The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-10-26
BATTLE Of TAlANA HILL.
Notable Victory for the British
Arms After a Most Determined
Resistance by the Beers,
EIGHT HOURS or DESPERATE FIGHTING.
ApEsiaceRt ARTILLERY work-Thc raE
of wRr--tnraunitrd Courage of
shs ns-FS-Th- Battle Hogan at
Dundee, bat Ended at TRiHna HIIi
--FIIEht of the BocTs.

~ dHN AtFfllhiNG Wv NkN'lik wa q
followed the first engagement Of the
Bocr attack on the British position,
says:
where the Casualties FrERR.
III was after the batue was re-
ncwed, following the lulI that enSucd
ulnn the sharp cannonading Of thr
British which silenccd the guns OF thu
Hocrs on smiths hill, that our casual
ties began. The Indian hospital corps
o! coolies under Maj. Donrgnn, Of thu
Eighteenth husarr, ran out, keeping
in the rear of the advancing infantry
and artillery that had galloped from
the second position through the town
amid the cheers Of the citizens.
The naers GraduaII, sIIcnrea.
at this point the Bocr, became cr-
ratio. The artillery was firing on tLt
hill where the Beers were stationed
in great numbers. but the return fire
did litti, damage. The enemy kept up
an incrssan' shooting, hut our shrap
mel brpnu to tell itz tale, with ,hc re-
suit that the Borr trc ,i.ihs slack.
cnrd Fr"m q r.usclrss rattle the riic
lire dwindlrd to struggling -huts.
~ corporal Of Dublin usilccrs was
carried past me to the rear on u
strctchor Mai. Davidson. of the Irish
fusilirrs Was shot through both leg
and Color Sergeant Anderson, Of III,
Dublin fuslicrs was brought iuwouud-
ed Ia the right shoulder.
The artillery in front WAS shcllinp
the hin. and the Kiuc'r Euvnl Rifle,
ON the right front. were busy with the
NuNims, making the I"rr- anNiou.
nhout their position Their artillery
had brcu silcuccd hy the splendid SER,
lee uf ours
FIanLinE the En"my.
Meanwhile squadron uf the Eigi.
tccnth hussars and mounted com.
pany Of the Dublin fusilIrrs wcr'
creeping around on the rucmy's left
flank, while another squadron Of the
hussars aud mounted company ~
the Kings Royal Rifles drploycd 10 the
right flank. at the coruiiclds
several Men Killed or wounded.
The artillery continued TO play on
Smiths hill with range Of nearly
5000 yards. Under its cover the Dub,
lin fusllicrs aud the Kings Royal Rifles
pressed forward 1t was in the eve.
Cuiion of this maueu,cr that the raN
unItics tn our infantry occurred, sever.
al mcu bcing killed or wounded.
Hade lea FFont of the Guns.
The firing now cascd of ON our side,
and only.H solitary shot was returned
nov and then. zen, Symons, taking
advantage Of this lull, rode forward
with his stan, In front of the guns,
taking cover at the rear OF the plautu.
ton, near the base of the hill. Al this
time our infantry in extended iormn
tion, had gradually pressed forward,
watching the Bocrs from the rear ~
the artillery and missing on the cN-
trcmc left of the hill
Cut to Pieces or Driven Away.
II saw three shells in quick sucrcs.
sion cut some TO pieces aud drive 9th
crs away. The IIorr fire was bccom-
ins hot, but the first battalion of the
Kings Royal Rifles and the Rrtsl,
fIGhiliers, led respectively by Col, Gun
ming and Col. Carlton, continued 10
mount the hill.
Gradually they extended along the
ridge, and at one o'clock. after four
and half hours OF artillery fighting
90 screen them, they managed 10 reach
n wall, running parallel with the ridge,
about 600 yards from the summit.
Magnificent Artillery work.
This position was gained under COW
er Of some magnificent shooting by our
artillerymen. who placed shells at
points were the Beers were masscd,
with amazing accuracy, compelling
them TO retire. But not for long. On
again the determined enemy would
come, only to he beaten back again
by the excellent shooting Of the Thlr-
tetnth and Ninth batteries under Ma
Dawkins and Maj. King.
The TsR of war.
AT iI:45 a. m. the firing had almost
ceased, and our infantry were over the
wall In a twinkling, and rushing to-
ward the plateau at the base Of the top
or secondary ridge. The defense by the
Beers was most determined, the enc.
my again and again pouring long
fueillade fire into the British ranks,
which was hotly returned in wcll-tii-
rected volleys by the slowly.
Dublin fusiliers and Kings Royal
Rifles.
"a large body Of Beers. driven from
Smiths hill. took refuge in a cattle
kraal, intending cross fire. The
Thirteenth battery opened FIRE, how.
ever, and poured In such hail OF bull
lets as caused them 20 shift their posi-
tion.
unssa.sses cs=sswr sf tire Dorrs.
"Thus far the enemy have displayed
undouhted courage, perhaps unequalled
by the best European troops. They
have stood up 20 our scattering artii-
ley fire with the greatest determine.
tion, on Talana ri5ge, standing clear
~ out on the sky line they still ap-
pcared unbeaten and defiant.
The stxty-siafh Pushed Forward.
.',rhe fighting had now ragged six
and half hours, when the sixty-ninth
battery was ordered TO timber up and
advance. The battery eallopcd into
Q new position In splendid form, and
was In action at the front In . mo-
ment.
The Thtrteensk Ordered W.
so effective was the apparent re-
suit of this eiose-range firing that the
Thirteenth battery was az once or.
dered up, and after two rounds from
esch battery. pcrfect silence rcigned
over the eneuiy's front, broken only
b. tbs whirring os the Maxima. served
N thu Dublin fusiliefs. who hsd ~
cured N excellent position to the
sinht. During momcntsry cessation
y s~sp I'D frttp upa position - :