The Saint Paul globe., 1900-01-29
STORY OF sp1oN KoP.

BOER HEADQUARTERS, Upper Tu-
gela, JAM "a (via Lourenzo Marques Jan.
25).-Early today burghers from the out
posts on the highest hills of the Spiors
Kop group rushed into the laager saying
that the kop was lost and that the Eng
lish had taken it. Reinforcements were
ordered up, but nothing could be done
for some time. the hill being enveloped
in thick mist
at dawn the Heidelberg and Carolina
conf1ngents, supplemented from other
commanders, began the ascent of the
HILL Three spurs, precipitous projec-
tions, faced the Boer positions Up these
the advance was made. The horses were
left under the first terrace of rocks.
Scaling the steep hill the Beers found
that the English had improved their op-
portunity and had intrenched heavily.
Between the lines Of trenches was ar
open veldt, which had to be rushed under
heavy fire, not only from the rifles,
but of lyddite and shrapnel from field
guns.
CALLING FIRE.
Three forces ascended the three spurs
Jco-ordinately, under cover of fire from
the Free State Krupps and big Max
I'm. The English tried to rush the Beers
with the bayonet, but their infantry
went down before the Boer rifle fire as
before scythe.
The Boer Investing party advanced step
by step, until in the afternoon, when
white flag went up and $50 men in the
front trenches surrendered, being sent as
prisoners to the head laager.
CENTER YIELDED.
The Boer advance continued on the
two kopjes east of Spion Kop. Many
Beers were shot, but so numerous were
the burghers that the gaps filled auto
matically. Toward twilight they reach
ed the summit of the second kopje. but
did not get further The British Max
inns belched flame, but wall of fire
from the Mausers held the English back
Their center, under this pressure, gradu-
ally gave way and broke, abandoning the
position.
The prisoners speak highly Of the
bravery of the burghers, who, despising
cover, stood against the skyline edges
of the summit to shoot the Dublin fu-
sf1eers, sheltered in the trenches. Firing
continued for some time and then the
fusileers and the light horse serving as
infantry threw up their arms and rushed
out of the trenches.
The effect of the abandonment of Spion
Kop by the English can hardly be gauged
as yet, but it must prove to be immense.
An unusually high proportion of lyddite
shells did not explode.
BoERs SURPRISED.
sPEARMAN's CAMP. Jan. 2e-About
2 o'clock on the morning of Jan. "a
wednesday,, when heavy clouds rested
on the kopjes, the main point of the
Boer position, Tabanyama, was stormed
by the British infantry under Gen. Wood
gate Our force crossed over a ravine
and climbed the mountain side steadily,
getting within thirty yards of the ene-
my's first lines Of trenches.
The Beers, who had been asleep. de-
camped, leaving everything behind, as the
British, with ringing cheer, climbed
to the summit. The Beers opened fire
from several points, but it was apparent
that they had been taken completely by
surprise and their resistance was dis
pirited. The western crest of the hill
was soon won, and the infantry crept
along to the top Of the hill. At day.
break, however, the Beers, from high
point on the extreme east, sent a with
ering fire among the British, which-mo-
mentarily staggered them. The Beers
had the range to nicety, and their ar
tillery sent several shells right to the top
of the crest, forcing the infantry to take
cover. A Boer Nordenfeldt also was
worked with great precision.
The British held the position against
great odds. At 10 o'clock strong rein
forcements were sent up the hill and
advanced in skeleton formation, the en-
emy being driven back to the extreme
southern end
STORY OF ADVANCE.
LONDON, Jan. "a special dispatch
from Spearman's camp, dated Friday,