Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-01

o.
World copyrighted an account Of the
battle of ~Spionkop. The dispatch, which
Is dated Spearman's camp Jan. u, says
the fight on the SUNNI Of the kopje was
one Of the ~lercest and most furious con-
fiicts in British military history.
Guided by T~hornycroft, the troops sur
prised the Beers there and carried the
trenches with the bayonet at 3 O'Clock in
the morning. There was little loss.
At once the troops ~entrenched hastily
but the ground was broke by large
rocks ard unsuited for entertainments. At
dawn heavy Boer Smelling began. Cen
eral WOodgate was seriously ounded at
the beginning.
Urgent demands for reinforcements
were SEN by the commander who sue
ceeded Woodgate. The reinforcments
were sent, strengthening the defense
Thornycroft was appointed ~brigadier
commanding the whole force on top Of
the hill. A bitter and bloody struggle
followed throughout the day, the Beers
concentrating every man and gun on
the summit of the hill and attacking
with the greatest spirit.
The British artillery was unable to
cope with the superior long range Boer
guns and during the Afternoon it be-
came evident that the infantry could
not endure another day. 1t was impOssi-
bfe to drag guns to the summit Of Spion-
!kOp without elaborate preparations or
to fortify the hill strongly enough to
protect the defenses from u~nassailable
artillery. r
ThornycrOft's decision to abandon it
was both wise and necessary. The Brit
ish troops were stubborn and formidable
and marched back to the camps in regular
order. Every effort is now being made to
succor the wounded, of whom many still
HE on the summit. The official lists will
give the losses. The defense of the hill
by the English infantry, particularly the
L~ancanshire regiments, was a glorious
episode. The whole army is proud Of it.
The Boer positions before Ladysmith are
perhaps lim%pregnable to 5000 men, but
the troops are resolved to have another
try.
The public must initiate the eQuani-
nifty of the troops. Spionkop is not a dis
aster. Neither uns were lost nor un-
wounded prisoners made. 1t was simply
a bloody action in which Judgment in the
enemy's entertainments was effected, but
which proved untenable.
The Beers were sometimes within thirty
yards of the British line. They ave also
suffered. Their loss must be greater
compared to their strength han ours.
The process of attrition must ultimate
ly settle the war. The troops bear the
worst cheerfully and the nation must re-
main calm, dignified and determined.
London, "a 31.-Accounts of the battle
of Spionkop continue to filter in. All tes-
fifty to the terrible Boer fire. Several es-
inmate that the total losses of General
Buffers turning movement will amount
approximately to 1900.
When reinforcements arrived che troops
were much cramped on the top Of Spion-
kop. Preparations were made below to
secure the position, guns were on the way
and engineers Ia been ordered up to
strengthen the entertainments. Colonel
Thornycroft was not aware of this when
he ordered the retirement and he actually
met the artillery coming up.
General Woodgate was wounded about
? O'clock in the afternoon. Even then he
protested that he was all right and had
to be held down on the stretcher.
1t is reported that the Roer commander
at first insisted on the release OF some
Boer prisoners before7he would permit the
English to collect their wounded.
A curious incident Is related of the
fighting on Jan. "a. One of the Lancas-
hires,while firing from the prone position,
had his head taken clean off by a shell.
To the amazenent of his comrades the
headless trunk rose, stood upright a few
econds, and then fell.