Iron County register., 1899-11-23
RAN |NIOA p)ER AMBUSH.
Another Unfortunate Armored Train
Reconnaissance Out of EST
court Toward Colenso.
NEARLY A HUNDRED MEN ARE MISSING.
perfor Numbers-A Handful of Men OPP
posed to Masked Artillery and Hidden
Sharpshooters-Lieut. Winston Church
ILL Proves a Hero.


sharpshooters-Lieut. Winston Church
ILL Proves q Hero.
London, Nov. II, a. m.-Misfortune
steadfastly pursues British employ
ment of armored trains, the fascination
for which has given the Beers their
first and latest victories. On this oc-
casion, the British seem to have
walked into a deliberate trap, with
the result that, according to the best
accounts, 90 men are either killed,
wounded, or missing. Of these the
fusiliers claim so and the Durham in
fantry 40. 1t is believed that few es-
capped, and that the others are prison
ers in the hands of the Beers. Many
of the wounded were brought back on
the locomotive and tender of the arm
ored train. Capt. Haldane, of the Cor
don Highlanders, was attached to the
fusiliers, and other officers were with
them. The list of casualties is awaited
with great anxiety. In time of trouble
Lieut.. Winston Churchill has proved
himself more a soldier than a CORE
spondent, and his gallantry is highly
praised on all sides.
The rumor of the death of Gen. Jou-
ber1 is discredited. 1t is understood
that the war Office has news that he is
still directing affairs. It is also ru-
more6 from Pietermaritzburg that the
Boer loss at Ladysmith, on Thursday,
was heavy, and included Gen. Lucas
Meyer, who was either killed or
wounded. The report as to Gen. Jou-
HI 60
his wife has left the Boer camp at
Ladysmith for the Free State.
Ambushed by Beers.
Estcourt, Nov. 16.-An armored train,
which went out from Estcourt, was
shelied by the Beers north of Frere at
a. m. yesterday. The armored train
consisted of, in front a fat truck with
7-pounder gun, manned by petty Of
Ger and five blue jackets from her
majesty's ship Tartar, an armor-plated
truck and engine, then two armor-
plated trucks and a fiat one in the
rear. 1t contained 100 men, belonging
to the Dublin fusiliers and the Durham
light infantry.
The troops were entrained and left
Estcourt at six o'clock in the morning.
On getting beyond the summit of the
line near Frere, the train ran forward
to Chieveley, where body of the ene-
my was seen.
Our men having tapped thetelegraph
wires, messages We're received order
ing the train to come back.
1t was returning smartly up grade
when the enemy opened a connonade
OH the train at a range of about 1000
yards The Beers also had tilted a rail
and a shell struck the plate layers
truck at the moment of passing this
defect. Instantly two trucks were
overturned and the third was derailed.
Many of our men were injured.
Steamed Back to Estcourt.
Durham, Natal, Nov. 1.-THE Natal
Advertiser has a dispatch from Est
court which says: "When part of the
armored train was overturned by the
Beers turning up of the rails, the
British aHghted and exchanged volleys
with the Beers. The engine driver,
when the rails were replaced, seeing the
position was hopeless steamed back to
Estcourt with few of the Dublins and
Is of the Durbans, including Capt.
Wylie, who was wounded, on the ten
der. The fate of the remainder of ths
Durbans and Lieut.. Churchill is un-
known"
The Engagement Described.
The Natal Mercury, describing the
engagement, says:
'The enemy apparently opened fire
with a Maxim and two 9-pounders,
getting the range accurately. The fire
was so severe that telegraph wires and
poles were destroyed. Their guns
were posted on kopje covered with
brush wood. and their sharpshooters
were hidden behind boulders. The
Dublins and volunteers, fighting an un-
equal battle, thrice drove the enemy
back; but the fierceness of the rifle fire
and big gun fire was too much for the
brave little party, which was weak
ened at the outset by the overturning
of the trucks, hurting several.
Lieut.. Churchill n Hero.
Lieut.. Churchill's bravery and cool
ness were magnificent. Encouraged
by him all worked like heroes in clear
ing the line to enable the engine ten
der to pass"
Later details show that a heavy rain
and mist compelled cessation of fir
ing. Lieut.. Churchill brayely carried
the wounded to the tender under fire.
While the Beers were DESTROYING the
train their scouts pushed in and ex-
changed shots with the British pickets
few miles from Estcourt. 1t appears
that the Beers were in ambush. As
soon as the train had passed up they
emerged from cover and dislodged the
sleeper bolts.