The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-07

dispatches from Natal, received here yes
terday. the Beers suffered heavy losses last
Friday in the battle of Tathams farm,
near Ladysmith. A telegram filed at Est
court (about thirty miles south of Lady
smith. on Saturday afternoon at o'clock
wounded Another dispatch from the same
place. filed at noon Saturday, but not re-
ceived i'm London until after the first dis
patch had arrived. says:
"a reliable messenger who has just ar
rived from Ladysmith, passing the Boer
lines during the night, reports that heavy
Ladysmith. The hottest engagement was on
George Tatham's farm. on the Orange
Free State side of Bester's. The British
drove the Beers back 10 their camp. The
enemy suffered great loss, and thirty
mounted Beers were captured.
THE fighting was resumed yesterday
Qriday). the Beers firing from Nosdwath-
shana hill, near Pepworth's farm. Again
they were driven back with loss.
"A large Boer force, with artillery, un-
der John Vessels, has taken up position
on the left of Beacon, locating on the Wood
house, Picciones and Langvaracht farms,
facing Bestopp. and a small commando Is
now encamped on the south side of Peters
station, commading the railway. The Beers
have torn up culverts of the railway near
Pieter's station and have burned the wod-
en- portions.
mo damage has yet been done at CO.
lenso. The houses, stores, railway and iron
bridges remain intact. The messenger says
he heard that the Beers would be in Colenso
to-day and that the volunteers were leav-
ing.
Much regret is felt at the unnecessary
alarm being created at Maritzburg when
there is no need for it. The Natal naval
corps. with guns. will return to Maritzburg
to-day to reassure the inhabitants"
Another dispatch from Estcourt says:
"Colenso is now in the hands of the Beers.
Before the evacuation was decided on the
enemy tried to cut off our outposts. The
Dublin Light Infantry, under Lieutenant
Molyneux, and force Of Dublin Fusiliers
were sent to the relief of the outposts and
n brisk fight ensued. The Beers were re-
pulsed, leaving twelve dead Twenty Boer
horses were killed and the others stam-
peded. The chief motive for the withdrawal,
however. was that the long-range guns of
the Beers had made the position untenabe.
No orders were received for retirement.
While retirement was in progress the Natal
Volunteers at Fort Wylie had great diff
Guilty in getting away their nine-pounder in
the dark. They were advised to spike the
gun, but were exceedingly unwilling to do
this, resolving TO make determined effort
to take II with them. While they were run
ming the gun on its carriage down a hin
the ropes broke and the gun and carriage
rushed on, the latter being shattered at the
bottom of the incline. Nothing daunted the
pluoky fellows undertook to carry the
weapon itself, which had not been damaged
and they got IL here safely. The Beers
shelled Colenso camp at dawn to-day, be-
ing apparently unaware OF the evacuation
They looted the stores. but did not harm
the bridges, saying that they would want
the railway themselves. The women and
children here are crowding the trains bound
for Pietermaritzburg and Durham.
A dispatch from Durham, dated Nov 3.
says: 1T is said the Colenso garrison
saved all the stores, tents, kits. etc. The
Beers numbered about 5000 men, eompris-
ing a fresh corps of the Orange Free
Staters. The aImored train did splendid
service. taking a detachment of the Dublin
Fusiliers TO relieve an outlying fort gar
risoned by volunteers. Reassuring reports
have been received regarding the position
at Pietermaritzburg."
The officials OF the British War ONCE.
when shown the dispatch from Durham, said
they had no further news regarding the
military situation in Natal. but thought no
undue significance could ee attached to the
concluding phrase. They could not say
whether the railroad to Ladysmith was in
tact. but they admitted that Ladysmith Is
now completely surrounded.
y dispatch from Pietermaritzburg says:
''The Governor of this place. replying to-
day 20 deputation from the Town Council
which called on him to make inquiries re-
garding the defense of the city. said that
everything possible would be done Ii was
decided 10 form an emergency mounted
corps composed of gentlemen residing in
the district. They will make a serviceable
body of men and viii supply their own
horses and equipment. An ambulance corps
is also being formed.
"A proclamation has beer issued declaring
that the Orange Free States proclamation
announcing the annexation OF the upper
Tugela district OF Natal null and void"
Another dispatch from Pietermaritzburg,
dated Saturday afternoon. Nov. 4. says:
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