The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-20
BETWEEN THE BOeRS AND BRITISH AT.
MAFtkING
A DYNAMITE TRAIN BLOWN UP
Beers Have Another Battle with an
Armored Train - Their Artillery
Work Defective severe Fighting
About Mafeking-Thc Bocr- Rcpcat-
edly Repulscd-Thcy Loose Three
hundred Mcn--Thc Town still Invest
cd-Smaiipox Among Refugees.

London. October IA special dis
patch from Cape Town says that 500
Beers and eighteen British have be, a
killed in a battle at Mafeking. Color 4
Baden-Powell made a sortie from Ma
king in force and attacked the Beers
who were investing the town. AT
fierce fighting the British carried the
day.
Cape Town, October l7.-Alow al
North, Cape Colony, is now Isolated.
From Colesburg come persistent reKe--
ations Of the report that the Beers have
attacked Mafeking, being thrice re-
pulsed with heavy losses. From other
towns on the border similar reports are
reported.
Smallpox has broken out here among
the natives from johannesburg. Eight
cases have been discovered.
London, October IA special dis
patch from Pretoria dated October 18th
by way OF Delagoa Bay says:
"A cyclist dispatch war received from
Ottoshoep. near Malmani. at O'Clock
this evening, asserting that heavy
fighting has been in progress all day
long north OF Mafeking. The British
troops on board an armored train act
ed as a covering force to military engi-
neers engaged in repairing the tracks.
tnuous fire
Conspicuous bravery was displayed
on both sides; but Ii soon became ap-
parent that the rifles OF the burghers
were ineffective against an armored
train. The latter. however. was once
forced to retreat before a particularly
strong assault, but II soon returned.
accompanied by a British mounted con-
tingent, and the fighting was renewed
fiercely.
Fighting still continues. the Beers
holding their positions well. A dozen
Beers were killed or wounded: b the
British casualties cannot be seer
tained.
Heavy firing can be heard sou n OF
Mafeking, where General CT, MES
command is operating
"A corps Of experienced contin Entail
engineers, former officers. has left Pre-
toria for the southwestern borders, es-
corted by a command of picked Boer
shots. 1t is probably intended for large
dynaniting operations"
| A DYNAMITE TRAIN DESTROYED.
Pretoria, October 14.-Delayed.) -
Yesterday, while General Cronje's
! troops were near the broken railway
bridge, nine miles north OF Ma'aklne,
an approaching train, loaded wit ~
Mantle, was fired upon and blown -.
There were no casualties on the Trc
vaal side.
Pretoria. October l5.-(Dela-ed
| Further dispatches received b. 81
| government say that fighting cont
| ues north OF Mafeking. The B~iti ".
| after the second engagement, retired m
! the direction Of the town; but they re-
| sumed the attack shortly afterwards,
two burghers being killed and three
wounded. The commando engaged was
| impeded owing to the want OF heavy
| artillery, which was subsequently OBJ
tanned from General Cronje
A FIGHT WITH AN ARMoRED
TRAIN.
Kimberley, October 16-An armored
! train, while accommodating near Spyt-
| fontein, engaged the Beers, killing five
and wounding seven. The British had
| no losses.
London. October 1.-THE Sklrmish
| near Spytfontein, says a special dis
| patch from Cape Town, was qui,1
| lively. The armored train. with a <J
tachment of the Lancashires. appr9A&H
ed unmolested, until within rApgfN
| when the Beers opened fire. ThaaSYAx-
inns were instantly set to work and did
| great execution among the burghers
The latter also used artillery. but in
| effectively. The armored train return
ed TO Kimberley unharmed.
| The crew OF the armored train say
the Beers fired thirteen shells, but
their aim was wretched and not a sim
gle shot struck the train, which they
made bold to approach nearer and
| opened fire with the Maxims The
burghers replied with heavy rifles,
again shooting wildly. Only three or
| four bullets struck the train Subse-
quently the crew learned that five
Beers and two Boer horses were killed.
while several Beers and horses were
wounded. Not a member OF the Brf-
| tish force was so much as touched.
The war office issued the following
bulletin regarding the situation in
South Africa at o'clock this evening.
NO news Of any Importance has been
received since yesterdays notice"
Pretoria, October H.-fDelayed I'm
| transmission-D-The executive council
| have decided to release all burchers
undergoing a years imprisonment or
| less. All other prisoners who are in
| the same category viii be sent across
the border
The French, German and italian con-
suls have issued proclamations calling
| upon their respective citizens to remain
neutral Cornmandant General Joubert
has established his& headquarters at
| Charlestown and opened Geographic
communication with the Transvaal by
way Of Laing's Mex
Ladysmith, Natal, October I6.-The
threatened assault upon Glencoe Is be-
1 lieved to be a feint I'm the hope of weak
ening the garrison here and exposing
the town to an attack from the west
ward.
| The Beers are resting, preparatory. it
seems, TO completing their encIrcling
movement for the expected attack upon
dundee. They cannot advance rn,,cr
| furtner without coming into Contact
with British cavalry who screen sha
position. Nevertheless the SITUATION is
such that little fighting Is exnectad
In the near future in this section ana -
from desultory outpost skirmishes All
the women and children have lef4