The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-11-09
TALES OF PLUCK
AND ADVENTURE
Desperate Charge OF British rroop..

70 Donald, OF the Royal In
gineers, has just returned
10 England from the
Eaganda Proteetorate In the course
OF the campaign waged by England
against the Maganda rebels. Col Mac
donald was very prominent, lead
ing the British forces in many notable
encounters, in which his personal bray-
cry played an important part in turning
the tide OF victory. He bears his hoaors
very modestly. but tells a most in
teresting story OF the most striking OF
the many hand-to-hand fights in which
the troops engaged. The narrative is
thrilling in the extreme.
The enemy's position, he says, was
very strong, indeed. The path leading
to their villages was narrow and wound
up a steep ascent among rocks and
dense Jungle: their left flank was Sc
cured by practically impenetrable jun
gle and steep cliffs; on their right a
steep grass slope ran up for coo feet,
and was crowned by precipices fifty
feet 10 200 feet high. The chief, named
Tomatum. having first attempted TO
lead us into an ambuscadc and then
give the signal for attack, was SHOT
down. and our advance was com
menced by sending a section to turn the
enemy's right. This movement dis
closed the ambush.
Most OF the natives had apparently
mountain recesses. into which, when
they retreated with their women and
children, they drove their cattle and
sheep along with them. Lieut.. Han
bury Tracy captured one OF them in
au exciting way.
After much difficulty the place was
discovered, AMI proved TO be an enor-
mouse cave, which tunneled into the
heart Of the hills. The mouth Of this
/ formidable retreat was strongly barri-
caded with large rocks and logs OF
/ trees. leaving only a small passage by
which entry could be obtained, and II
was so dark inside that il was impos-
/ sible 10 see the natives.
AS the cavern was approached show
ers OF arrows were discharged by the
natives concealed within, which were
replied 10 by the attacking force firing
several yolleys into the darkness.
with considerable difficulty Tracy
succeeded in getting his men right mp
to the barricade, with the object Of
firing through it. At length, when this
was reached. half the Swahill section
were detailed to put it down, while the
remainder of the column were ordered
to fire into the cave and keep a sharp
lookout ON the llanks and rear.
"A party Of natives had meanwhile
collected on the hillside above tho
mouth Of the cave and commenced tc
roll down large stones on the attack.
ing force below. Fortunately all these
were caught by large projecting ledge
OF rock over the mouth OF the cave, and
did no harm.
AT length ar entry was forced
through the barricading, whereupor
the natives fed into the inner recesse'
of the cave, carrying away their deaC
and wounded; but large flock o.
goats and sheep two COWS and four
teen oxen were secured near the mouth
when the column once more movot
of with their spoils showers OF arrows
we're discharged at them by the natives
upon the hillside. who were, however
quickly put TO flight by few volleys.
"On counting over the animals i
was found that $50 goats and sheep
.wo COWS. two calves and fourteen oXeI
bad been obtained, in addition TO
large number OF hides and skins. Th'
column had but three men wounded
in this smart little engagement.
apparently, mCst OF the maraudin;
tribes have resort 20 mountain recesse
thousands OF feet up. Only occasion
ally could their caves be found In an
other sharp little fight one prisone
was captured, and from him was ascer
aimed the whereabouts Of the cave int
which these natives always take refug
should they be defeated in the open
Here they hide their women and chill
dren and drive their hOcks, and, as wa
found that day, actually victual them
selves against a siege. Were II not 70
this information the mouth or the ca7
would not have been discovered. Leay
Ing a rear guard above, Capt. Ferguson
with the men, clambered by a goa
track down the face OF the cliff. Tn
mouth OF the cave was nothing NOR
than a long horizontal flssure, an
could only be entered by crawling o
hands and knees.
"On entering the cave, which wa
found TO be Of vast proportions. th
men, lighted up as they were from b.
hind. made an excellent target for IN
poisoned arrows which were dis
charged in showers from all directioni
Hand-to-hand fighting resulted, an
after a stubborn resistance the native
were driven into the remote recesse
II was almost pitch dark here. tn
natives being concealed behind hug
boulders, and lying in cracks and cre'
ices. were perfectly protected froi
rife fire. Three men were capture'
The natives disappeared into the M
merous tunnels opening on his hol
Many sheep and goats and some c1tt'
were seized