces.
The omission of all details likely to give
true idea of the position from General
Whites dispatch may be due to his
cials is likely to be again severely COM
mented uDOn
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31
oHoHoHoRoRoRoRoRoMo NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

The British artillery quickly
reduced the volume of the en-
emy's fire, but the attack deliv-
cred on the right flank was the
principal one, and the column
was compelled to charge. The
Boer attack had been silenced for
a time, and the British infantry
advanced, covered by cavalry.
The enemy now began to develop
heavy counter attack, and as
they were in great numerical SUI
periority General White gave or
ders for the infantry to be gradu-
ally withdrawn. The movement
was carried out with great steadi-
ness and deliberation, under cover
OF the British guns, which made
excellent practice.
Some shells were thrown into
the town from the Beers forty
Founders at range of over 5000
yards, but no damage was done.
The engagement lasted several
hours, and resulted, on the Brit
ish side, in casualties estimated at
from 80 to 100. The Boer losses
must largely have exceeded this
total.
The attack was admirably de-
livered by the British right, and
Beers were fairly driven out OF
one of their strongholds near
Lombardskop. 1t was not DOS
sible, however, to push the sue
cess much further, as beyond that
point lay long, big ridge, afford
ing every kind of natural cover.
OF this the enemy took the fullest
advantage. The British shells
failed to dislodge the Beers, and
as the infantry moved forward in
extended order they came under
a heavy and we'll directed rifle
fire, the result of which was soon
apparent.
General White, who was with
the center, seeing that the troops
on the right were somewhat
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31

The losses on the Boer side we're
considerable"
LADYSMITH, Oct. 3o.-Fir-
ing commenced at 5 o'clock this
morning, the Beers shelling
Ladysmith with forty-pounders.
An advance OF the British
forces was made at dawn, with
the object of shelling the Beers
from the position where yester-
day they had mounted a number
of guns. On reaching the spot,
however, it was found that they
had evacuated the position.
The British continued to ad-
vance, and the movement devel-
oped into a reconnaissance in
force. The enemy were posted
on a range Of hills having a 'front.'
age of about sixteen miles. The
British force was disposed in the
following order: On the right,
three regiments of cavalry, iour
batteries of the Royal Field Ar
tillery and five battalions of infan-
try; in the center, three batteries
of the Royal Field Artillery, two
regiments of cavalry and four in
fantry battalions; on the left, the
Royal Irish Fusileers, the Glou-
cestershire regiment and the
Tenth Mountain Battery. This
force had been detailed to guard
the English left flank at a late
hour last night. General Whites
plan Of operations was that as the
movement developed the force
constituting the center, which
was disposed under cover of a
kopje about three miles from the
town, should throw itself upon
the enemy, while the left flank
was being held by the Fusileers
and the Gloucesters. The scheme
was we'll devised but failed in ex-
ecution, owing to the fact that
the Boer position which formed
the British objective had been
evacuated.
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31

tillery-feld, quick firing and siege guns
Immediately opened a heavy fire all
around showing their knowledge of war
by aiming at the guns and wagons as
they retired. Little damage was done,
however, and our operations were quite
unfurried.
"At the end Of the action a bearer COM
pany advanced under a Red Cross flag
to seek the wounded and was fired upon
by the Beers, apparently through mis-
apprehension or because Of want of dis
cipline since the fire soon ceased. In the
meantime the native bearers continued
their advance, their cool bravery being
most praiseworthy. All the troops retired
in safety and pickets were left on the
field"
Except a vague reference in the Stand
ard, none of the special dispatches make
mention of the missing battalions, state
ments regarding them evidently having
been censored.
Ladysmith says:
THE action seemed to be proceeding
most satisfactorily when, at 7:15 a. M, the
enemy in large numbers, with field guns,
Maxims and 37-millimeter guns, began to
develop heavy attack on Colonel Grim
woods infantry. The cavalry brigade
had moved 9lp on our right holding the
parallel ridge over against Colonel Grim
woods position and practically acting as
infantry. In the meantime our batteries
kept down the siege gun fire upon Lady
smith with shrapnel. At 8 o'clock there
seemed to be a lull as our reserves moved
up, but suddenly the engagement re-
opened as the enemy on our right brought
further artillery to bear. Colonel Grim
wood, who, with the three advance bat
talions, had held the ridge for five hours,
suddenly fell back across the open upon
our guns.
THE Fffty-third Battery pluckily
pushed forward to cover this withdrawal.
Several casualties occurred at this phase.
The Fifty-third Battery held on against
cross-fre of rifles and quick-firing guns
until the infantry was clear. The teams
of the two guns were damaged and the
battery eventually retired, made-up teams
being sent to extricate the guns. The
cavalry, remaining unsupported, were
forced to fall back also.
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31
WHITES TROOPS YET IN
SERIOUS PREDICAMENT T

