Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-03
BRITISH FALL
INTO B0ER TRAP
Continued from Page {.

~ I y
(, $50 !js ya 7llcs 2ii.2a
\ now on their way to swell the growing
81 deposit of British prisoners at Pretoria.
President Kruger is said to have prom
f8lsed to re-occupy Bloemfonten this
week, and the stubborn burghers seem
I TO be closing around the place in such
force as promises to be troublesome,
especially when it is realized that the
activity of q strong Boer force In the
vicinity of Paardeberg has already in
!, terrupted direct, communication be-
tween Lord Roberts and Kimberley
But for the overwhelming numbers at
the disposal OF Lord Roberts. the Sit
}a'lation would Justly cause Great Bi
tain great anxiety. AS 1t is the nation
3 is beginning to realize from the nature
of the guerilla warfare that 1t is liable
4 to embarraSS the future movements of
the British troops.
WATER SUPPLY CUT OFF.
A special dispatch from Bloemfon-
tein this morning reports that the wa
ter supply of the place has been cut off.
This is the natural sequence of the
= Boer success at the waterworks. But
the authorities are hopeful that the
Z strong reinfcrcements sent by the COM
{ mander in chief will promptly remedy
this.
FL 1t is evident from Lord Roberls' dis
+ patch that big engagement is In prog
ress. Although II Is difficult to esti-
mate the number of British engaged
they probably exceed even the eight or
ten thousand men which the Beers are
estimated to number.
3 me scene OF the British disaster ap-
pears to be Mealie Spruit, where the
Bloemfontein road crosses a tributary
OF the Modder river.
ESCAPED FROM PRETORIA.
dispatch from Lorenzo Marques,
dated to-day, announces the arrival
there of Captain Haldane, of the Cor
don Highlanders, and Lieutenant Lem
esurier, of the Dublin Fusiiers. who es-
capped from Pretoria after perllous adj
ventures. 1t appears that after Win
ston Churchill's escape the sentries
were doubled. electric lights were in
stalled. additional barrlcades were CON
structed and the officers were confined
IN the model school after $50 p. IN.
captain Haldano says that after
several unsuccessful attempts they sue
ceeded In cutting Off the electric light
but even then the street lamps pre-
GUIDED an attempt to escape. and they
decided to hide in the space beneath
the building, to which trap door had
previously been secretly constructed
ms it had been announced that the of
1icers would be removed elsewhere In
few days. when 1t was hoped the two
men would be able to escape. But the
removal of the prisoners was postponed
y and the two men. In the damp. subter-
ranean dwelling, began to despair and
4 commenced digging in different dircc-
tions In the hope of finding a suitable
a exit. The work was most arduous. as
tney mad only screw-driver and
a ssewer With which to dig the ground
which was rs hard as rock. The i'm
s nrisoned prisoners. March Is, heard
somebody above say the officers would
be removed the following day. After
passing twenty days Underground in
a cramped position and subsistinG ON
n little food and water supplied by
some of their fellow prisoners, who
were In their confidence, their delight
Mt the good news was indescribable.
3 The following morning they heard the
officers above leaving, and all day long
the room was filled with curious Wis
1tors looking at the clever caricaturcs
on the walls drawn by the prisoners.
When evening came the noise ceased
/ and Haldane and Lemesuricr crept to
the trap door, They were so weak that
they could hardly walk, but gradually
recovering they made their way T7c..As,zsS
courtyard. got over the ratings and
reached the street
THE TRAP DESCRIBED.
+ Bushman's Kop, Sunday, April L.
Following the scouts of General
TTencnS cavalry division to the scene
4 oil battle, this correspondent witnessed
+ one of the most terrible spectacles of
the war. Horses lay stffened in the
various attitudes of sudden death. and
mingled among them were CHASTITY hui
man bodies, with the wrecks of wagons
and food and forage scattered on every
SIDE. Everything told of n terrible tale
OF surprise and carnage.
1t would be impossible to conceive
anything more ingenious than the Boer
trap, and the only wonder is that 81
single man escaped
On crossing the sprut. where Tho
ground rises Immediately toward
grassy Knoll, with stone slopes facing
the drift. one came upon an ENCLOSURES
from which 1t was possible to fire over
the DRIFT. At this point the spruit
anakes circular bend, while the south
. emDankment, which is protected by the
partially constructed railroad enrbank-
ment, enabled the enemy to pour in n
gazing fire OH three sides, as we'll as
double tier of fire la front.
when the convoy was first attacked
scene of frightful confusion followed
Ihe mules stampedcd and the wagons
were overturned, while the concealed
enemy poured in deadly fire.
When the first battery appeared Tho
rBoers seemed industrious OF continnjnc
the slaughter and called upon the Rrit,
ISM to surrender. At that moment
however. "B" battery. which was 90,
Gaping from the rear of the convoy
nnder heavy fire, wheeled into action
and began Smelling the Beers with tho
Tour remaining guns. The Beers con-