Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-15

OF ws ~ getting ii to the full this morn
ing, -.sccording to dispatches, shooting
must been nearly continuous along the
entiS = ders of the Boer republics, while
pitcf Z attles have occurred or are occur
ring arious points in Natal and British
Bee land.
NJ " these reports, however, remain
une ned.
feklng is cut off Geographically, the
stc from that point are generally of
Kaffir origin and must be regarded with sus-
picion. While there is every probability that
General Cronje's big command has begun the
assault on Mafeklng, reliable details must
etll be awaited.
Further details are at hand regarding the
destruction of the armored train at Kraaipan.
They 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 proceed. Near
ing Kraalpan the train dashed into a culvert
that had been blown up by the Beers, who
were lying in wait for the train The Boer
artillery Immediately opened fire and a des-
perate fight ensued, lasting four hours, with
the odds greatly against the British. The
precise details are uncertain.
Captain Nesbitt, who was killed at Kraai-
PAN belonged to the Mashonaland mounted
police. He served in the Matabele war. dur
ing which a daring exploit won him the Vic
toria cross. With thirteen men he fought
his way through the Matabele, retrieved a
beleaguered party and escorted them to Sal
sbury. Three of the party were killed and
five wounded, all the horses being killed or
| wounded.
| 1t seems, however, that police patrol. at
tracted by the firing, approached within
about 1000 yards of Kraaipan, saw the train
| pit ha n ri eti ID
ing at 1t, but noticed no response. The
Beers seemed afraid to approach until the
wreck was complete, and the police patrol
| feared, as there were no signs of life near
the train, that the entire force had perished
in desperate attempt to get the train to
Mafeking, where they knew it was anxiously
awaited with it's load OF guns and ammuni-
ton.
1t is reported that the Beers lost heavily,
but there is no means of verifying this.
Two miles of rails were torn up.
Report of British Victory.
| There is no authoritative confirmation OF
the report that a battle has been fought in
Natal, between General Sir George Stewart
! White and the Orange Free State troops, al
though there is no question that the Beers
have crossed the frontier at several potns.
They are said to have eighteen guns, but If,
|
the Beers had formed laager and thrown up
earthworks, the British cavalry and artillery
are liable to have had the best OF the
| fighting.
1t is already reported that the British have
gained great victory, that 1000 Beers were
killed and that the British loss was very
slight, but this may be without foundation,
! as another report has sIp published to the
| effect that Lord Rothschild was in receipt OF
news of a great British victory, but when the
| Associated Press representative questioned
him regarding the alleged dispatch he re-
Piled II am sorry that have not received
anything of the sort"
The probability seems to be that there
has not been any fighting as yet in Natal.
Another Train Ditched.
The Exchange Telegraph company has
received dispatch from Capetown, dated
this morning, saying that the Beers have
blown UP another armored train, carrying
telegraph operators from Mafeking.
In connection with the rumored attack
upon Mafeking disquieting report comes
from Pretoria to the effect that the Rusten-
burg and Marico commanders have crossed
the border and entered the Rooigrond terri
tory, between Lichtenburg and Mafekng
blowing up the bridge over the Maloppt
river and destroying trainfoad of dynamite
and the track.
AS Mafeking depends upon Rooigrond fol
its water supply, the significance OF thl!
move is evident
The Beers, 1t is reported, have seized th'
railway station north of Fourteen Streams
between Vryburg and Kimberley. Fighting
is still continuing in the neghborhood'
According to dispatches from the from
the Beers have made several attacks upor
Mafeking, all of which have been repulsed.
A dispatch from Pretoria, dated October
~. saws: General Koch wires from thu
Natal border that his commando has oc
cupied Bothoas pass and also captured thu
railway station.
The latest reports from Vryburg say tina
the armored train that was destroyed a
Kraaipin contained in addition to Nesbtti
force a number of workmen and six resi-
dents OF Marigogo, south OF Mafeking, whit
on hearing of the Boer advance took refug
in the train
The following dispatch from Ladysmitl
has been received at the war Office:
general Sir George Stewart White wen
in the direction of Van Reenan's pass at
, o'clock a. M yesterday (Friday), but faile
to draw the Beers to the pass. He returned
to Ladysmith, where he now Is. No en-
eagement occurred
Butler Leaves for the Field.
; General Sir Redvers Butler, who vii
have the chief command in South Africa
accompanied by his staff, left Waterloo sta
ton this afternoon for Southampton to &
, on board the Dunottar Castle. His de
parture was the occasion OF another patriot
demonstration. General Butler arrived a
the station at Las p. m. With great diff
Guilty his carriage forced its way throug
the crowds that blocked every approach
The people swarmed everywhere and CAV
, the station the appearance OF vertabl
beehive.
Constant aud deafenng cheers marked tn
approach Of the royal carriages containln
the prince of Wales and the duke of Cam
bridge and when Sir Redvers Butler alighte
and appeared in the doorway OF the static
. TO receive the prince and his former con
mander-in- chief enthusiasm knew I
. bounds. The immense waiting room wa
temporarily converted into receptiou roon
+. where the secretary of state for war, LoI
: Lansdowne. Lord Wolseley George Wynt
ham. parliamentary under secretary Of sta
for war; General Sir Evelyn Wood. Colon
I Lord Paul Methuf and a host of ether c,
lebrities were gathered to bid farewell