LONDON, Oct 31.-The engagement
yesterday at Ladysmith, which, despite
the rather heavy losses, must be regarded
rather as an extended reconnaissance or
skirmish than a battle, seems to make
little change in the actual position. 1t is
disappointing to the British public, as
again revealing tactical skill of an un-
expectedly high order on the side of the
Beers In addition to the possession of a
number of heavy guns, the transport of
which causes wonderment here, they
have available marvellous ability. Unless
commanded by skillful European officers.
it is hardly considered probable that Boer
farmers would have assumed feigned
position, as they evidently did. in front
of the right column, with the intention of
retreating from it to their real line of de-
fense and of inducing the British to at
tack over a fire-swept zone
The special dispatches describing the
engagement again fail to confirm General
Whites official account that the Boers
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31

pressed, sent to their assistance
the whole center column with the
exception of the Devonshire regi-
ment.
The battle had then lasted four
hours, during which the artillery
fire on both sides had been almost
incessant. The Naval Brigade,
which landed at Durham, had ar
rived on the scene toward the end
of the fight, and they Immediately
brought their heavy guns into
play. Their practice was magnif-
cent. At the fourth shot the en-
emy's forty-pounders had been
knocked out of action.
The town is now freed from
apprehension of bombardment.
Throughout the engagement the
Beers held their ground with
courage and tenacity, and, con-
sidering the intensity of the Brit
ish artillery fire, they must have
suffered severely.
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31

"Then began a general retirement on
Ladysmith. The guns which had been
covering the Devonshire Regiment stoutly
covered the final withdrawal. The enemy
did not press, but showed themselves in
their position in great numbers, only to
find that the Naval Brigade from the
Powerful had arrived. Two quick-fring
guns were at once placed in position, un-
der cover of a redoubt, and in five rounds
they silenced the enemy's forty-pounder
The troops were back in Ladysmith by 2
o'clock in the afternoon. The casualties
caused by the enemy's artillery We're not
severe. The mountain battery on the left
reported it had suffered through stam-
pede of mules. Our artillery, cavalry,
mounted infantry and volunteer cavalry
behaved splendidly in difficult circum-
stances DIR. Jameson and Sir John Will
loughby arrived to-day and were spec
tators of the action"
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31
WHITES REPORT OF THE
BATTLE WITH THE BOERS
British Commander Of the Troops at Ladysrnith
Practically Admits That He Sustained
Heayy Losses

b Gene ~a "a several hurfn
py a. h hetoopshe the g bf the kI Ient
Ry Fusler aloues t the derm left
move / O'Clock yesery batter mules
stamp # unswhchh however hop t aE have
this afternoon
division
h
ad showen ge n pusheu
enemy ddnots il a bet o
d1oo o lie enemy mus hveee enmuch o g effective
hgunsw hhave etemp E dominate
a been hb
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31
ONDON, Oct. 81. T,
Daily Telegraph has Il

