The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-16
HUMANITY OF THE BOERS
CRONJE CONDUCTS THE SIEGE
ON CIVILIZED lines.
A REroRT THAT LADYSMITH HAS FALLEN
The Report Is Published in Paris Paper and
Is Not Credited. Sixteen Thousand
Rations of 81 Salt Carrion"
from New York.

Cape Town, Friday, November 10.-A
dispatch received here from Pretoria, un
der date of Thursday, November 9th,
says the reports received there from
Ladysmith said heavy cannonading
started at daybreak, that some of the
Boer forces were within 1000 yards of
the British when the cannonading ceased
and rifle fire commenced.
An undated dispatch from Mafeking,
received by runner, VIC Magalapye,
Wednesday, November Sth, says:
To-day all is quiet. We have been
bombarded pretty heavily all week. Fri
day night Captain Fitz-Clarence and
Lieutenant Swineburn, with ID squadron
of the Protectorate regiment, made
magnificent bayonet charge upon the
Beers entrenchment, driving them from
their positions and bayonetting numbers
Of the Beers who must have lost very
heavily.
the party could not hold the trenches
and lost six men killed, two prisoners
and nine wounded in their retirement.
We EXPECT Il general attack tomorrow.
The bombardment has been most inef-
fectua. Every one remains under shell
proof cover. So far the shells have only
wounded one mam The enemy are
using one 94-pound Howitzer, and seven
other guns from to 14-poHnders. The
town is most cheerful and determined
to resist attack to the utmost. Tie
Beers are entrenched on every side in
great numbers and are pushing gradual
ly closer to the town fortihcations. We
are well off for provisions and water,
though very tired, dodging shells and
fighting. Quite ON civilized lines, Gen
eral Cronje has always given due notice
Of b0mbardment, and allowed an am
bulancc party two hours, OH Saturday,
to recover the bodies of six dead left
in the vicinity of the Boer trenches On
Friday night, Jan Botha, the well known
Boer commandment told a man with the
ambulance party that their loss had been
heavy and that his heart was very sore.
''The wounded include Captain Fitz-
Clarence and Lieutenant Swinburne,
both slightly.
''In skirmish at the outposts yester-
day, one trooper was killed and nine
were wounded.
Only tifty-iive men of ID squadron
| were engaged in the attack, though they
were assisted by the fianking fire of ii
gum of the Cape police. The Beers
made a desperate attempt to drive back
| the British and their rear trenches
opened terrific fire, in every direction,
the fash of the rifles lighting UP the
entire position. A hail Of bullets ratified
ON the roofs of the houses OF the town.
| Upon completing a circuit of the BOer
front and the line of trenches the Brit
| sh Withdrew in independent lines of re-
treat covered by the flank fire from the
Cape police. The Beers continued to
volley at intervals during the night The
Boer loss is estimated at one hundred
killed and wounded. The Boer com
mander informed an officer in charge
of a flag of truce that he estimated the
attacking squadron at one thousand and
he was not aware that the British force
at Mafeking was so large.
'The Beers were observed from Mafe-
king burying their dead all day long"
SAYS MAFEKlING HAS FALLEN.
London, Nov. ia Paris paper to-
day gleefully announces the fall and cap
ture of Ladysmith, hut reports from this
source no longer cause a ripple of eN-
Citement. Nevertheless, there will be
considerable anxiety here until the War
Office or some independent version OF
the latest developments at Ladysmith is
known.
A private message from Mafeking re-
ports that all was well there Monday,
November 9th. The details of the fight.
ing at Mafeking received by way Of
Cape Town and Magalapve, relate to
the engagement of October 25th, already
reported. The story, however, is pleas.
ant reading to the British, as it shows
the garrison was cheerful well provision
ed and confident.
TROOPSHIPS AT CAPE TOWN.
London, Nov 15.--It was officially an
nounced this afternoon that the British
troopship Goorllha, with the First brig
ade staff, the Third battalion of Grena-
diers and a detachment of the Royal En-
gineers; the Transport Manila, with the
second Devonshires, and the Transport
Nomladic with the Remoumts, have ar
rived at Cage Town.
SALT CARRION" ON TILE NUBiA.
london, Nov. ia letter in the
Times written by an officer on poarl .he
transport iNubia asserts that i. 600 ra-
tions of SALT carrion labelled New York,
1899 had to he thrown overheard as IT
was fun of disease" adding:
'"They only salt down the very worst
portions of very inferior beasts and pigs.
This has aroused Storm of Indignation
against the "rascally contractors and IN