The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-21

Estcourt, Natal, Thursday, Novem-
DER lo'-Ihe Red Cross train has again
returned, but without bringing i'm the
dead and wounded. The Beers declin-
ed 10 give any information as to the
names of either killed or injured. re-
1err1ng the inquirers to the Pretoria
Press for all information. All that
they would disclose was the fact hat
three of the British We're dead and nine
wounded.
A correspondent who has just visit
ed the sa|natarium hospital says all
the armOred train wounded are doing
we'll.
Captain Wylie, in an interview. said
Sergeant Tod deserves special mention
for having surrounded him with bould-
ers to protect him from the rifle fire.
when lying helpless and wounded. Tod
even lay down beside the officer to
cheer him up. A shell landed among
the protecting b%oulders, scattering
them with earth. but Captain WyIie
sustained no further injury. But for
Tod, he would have been killed.
Several men escaped marvelously.
When Winston Churchill requested
Cdpldl "ylle W Cdll IOT volunteers
to remove the upset truck, bullets, it
is said, were dropping on the train
like rain" The men, throughout,
stuck to their work, responding to the
noble example set by Churchill and
Lieutenant Franklin. until the line
was cleared. Churchill actually left
with the engine, but he got out at the
next station, Frere, took a rifle from
a soldier, saying he could not leave
the wounded, and walked away in the
direction of the Beers.
Sergeant Hasset, of the Dublin fusi-
leers, behaved with the greatest gall
lantry. He tool charge of the firing
party, and stood up unfinchingly dur
ing the Beers hot fire. His example
electrified the fusileers, who kept the
Beers at bay by volleying.
Captain Haldane fell early in the
engagement, shot Through the Shout
der.
Lieutenant Franklin's conduct is
highly praised. He exhibited greaE
GOODNESS during the critical period. He
is reported missing.
Copeland, Of the Durham volunteers,
was crushed to death by the derailed
truck, and Godfrey, a plate layer, was
shot through the head, but is doing
we'll.
Lieutenant Alexander had an excit-
ing experience. A fusileer who had
been in the arm by a shell
which shattered the limb, swung round
and hit Alexander in the neck,
almost ~smOthering him with blood.
The Shell burst in front of the lieuten-
ant on a level with his face and blind
ed him for a moment. The next instant
he saw his cOmrade lying dead at his
feet, while he himself was unharmed.
Private K~avanaugh, of the Dublins,
performed splendid work. When the
Ils l-.-- liz ell hall h. Ei-~o
after time, rallied the men, volleyed
and prevented the horseshoe line Of
the oBers from enveloping the train.
LADYSMITH COMPLETELY SUR
ROUNDED.
Pretoria, November 9.-The following
dispatch has been received from the
Boer camp ait ElanSSlaagte, under to-
days date:
"Ladysmith has been completely en-
circled by the Boer forces. Our sec
ond big gun was successfully placed in
position on BulWan hill, in front of
Ladysmith. The firing of heavy guns
commenced early this morning, with
no casualties to THE burghers up ito the
present.
"Botha has photographed from the
south Of Ladysmith that the British
batteries opened a heavy fire with big
guns and continuously dropped shells
into the works around Ladysmith. The
Pretoria force was in a tight place,
having taken up a position commanded
by the British fire, which was so hot
that the position became u~ntenable.
The big gun, however, saved the stu
ation."
BRITISH ACCOUNT OF ARMORED
TRAIN FIGHT.
London, November 1.-The war Of
flee has received the following dlspatch
from General Butler:
Cape Town, November 16.
"I have received from
Peietermaritzburg, a telegram, dated
November 18th, of which the 1olloWlns
is the purport:
The officer commanding the troops
at Estcourt reports, at midday that
an armore train left Estcourt this
morning with a company OF the DUB
lin Fusiliers and a company Of Durham
volunteers. North of Frere they en-
countered a party Of Beers and began
to withdraw. While retiring, some or
the trucks were derailed. The Dubllns
turned out and advanced oWard the
enemy. while the rest OF the train ap-
pears to have returned without them.
to Estcourt.
"The officer commanding the troops
reports that he was sending MOUNTED
troops in order to " their with
drawal, but that about one d
are missing"
NEW ENTERTAINMENTS AROUND
KIMBERLEY.
Kimberley, November 9, via Hope
town. November 12.-The Beers were
busy yesterday in throwing up fresh
earthworks. There has been no fur-
ther commandments The deBeers
mines are practically closed. Thou
sands of the employees are now doml-
ciled in the center of the town n are
being provisioned by the mayor re-
lief found. The military authorizes
have ordered all civilians to give up
their arms and ammunition, with the
view of preventing irresponsible firing
at the Beers, in c~ontravention OF the
laws of civilized warfare. Natives re.
port that the Beers cheered eacn sneii
as it was fired Yesterday, believing 1t
meant the destruction of Kimberley.
The Beers are now wearing KHAKI
uniforms and blue p~ugarees, making
it difficult to distinguish them from
the British. Locusts are appearing.
A NIGHT COMMANDMENT.