O4NOC-N, w. ) l. IN
Daily Telegraph has the
following account of the
Ladysmith engagement from its
special correspondent at the
front:
An indecisive reconnaissance
occurred to-day. General Sir
George Stewart White advanced
before daybreak with all the
available forces from Ladysmith,
moving toward Tintayon. Two
brigades were under Colonels Ian
Hamilton and Howard, and an
other, with Sir General Archibald
Hunter, went toward Buluwan,
while two regiments, guided by
Major Adye, marched on our ex-
trerne left beyond the old camp.
The Beers were found to be
in great force at all points. Al
though we have seven batteries OF
artillery, their fire failed entirely
to crush that Of the enemy until
our infantry, the Fifth Lancers,
pluckily rode across the enemy S
front and feigned a retreat. This,
however, failed to entice the en-
emy out, the Beers only replying
with a shell fire.
This flank attack so developed
that Colonel Hamilton had to re-
inforce our right with three bat
teries and the Gordon Highland
ers, the Devonshire regiment
and. the Manchester regiment
at intervals. Our artillery then
changed front, and a severe artil-
lery duel ensued, the guns gener-
ously supporting the reinforcing
infantry as they advanced.
Two batteries remained in ac-
ton against the twelve-pounder,
and quick-frers of the naval con
tingent came into action. The
enemy had field pieces, machine
guns and a twelve-pounder, Gen
eral White in the afternoon with
drew his forces upon Ladysmith.
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31
g
BRITISH TROOPS
WERE REPUL SED
Garrison at Mafeking Made an
Unsuccessful Bayonet At
tack on Beers.

T
l Is
of
the
wagon gongt o
border
ley to withs stand
of
of his wounds TuH
of o
have
hadco
had several sir shes on the CrocodH River
0On1les north 0 all
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31
DEADLY FIRE OF
THE B0ER ARTILLERY

LONDON, Oct. 31.-Mr. Stevens, the war
correspondent of the Daily Mail describ-
ing the engagement at Ladysmith, says:
''By 10 o'clock the British had driven
the Beers back several miles, when the
retirement was ordered, which Sir Arch
ibald Hunter conducted with great skill,
retiring battalion by battalion. covering
the movement with the artillery of their
guns by alternate batteries. The Boer ar
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31
BULLER AT TABLE BAY.

LONDON, Oct 31-A dispatch from
Cape Town announces the arrival at
Table Bay Of the Dunottar Castle late
last evening with General Sir Redvers
Butler and his staff, who are expected to
land this morning They will meet with
a tremendous ovation in Cape Town.
1t is reported from Pretoria that 200 of
the British wounded from Dundee have
arrived there and have been furnished ac-
commodation in the state school building.
The San Francisco call., 1899-10-31
Shelling Of Ladysnith Causes the
Combined British Forces Under
General White to Sally Forth
and Attack the Enemy.
Losses Are Heavy on Both Sides, and the British
Are Again Puzzled by the Tactical Skill Of
Jouberts Men--Mules and Guns Fall Into
the Hands Of Beers.
uHononoHomonoHononomt

S O
oft
la 10000
Standad
wounded All
sse tat rest Gene
hill The succeeded
s S n a 0
Morris tribune., 1899-12-02

others. "Oh-oh, the COMPOUNDED idiot!
Well-that chump has lost the-look-
look at him-look at Knight-wow-
good boy-he's got the ball-whoopee-
see him run-by jove, they've downed
him! No, he's up again-good boy,
George-only five yards now-see them
fellows hanging on his back-wow-
Oh, too bad, too bad, they've brought
him down at last. It's all over now!"
and Gilday dropped back breathless
with excitement, just as Mrs. Gilday
exclaimed, Why, that is George"
but a shake of Laura's head halted
her.
Course 1t is" snorted her husband.
land he'd have won the game too. If
WOW, WOW, look at him crawl-look-
whoopee-" Denton had been thrown
within two fee. of the goal line with
dozen men On top of him. He still
retained the ball and now he began
to wriggle out from under the strug-
Cling mass of forms towards the line
so near him, and yet so infinitely dis
tant With painful slowness he draws
nearer and nearer the goal line. The
Morris tribune., 1899-12-02

