New-York tribune., 1899-11-17
AGAIN BY THE BOERS.
AMBUSH OF AN ARMORED TRAIN-BRTTISH
LOSSES HEAvY-LIEUTENANT CHUR-
CHILL, A PRISONER

LOSSES HEAVY-LIEUTENANT CHUR-
CHILL A PRISONER
Estcourt Natal Nov. 15.-An armored train,
having board half company Of the Durham
volunteers and a half company Of the Dublin
Fusiliers. steamed to Chieveey early this morn
ing. On its return It was shelled by the artillery
Of the Beers. placed in four positions. Two
trucks in front Of the engine left the rails. top
pling over While the train was thus helpless.
the Durbans and Dublins faced the Beers in
skirmishing order. and the Beers poured shot
and shell into the crippled train. The derailed
wagons were with great difficulty removed and
the line was cleared. when the engine and tender
steamed back
During this Juncture. Lieutenant Winston
Churchill Of the 4th Hussars, newspaper corre-
spondent OF The London Morning Post" and
The New-York World" and grandson Of the
late Leonard Jerome. Of New-York displayed
much courage. as also did the driver and fire
man. 1t is feared the Dublins and Durbans
Jared badly.
Red Cross party left here for the scene OF
the action. At 6 o'clock this evening It returned.
DR.. Bristoe reported that, on meeting the Boer
patrol he was halted and asked what he want
ed He replied that he had come with the train
to remove the killed and wounded. The Boer
told him TO make his request in writing. and DR..
Bristoe complied.
After waiting for two hours another Boer
came and informed DR.. Bristoe that as General
Joubert was very far away. answer to the
request could be furnished until tomorrow
morning The Boer said that. II DR.. Bristoe
would then return with a white flag. he could
count upon a reply from General Joubert. DR..
Bristoe inquired whether there were many
wounded. The Boer replied that he had heard
there were about seven. He declined TO give
any information regarding Lieutenant Winston
Churchill
II has rained all day. and is still raining.
Fstcourt. Nov. 16-seven OF the Durbans have
iust come IN making twenty-three missing. only
fifteen Of the Dublins have returned.
The naval 7-pounder, which was in front Of
the truck. had fired three shots when 1t was
shattered by the Boer artillery
The armored engine has many bullet marks
and its dome cover is smashed. as, also Is It's
automatic exhaust pipe and twenty-hve-ton
screw tack. The tender Is also pitted with bull
let marks.
II Is rumored that Lieutenant Churchill is a
prisoner.
Durham. Natal. Nov. 16-"The Natal Adver-
tser" has dispatch from Estcourt, which says;
When part Of the armored train was over
turned by the Beers tearing up the rails. the
British alghted and exchanged Volleys Win tIe t
Beers. The engine driver, when the rams Weae
replaced. seeing the position was hopeless'
steamed back to Estcourt with rev OF tne
Dublins and fifteen Of the Durbans' including
Captain Wylie who was WoHnaeS Sar of tbe bn Durbens
and Dublins and Lieutenant ChurchiiI IL un
known.
"The Natal Mercury" describing the engage
ment. says:
The enemy apparently opened fire with
Maxim and two 9-pounders, getting the range
accurately The fire was so severe tlat ,rat IeIG-
oraph wires and poles were destroyed 4HeIi
911ns were posted a kopje covered WIN
brushwood and their sharpshOoters were nIu-
den behind powders. The Dubiins ana N9Iun. SuIlo
,eers hghting an unequal battle. thrice drove
tbe enemy back but the ferceness OF the rlile
and big gun fire was too much Tor tne plv plave
uttIe party which was weakened at the OUTSET
bt, The oyerturnng OF the trucks hurting sew
eral. ~ - , ooo,ross
Lieutenant Churchills bravery ana cooihess
- rnacnihcent Encouraged by him, all
,orked ike heroes in clearing the line to enaoie
the engine and tender 10 pass
Later details show that heavy RAIN ana
,,,Is, coronelled a cessation Of firing. Lieutenant
Churchill bravely carried the wounded TO the
tender under fire. While the Beers were de-
stroylng the train their scouts pushed IN ana
exchanged shots with the British pickets a ie"
miles from Estcourt 1t appears that the boeIs
mar. ,r ambush. As soon as the train had