The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-18
ESTCOURT MENACED.
1000 Beers, with Cannon, i'm Position
Near EnnerdaIe.


LONDON, Nov. 17.-Advices from Natal
received here to-day indicate that the Beers
are menacing Estcourt. dispatch from
that place. dated noon to-day, says: THE
Elmelo Boer force has taken up a position
near Ennerdale, few miles north of here.
They have eight seven-pounders and two
French guns. Their strength is two thou
sand men. They have looted Henderson's
store. All Is quiet here and ready for the
enemy If II attacks. There Is no anxiety"
a dispatch from Lorenzo Marques says:
"a Pretoria newspaper announced last
Wednesday that four thousand burghers
had left General Jouberts force around
Ladysmith to join Commandant Botha's
force near Estcourt with a view of assist
ing TO intercept the British advance TO the
relief OF Ladysmith. General Lucas Meyer,
the Free State commander, has asserted in
the course of an interview that he is con-
vinced that the battle of Elandslaagte will
be the first and last Boer defeat of the year.
Secret service agents are continually ar
irving here from the Transvaal. A member
OF the Orange Free State Legislature ar
rived last night from Pretoria. 1t is be-
lieved he is proceeding to Cape Town on
mission. the object of which is unknown"
The serious and unexpected disaster to the
Estcourt armored train, the eve of the
forward movement for the relief of Lady
smith. has apparently convinced the British
that the advance will be contested step by
step. The Beers are seemingly swarming
south Of Colenso While large force has
come from the neighborhood of Ladysmith,
a much larger force has arrived from else
where and viii probable turn out to b
General Schalkburger's corps. The Beers
evidently are straining every nerve and
bringing up every man to reduce Ladysmith
before the British relief force is ready.
Their operations southwark show consider
able boldness and correctness of strategy.
If their aim is TO isolate Estcourt by cut
ting off communication with the Mooi river,
where there is an important railroad bridge.
everything points TO the belief that the Of
ficer commanding the relieving column will
have more difficult task than is generally
assumed. In front he will have a broad
river to cross, In the presence of the Beers;
on his right, and probably in his rear, will
be hostile bodies, who are continually DEM
onstrating their superior cunning.
The official account OF the disaster to the
Estcourt armored train, showing that a
hundred missing men now probably al
ready on their way to Pretoria to swell the
there. besides a score of wounded, demon
strates. 1t is claimed. that the British must
| have encountered big odds, as all accounts
agree that the small British force fought
| with the utmost bravery. Winston Church.
| MS brilliant action is compared with the
gallantry in the Tirah campaign, which won
Lord Fincastle. there also acting as a news
paper correspondent. the Victoria cross.
Nf E-ofo alr Ixr
forwarded a dispatch to the general man
| ager of the railroad expressing admiration
for the coolness and pluck of young Church.
| i'll. to whose efforts they attribute the saw
ing Of the engine and tender and wounded.
and asking the manager to convey their
admirauon for the brave men.
| There are rumors of another disaster to
an Estcourt train. and It is reported that
| twenty-five volunteers who formed the es-
cort are missing. There is no confirmation
| Of these reports.
When definite news from Ladysmith is
available it will doubtless be found that
the garrison has been having lively time.
/ Nevertheless, not much credence should be
| paid to the stories of trainloads of Boer
| wounded taken toward Pretoria as the re-
suit of a crushing defeat sustained at the
| hands of the British. Experience has shown
that these Kaffirgrams, even though en-
| anating from missionaries, are not trust
worthy. However, there seems no doubt
| that there have been some sharp affairs
Heavy rifle firing, followed by an explo-
| sion. was heard in the direction of Lady
smith before daylight Thursday, indicating
a night surprise and possibly the explo-
| sion of a magazine.
dispatch from Durham says that another
armored train has been sent to Estcourt
| to replace the one disabled by the Beers
| Wednesday.
A dispatch from Pretoria gives an official
| announcement of the gold output for Oc-
tober as total of 17,A6 ounces. against
| 426.556 ounces in September and 4s2, los ounces
in August. The dispatch adds somewhat
| ironically. that some of the companies have
not worked the full month.
The Standard and Diggers News an
| nounces that six thousand Beers are march
ing through Zululand. 1t also says that
a deserter from Ladysmith reports great
anxiety among the troops to escape, and
that the provision stores are loaded on
] wagons, ready for the flight of the British