ly in the contest and her eager eyes in
tently follow his every move; she hard
ly notices the twenty one other strug-
Cling men, so earnestly is she watch
ing her lover.
But five minutes more remain of the
playing. By stubborn fighting Apollo
has brought the ball to Olympia's ten
yard line, and it is now buried in a
scrimmage, following down. Now
the bali is secured by Capt. Sheldon, Of
the Apollo's and he prepares for pass
to knight, who is playing in the dis
abled jennings position at full back.
-Four = three - seven!" Sheldon
quickly passes the ball to Eurly mem
Der of the Apollo's, who in turn snaps
it to knight. But that youth clumsily
fumbles the ball for moment in his
big, beefy hands, and then-drops it,
while the multitude groans in anguish.
Wilson Gilday's. face becomes purple
with rage as he shakes his hat in the
air and mingles his voice with the
Morris tribune., 1899-12-02

They're Off" rings from thirty
thousand threats as the signal is given
and the ball started. With savagery
unparalleled the Apollo men hurl
themselves upon their opponents; back
and forth surge the trained and har-
dened athletes, and then suddenly the
teams are mingled in a writhing mass
of arms and legs. Suddenly, from the
heap Of muscular humanity, like 9
seed from squeezed lemon, springs
out 1.-the form clad in the black and
yellow of the Olympia's. Breaking
through the tackle of an opposing
Apolloian, he tucks the ball more snug
ly under his arm and breaks across the
field towards the Apollo's goal. But
the daring run is of short duration.
He is downed after gain of ten yards
and the ball passes into the possession
of the Apollo men. For fifteen minutes
the battle wages without an apparent
gain for either side. In the stand the
spectators are standing in their seats
and yelling like fends. Mr.. Gilday
is mounted upon his chair, and, hat
in hand, is madly cheering in a man
ner that renders his wife and daughter
dumb with amazement. Laura has
recognized Denton's familiar form ear
Morris tribune., 1899-12-02

| pany him. He was once considered
quite a player himself, I believe, dur
ing his college days."
$50? But you did not answer my
question; are you going?"
well, 1 didn't intend to at first, but
I will now, of course"
''Then ] shall look for you; and by
the way Laura, should your mother
recognize me on the field do not let her
acquaint your father of the fact, If pos
sible''
'<Oh, she won't; she likes you too
well to do or say anything that would
| injure your cause. You know she does
not uphold papa in his designs, she
simply respects his wishes"
During the conversation they had
finished their luncheon, and now Dem
ton arose and said, "And now if you
wish, will walk over to the elevated
station with yau. 1 have much to tell
you on the way over"
Laura hastily collected her belong
ings and the two left the cafe.
Thanksgiving day dawned bright and
clear. The foot ball field and it's vic
unity presents a most grand and awe
inspiring sight as the time draws near
for the commencement of the great
game; the nearest approach we can
make in these modern days to the glad
iatorial combats of glorious old Rome.
The first half had just been finished
without either side scoring, when Will
son Gilday and his family entered the
box and took their seats. Owing to
Laura's efforts, Mr.. Gilday had failed
to secure programme during their
hasty entrance, and just as she was
congratulating herself on her success
thus far, she was startled to see her
father lean over to one of the gentle
men in the adjoining box and request
a glance at the programme the man
held in his hand.
Certainly" politely answered the
man as he passed over the sheet. "But
l understand that"
Thank you, thank you," interrupted
Gilday in his brusque manner, as he
rapidly turned the pages of the pamph-
let, "Ah, here he is, Laura, Knight
right half back that's him,-and, by
George! that is just the position used
to play, and I'll"
Pardon me, sir; but there has :"
The man in the next box touched Gil
day on the arm as he spoke, and was
about to finish his sentence when the
vigilant Laura suddenly pulled her
father back into his seat and called
his attention to the field
The time had arrived for the opening
of the second half, and as the teams
lined up for final struggle with the
ball on Olympia's thirty-yard line,
great swells of cheering roll back and
across the field, increasing like the
waves which tell of a storm coming
from the sea. Grim determination is
imprinted upon the visage OF every
Morris tribune., 1899-12-02
make a fool of myself, eh?"

