The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
BURFING THE BRITISH DEAD.
Boers Render Assistance on the Battlefield
at Mage rsfontein.
Sp,4a' cabi, Dt,pattAt, 10 rHr sr,

Spscia, Cable Ds,pditht' 10 The suS.
MoDDER RIVER Dec is Delayed in trans
missionL-Nutual arrangements were made
by the British and Boer commanders by which
the British dead were TO be buried on wednes-
day and Thursday. The Beers stipulated,
however. that only a clergyman OF the Re
formed Church should oficiato and that tho
British should not come within 600 yards OF
their lines.
Mr.. Robertson. the Presbyterian chaplain OF
one OF the Highland regiments. who had pre-
vlously been OF great help. was selected TO con-
duct tho burial services. He took twenty enRi-
neers with him and started for the scene OF the
battle OF Magersfonteln. The eng ineers who
acted as litter bearers. were blindioded when
they reached the Beer outposts
Gen. Cron!e. the Boer Comm an dant. sent
message rcgrettina that he could not come
personally to receive the burial party. but he
said that other Affairs engaged his attention at
the time. He sent Commandment vermaas. In
telligenco Oricer Draper and Field Cornet
Wills to assist Mr.. Robertson in locating the
dead. Att-rward Colonial Doctor Grogan
joined them and found he knew many OF the
dead.
A few Of the Beers cast fanatic glares at tho
party but the majority OF them cooperated
with the English IN tho kind!est manner
They said they would have given full details
regarding the English dead. wounded and
prisoners II the British had furnished them
similar Information. The English officials had
already prepared these details and had them
really.
Chaplain Robertson buried thIrty-two on
Wednesday and seventy on Thursday
The Beers declared that their casualties at
MaRersion elm were 2S2 and that they had
only G3 killed. This must be mistake. as the
British buried ~ Beers. and during tho first
search Of the British on Tuesday many Boer
corpses were seen under the bushes. These
had been remove! on Thursday when the
British burial party returned. Several OF ths
Beers had been killed with the butts OF rifles
Some OF the Highlanders got so close 20 the
trenches that their kits were torn of In the
confusion. The Beers say they would haze
enfilalei them but were afrait Of killing their
own men 10 the front trenches. The Beers
have 90 British prisoners. OF whom 45 are
members OF the Black Watch"
Chaplain Robertson says that what seemed
Ike deserted kopies md ridges swarmed with
men as his party approached. Commandant
We macs treated him In the kindest manner.
He returned twice to see II he could DO OF any
further assistance aud shook hands with Mr..
Robertson on parting.
The Boer army Ia made up almost exclusively
OF Transvaal burahers. II is said that the
Free State troops have already dispersed and
COMO home Some OF the Western Transvaal
burghers have gone to the Johannesburg dis
trict. Many OF the Bosrs speak English.
To-day the British guns shelled the hills and
definitely located the Boer position. The
burRhers have extended their lines toward
Jacobsdal and have established fresh laagers
there.
The Beers say the lyddte shells were harm
less when thoy fell on earth, but destructive
when they fell In stony places. Only ono In
four exploded.
MoDDER RIVER. Dec. 10 delayed In trans
missIonl. -I,oer prisoners boastel yesterday
that they could have held Magersfontcin for
two weeks. They said that II tho Highland
Brigade had mass-d and stormed the trenches
AZ er the first surprise. tho British loss would
have been heavier. because the Beers from the
kopje on the side were ready to enalade the
trenches II they had been captured.
The Gordon HLghanders were held In re-
serve Ill 10 o'clock on Monday morning. when
they went for ward nwde order toward the base
OF the east kopje. They got within Ave hundred
yards Of this point without any casualties
worth mentioning. When they suddenly en-
countered a strong crosr-ilre The Beers had
allowed them TO reach the point where they
were concealed In tho trenches and then the
burghers enfladcd tho Highlanders.
Early In the fighting the Highland Brigade
demolished inc ochnulnaNIan contingent OF
about two hundred Some Of the Scandinavians
were taken prisoners They look like tramps
Al day LONG the naval guns from the railroad
and the howtzers al closer range took part In
tho fight and pounded the hillside. The field
batteries played M excellent shell fire on tho
cas-; shoulder Of the kopje. There was no re-
Spouse from tho Bocr artillery and the
burghers confined themselves strictly to rifle
/ Are till the end OF the day
! Latc on Monday afternoon tho Grenadier
| Guards vigorously repealed an attack by the
| Beers to tho east OF the camp,
! On Monday night extra vigilance was OBJ
served. No lres were lighted and every one
was on tho alert to prevent any possible at
| tempt ata night attack.
| On Tuesday morning u biz Boer gun on one
Of tho hills was trained OH the railway and
/ dropped a shot in the embankment near the
= La.:ul IL causel No laLaa hnIynynr