The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-11
The MASSACRE OF THE Beers
FURTHER PROOF OF TT CONTAINED
N THE LETTERS OF SOLDIERS.
Npn, pc-cribc How the Dutch soi-
dicrs Were Lnnced While beg
gIns for Mercy.
Especial to The Postl

tSnccial 10 Inc fostl
New York. December lO.--The Herald
mas the following from London Grave
charges of savogery have been mads
against the British troops since the open
ing Of the war in South Africa. but THESE
were either 1atly denied or excused az
retaliation for alleged abuse oil tho white
hag
The Beers deny the latter accusation,
Or that they have fred on lmoulodces.
At Elandsglaate, tho only nigh; in no
present war where the Bosrs really waie
routed. Boer ambulance was fouad -
have seventy-two bullet holes IN 1t. Tie
Beers again were chars d with "i>nG on
an ambulance during tho brnish lcure-
ment after Reitfontein
Melton Prior. a war artist, has seat
picture from which 1t appears that But
ish ambulances and ammunition wagons
we're mixed up in the same column, wien
seems to account for the Doe sheliins It,
Now, however, private letters from Off
GERS aud men OF the British forces. ;un-
llshed here. are corroboreting the Bo2r
charges.
j. H. Fox, an outlander now at Lady
smith. writes
1t was a sight to see the Lancers
charge when they got within loo yards
the Beers threw up their arms and oesgou
for mercy. They jumped oil their horses
and got on their knees and prayed Tor
mercy
one Lancer says: "one Boer begged
4, aud "a ht1f my
was You 1890, here's your mercy |
shot him dead and did not take the ;roable
to lance him
No doubt you will ,hinkithis cruel but
Il you had seen rs much of them as
have, YOU would not. | saw plenty in
johannesburg bstore the war begaa'
Private Thomson OF thu First battalion
OF the Kings Royal Rides, describing the
fight at Glencoe. writes that after the
British troops had received tbs order &c
iX bayonets; With a Wild cheer we
were among them Bayonets went to
work, the heads were smashed like pump
kins. They Uhe Boers) were SPECIFICS
with terror. When they saw the line OF
cold steel coming AT them they threw
down their arms aud tied in confusion,
only to be cut up into travellers samples
when they reached the bottom by our cav
airy
tituIN burgess, iue NTtl0du on n IS L.
ISL aymored train, describing Elaadsl a ste.
says Once the hayonet charge OF the
pevons and Gordons began the Dutchmen
Ned precipitately. Meanwhile, the Lam
GERS had been creeping up behind, and as
the Beers reached the bottom the Lancsrs
charged them at full gallon, The pari,-
stricken Beers threw down their rifles
and attempted to escape, but Il was ut
terly useless, for. with shouts of Ma
juoa, the Lancers were upon thsm anl
the awful work commenced. Very lew
Beers escaped
private in the Kings Rifles. writing
OF Elandslaagte, says 1T was grea,
but terrible sight TO see those hors smen
hew their way through the Beers, Three
times they rode right through cutting,
slashng and hacking. Some OF the Doe
died in praying attitude Many aIng
down their arms as soon as they saw the
nash of the Lancers, clasping their hands
above their heads. and begged for mercy.
But they had shown no mercy 10 u. and
this was our revenge"
There are also charges OF looting ana
robbery made against British soldiers
who took all the valuabes off ther
prisoners, while on the other side Eng
fish correspondents Mr.. Stevens among
others. testify that the Beers took meth
ms AiNill NHtll pElSONtTS. Dut treated
them with the utmos; kindness
The only justification OF this savasery
attempted here is alleged Boer abuse
OF the white flag but that has been ex-
planned IN every case except one In
deed, he white flag justification raten,
ly is unfnrled for several correspln leuts
agree iha, the Laucegs masslcred the
kuseling crouchlng. disarmed n.ers a.
Eiandslaogte and were shouting, Wipe
out Majuba Remember Maiuba."
The indiscretion shown by privats so'
diers, ana even officers, in revealing these
attroci,ies has caused TIE war Off g 20
issue an order that censorship he cs
tablished over the soldiers correspon-
denco from the front