| make 1901 OF myself, en-!
Mrs Gilday vouchsafed no reply, anC
| her husband arose and looked towards
the group of brawny players who were
| bearing Denton aloft on their shoul
| ders and. surrounded by a shriekine
| mob of wildly enthusiastic admirers
were nearing the boxes. Laura, trem'
bling with trepidation, arose and stood
by her fathers side, anxiously wonder
ing what would be the outcome of this
most dramatic scene. AS the group ap-
proach the box, Gilday leans over and
beckons the men towards him. AS
they bring him nearer, Denton for the
first time perceives the family, and as
he rises up and waves salutation to
Laura, Mr.. Gilday reaches out and
grasps his hand.
Mr.. Denton, l am pleased to meet
you, sir; and-er-we shall be delight
ed to have your company at dinner to-
morrow evening, if possible, If you will
kindly favor" but his utterances are
drowned in the cheers of the crowd
surrounding them, and with final
pressure upon the brawny hand clasp
ing his, he sinks back into his seat;
while the cheering men, bearing their
hero, pass on in their triumphant
march.
Extract from the Morning Clarion's
write-up of the game, on the following
day
"The game throughout, and the Sec
ond half in particular, was marked by
a series of the most daring and brill
liant plays ever seen on the local field,
and the scene at the close of the second
half, when Apollo scored touchdown
Just as the bell rang, will ever be fresh
in the memory Of the thirty thousand
spectators who witnessed it. With but
three minutes to play, and the ball on
Olympia's ten-yard line, Knight, of the
Apollos, fumbled an easy pass, and
for one brief moment it appeared that
the game would end without either side
scoring. But this clumsy tumble of
knights was followed by most bril-
liant play of the entire game. AS the
Ddll uIOppOu IAIOu6A IAO LULA OebSh
hands, it was snatched up by George
Denton, the local man filling Knights
regular position of right half back.
Clasping the ball to his breast he broke
through the opposing tackles, but was
thrown almost on the goal line. Then,
in spite of the crushing weight Of the
men over him, he slowly but surely
worked his way out, and scored the
only point made during the game.
"Mr. Denton (who, by the way, will
take charge of the Clarion city depart
ment next week. is well known in
and athletic circles, and he
may Justly feel proud of the ovation
rendered him at the close of yesterdays !
game"
From the Morning Clarion's society
column a few weeks later:
"Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Gilday an
nounce the engagement of their daugh-
ter, Laura W., to Mr.. George H. Dem !
ton. At home Wednesdays"
Harry ]. Smalley in Up to Date.
Morris tribune., 1899-12-02

cheering has become deafening, and
high above the cries about him, rings
out Wilson Gilday's heavy voice:
Wow WOW! wow!--see that boy
only a foot now, George and minute
to play-damn that referee If he rings
the gong now whoopee-e another
plunge-now- whoop-he's over, he's
over! A touchdown-Ra for knight
there goes the bell--let er ring now.
Rah! rah! rah! Four to nothing
whoopee-e-here they come with him
on their shoulders, we must speak to
him if possible, Laura, when they bring
him around here. By George, isn't he
a handsome, splendidly built fellow!
Just what l imagined him to be. Rah
for Knight"
Il beg your pardon, sir" said the
man in the next box, leaning over and
grasping Gilday by the arm, "but yo-
appear not to be aware of the change
made in the Apollo club shortly before
the game; you see"
Change; what changer" demanded
Gilday impatiently, turning upon hi
adviser.
why, Jennings, their full back, was
disabled in the east, and knight wa
obliged to play the position to-day
while George Denton"
""What?~r
IT say, Denton, a local man, played
Knights position and won the game
That red-headed fellow, who droppe
the ball, was knight"
Mr. Gilday dropped back helplessl!
in the seat and looked at his daughte.
who had been demurely listening to the
disclosure.
did you know this ? Is this your
Denton?"
Eyes, papa" softly answered Laura
to both questions.
Mr.. Gilday turned to his adviser, but
the man had left the box. Then he
turned slowly about and faced his wife.
"And you, did you know this?"
why, I-er--yes, I recognized Mr..
Denton, but"
"But you remained silent and let me