New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-28
Beers DEFEATED NEAR KIMBERLEY
SUCCESSFUL sORT1E OF THE BRITISH
COMMANDER BOTHA KILLED.

COMMANDER BOTHA KILLED.
London oct pa dispatch from Cape Town
TODAY gives details Of the defeat Of seven hum
dred Beers by the British AT Riverton. north OF
Kimberley Wednesday. in which the enemy was
completely routed. with heavy loss, the British
loss being three men killed and twenty men, IN
rluding two officers. wounded This IS probably
Che same fight though different date Is given
as referred to in the Cape Town dispatch OF
yesterday evening. in which IL was said mat
official reports from Kimberley on Tuesday an
nounced that Colonel Scott-Turner' win @'V
men, had an engagement with the Beers ouriHe
which detachment Of 10 men OF the Ian
cashire Regiment DISTINGUISHED itself and the
armored trains did good service The Beers
were unable TO Withstand the splendid charge
Of the Lancashires who cleared at the point ol
the bavonet. the hill occupied by the enemy.
The Roer losses are described as very heavy
Colonel Scott Turner's force consisted OF the
local volunteers who. with the Lancashres'
completed the rout OF the burghers after Muir
rav's artillery had driven them out Of their en-
4renchments Botha commanded the Boshof
force The fight lasted four hours
The sharp struggle appears TO have oeen 'he
result Of a sorte. with the view Of breaking the
Gordon surrounding the place. The Beers were
pntrenched strongly seven miles northWard IL
Is said that the Beers twice unfairly useu
white flag. Botha. who was among the killed.
was member Of the Voksraad and famous
Dutch fighter He distinguished himself as a
marksman at Brenkhorst Spruit. when the Bit
Ash Oath Regiment was moved down He after
ward defended farmhouse against the British
when he surrendered the farmhouse. Botha was
found with five wounds bathed in blood.
Before the sortie Kimberley was apparently
an high spirits as a dispatch from there dat
ed October %. says every one was cheerful
NJ that time and that wedding was celebrated
there that day The dispatch adds:
creat enthusiasm has been aroused here by
khe news Of the British successes in Natal SeN-
pral farmers in the nelghborhood or hiInpcriey
have been noticed in the ranks OF me ,3-ed
Beers with one hundred wagons were laaeeie,l
at Taungs. All the whites have ieit eNCep'
Ibe women. who sought refuge in the convent.
The Boer commandant has promised 70 protect
Them
The news from the northern border indicates
hat the Beers are actively trying TO prevent
rolonel Plumer from relieving Mafeking. Hence
the absence Of news since Pretoria announced
The bombardment Of the place is creating con-
siderable alarm
The newspapers are making the most OF what
they claim to be Significant admissions IN the
supposed Boer official kilograms.
cane Town oct 26 (evenng) Official reports
from Kimberley. dated Tuesday, state that
Colonel Scott-Turner. with go men. proceeded
uorthward 10 MacFarlane's Farm. where the3
unsaddled their horses At o'clock party
NJ Boers was seen on the right flank and was
quickly scattered Colonel scou-Turner openinf
fire on them. and several of the enemy being
seen 10 fall The enemy moved 10 a SAND hear
and opened fire on the British which was re
turned. Colonel Scott Turner attempted 10 pre-
vent the Beers advancing against Colonel Muir
ray. but was met with a heavy fire from a dan
wall 900 feet to the left
At II o'clock Colonel Murray ordered LOO mel
Of the Lancashire Regiment to proceed 10 IN
north An armored train was supporting Colo
mel Scott-Turner. At midday Colonel Murra'
started also. with two field guns and two Max
inns. and seventy mounted men. one Of the wv
British guns opened suddenly upon the Beers
who were in an unfavorable position The Doe
artillery fire was brisk Another armored trai
was held in readiness. At o'clock the secon
train was sent forward with additional ammu
milton The Lancashires behaved splendidly
and Colonel scott-Turner highly copmende
them Commandant Botha and many Boer
were killed. The British loss was three kilie
and twenty-one wounded. The engagement wa
IN "a brilliant success for the British forces
III Cape Town oct. 27-According to further ad
vices from Kimberley. the Beers removed the
killed and wounded in carts. No uustworth
estimate Of their losses has been made. NJ
Rhodes rode out and watched the fight
The townspeope, including the women, mount
ed the trenches watching eagerly for the II
turn Of the troops
Mr. Rhodes is cheerful and gives dinner pa
flies daily, at which luxuries are abundant.