The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-14
commanded the fIishland brigade with
C~n. Methuen's column. He served In
Ashante, Egypt and the Soudnn.


cen. Nethuen's column. He served In
Ashante. Egypt and the soudan.
some 81 the BrAtish Dead.
MoDDER RIVER, Dec. la-'Tne British
casualties Included the Marquis Of Win
cnoster. major Of the second battalion
Coldstream guards. who was killed. and
Col DownhAm. Of the nrst battalion Cor
don Hishlanders, who was MORALLY
wounded. When the highlander met the
snurdercus point blank hrs OF the Beers
about 800 were moved down. The Black
watch regiment. on reforming. was able
10 muster only 100 men. Tho Beers lost
heavily IN the trenches and also In tho
wire ENHANCEMENT when they came into
the open. in an attempt to flank the Brit
tsh.
The terrible British artillery fire provoked
no response except from the Beers rifles
until nearly o'clock In the afternoon,
when the Gordon Highlanders formed to
renew the attack ON the intrenched kopjc.
They advanced with the utmost gailantry
70 attack the Beers, close to the place
where lay their dead and wounded COM
rades Of the Highland brigade.
Impossible to Take the Trenches.
The enemy opened with a heavy shrap-
mel IRE. as the British advanced, and Il was
found physically impossible to take tho
Bosr trenches. The British got within 200
yards but could not get nearer. It was
here that Col. Downham fell.
The Beers had free recourse to barbed
wire entangls ments, which offered great
cretacies evan after the damsce inflicted
by the British artillery nre.
This morning Tuesday. both sides occu-
rsed the positions they held before the bat
tie. The greatest bravery was displayed
by both officers and men. The wounded
Include Lieut.. Col A. b. Codrington and
Capt. Sterling. both OF the first battalion
OF the Coldstream guards.
Boers virtually Invisible.
some thick bushes to the east maintained
most destructive ire on our right With
the remarkable talent for taking cover
which the Boer always displays they were,
generally speaking. virtually invisible. and.
although the enemy's artillery was prac-
ticaliy silenced, his rife fre was 30 per-
sistent and concentrated. as web as usual
" well aimed, that It was absolutely Inn
possible for the British infantry to take
the position by assault.
At the first advance Of the Highianders
the Boer shooting, probably owing to the
darkness. was somewhat high. Otherwise.
the British losses would have been stil
heavier.
Gen. Methuen'a Report.
The war ONCE received the following dts
patch from Gen. Methuen. dated Tuesday,
December -:
"our artillery shelled very strong POI
t-rA L. Invxsx t0h
kopje, from o'clock until dusk Sunday.
1t rained hard last night.
ssThe Highland brigade attacked at day
break on Monday the south end Of the
kopje. The attack was properly timed,
but failed. Guards were ordered to pro-
tect the Highlanders' right and rear. Cav
airy and mounted infantry. with howit-
xer artillery battery. attacked the enemy
on the left and the guards on the right.
supported by field artillery and howitzer
artillery. They shelled the position from
daybreak, and at 1:15 sent the Gordons
to the intrenchments until dusk. the posi-
lions extending. including the kcpje, for
distance of six miles to Modder River. To-.
day I am holding my position and In
trenching myself. / had to face at least
12.0o0 men. Our loss was great"
Positnon Taken Up Nesr Colenso.
LONDON, Dec. ia dispatch from
Freere camp. dated Tuesday morning.
says: "This morning brigade. consist
ing Of English, Scottish. Irish and Welsh
fusiliers. under Gen. Barton. with several
naval guns, advanced and took up a
strong position three miles from Colenso,
meeting with no opposition"
Boer Account of the Fight.
PRETORIA, Dec. 11.--Offcial report
says: The battle at Modder River began
yesterday with cannon firing, heavy fight
ing proceeding from $3.50 in the morning
until $780, with cannon. Maxims and rifles.
The bombardment began at 4:30 o'clock
and the lighting st!,l continues. A bal
loon has just arisen above the British
positions, where 1t remained ten minutes
and descended There were heavy rains
during the night At 0 this morning
dispatch rider brought word that all the
Beers positions have been maintained
and that forty-one British prisoners have
been taken.
At $3.50 it was reported the heavy can
non fire had somewhat abated. The Brit
ish are constantly using their balloon.
Fighting was still going on at noon.
Kimberley is still quiet.
Methuen still Safe.
LONDON, Dec. 13.-Forestier-W Walker.
teiegraphing from Cape Town at $3.50 p. m.
today, sent the following dispatch from
Lord Methuen, dated Modder River. Tues
day, December IL, 1880 p. m.
"As the Beers occupied their trenches
strongly this morning / retired in perfect
order here. where / am In safety, have
gathered from some prisoners and men
who talked with the Beers that the enc
my's losses were terrible, some corps be-