The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-17
IN WHICH TWO THOUSAND BOERS ARE
KILLED.
THE REPORT UNCONFlRMED.
Further Details as to Capture of the
-Armored Train-A Second Train Cap
Natal Territory "A Railway Bridge
Blown Up-The Booers' Unsuccess-
Attempt of the British to Draw the
Beers into Battle.

are at hand regarding the restriction
of the armored train at Kraipan. These
show that Captain Nesbitt, who was in
command of the train, was warned at
Maribogo that the Beers held the line.
He replied that he was bound to pro-
ceed. Nearing Kraipan, the train
dashed into a culvert that had been
blown up by the Beers, who were lying
in wait for the train. The Boer artil-
lery Immediately opened fire and a des-
perate fight appears to have ensued,
lasting for hours with odds greatly
against the British.
The precise details are uncertain. 1t
seems, however, that a police patrol
attracted by the firing approached
within about 1000 yards of Kraipan,
saw the train ditched, with the Beers
artillery still. pounding at it, but no.
ticed no response. The Beers seemed
afraid to approach until the wreck was
complete and the police patrol feared,
as there was no sign Of life near the
train, that the entire force had per-
ished in desperate attempt ito get the
knew 1T was anXiously awaited with it's
load of guns and ammunition.
1t is reported that the Beers lost
heavily, but there is no means of veri-
flying this. Two miles of rails were
torn up.
UNCONFIRMED' RUMORS OF A
BATTLE.
There is no authoritative confirma-
tion of the report that a battle has been
fought in Natal between General Sir
George Stewart White and the Orange
Free State troops, although there is no
question that the Beers have crossed
the frontier at several points. They a.
said to have eighteen guns; but it is
re ported, the engagement began before
the Beers had formed laager and
thrown up earthworks, the British
cavalry and artilledy are liable to have
had the best of the fighting.
Tt is even already reported that the
British have gained a great victory;
that 1000 Beers were killed, and that
the British loss was very slight; but
this may be without foundation, for as
another report had been publised to
the effect that Lord Rothschild was in
receipt of news of a great British vic
tory, when the Associated Press rep
resentaitive questioned him regarding
the alleged dispatch he replied: Il am
sorry that I have not received anything
of the Sort
The latest reports from Vryburg
says that the armored train that was
destroyed at Kraipan contained, in ad-
ditiOn to Nesbit's force, a number OF
wOrkmen and six residents of Mari
bogo, south of Mafeking, who had
armed and who on hearing of the Boer
advance took refuge in the train.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE AR
MORED TRAIN CAPTURE.
The following official dispatch has
been received from Cape Town, where
1T was filed at 2:35 p. m. today:
''The engine driver and one native
escaped from the armored train. The
former was wounded in the hand. He
reports that Captain Nesbitt was slight
ly wounded and that the party in the
train, whose number he does not know,
was captured by the Beers. He believes
that the prisoners were unharmed.''
In connection with the rumored at
tack upon Mafeking, a disquieting re-
port comes from Pretoria to the effect
that the Rustenburg and Marico COM
mandoes have crossed the border and
entered the Rooigrond territory be-
tween Lichtenburg and Mafeking,
blowing up the bridge over the Maloppo
river and destroying a train load of
dynamite and the track.
AS Mafeking depends upon Rooigrond
for its water supply, ,ethe significance of
this move is evident.
The Beers, it is reported, have seized
the railway station north of Fourteen
streams between Vryburg and Kim
berley. Fighting is still continuing in
I the neighborhood.
According to dispatches from the
front the Beers have made several at
tackS upon Mafeking, all of which
have been repulsed.
ANOTHER TRAIN BLOWN UP.
The Exchange Telegraph Company
has received a dispatch from Cape
Town, dated this morning, saying that
the Beers have blown up another train
carrying telegraph operators from
Mafeking.
The following dispatch from Lady
smith has been received at the war Of
flee today: General Sir George Stew
art White went in the direction of, Van
Reenns Pass at o'clock a. m, yester-
day (Friday), but failed to draw the
Beers to the pass. He returned to La
dysmith, where he now is. No engage
ment occurred"