The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-10


was checked In a moment. There was a
stasger forward and then all that re
mained was a line Of poor helpless hu-
man beings, struggling on the ground In
agony. some rose again. perhaps not
knowing what they were doing and fell
pierced in many Instances with dozen
bullets. Those who marveiousiy escaped
the murderous discharge could only lie
with the others. hoping 10 escape OBJ
servation, the slightest movement % an
arm or leg, whether II was the death
struggle OF a wounded man or the incau-
tious attempt OF one ef the lucky ones %
get better cover behind a rock. drew
shower OF bullets. bringing certain death
not only TO the unfortunate man hinseif.
but TO many who lay around him. Still
ness was the only hope % life
The Losses Were Terrible.
81 viii not anticipate the offciai re-
turn. as the number killed and wounded
have been differently stated, but fear
they are very bad. l know that out q a
hundred men who charged with the two
companies sixty fell and that any escape
was due only 70 the unevenness of the
ground in certain spots. which partly con-
eealed at the critical moment portions OF
the line. The loss Of the inniskiilings
was stated to DO well over go out Of so
mustered that morning. but believe this
TO be an exaggeration; two companies
were left behind. only about 800 advanced
20 the attack. and probably 80 took part
in the charge. / should think 300 should
be nearer the mark. Five officers only are
left This disastrous charge took place
about o'clock, and there the unfortunate
men lay dead, wounded and sound. hud-
died together or scattered. Just as they
fell, covered by Boer rifles, unable 10
move or even to look around. the
groans and cries Of the wounded we're ter
ribIe TO listen to; some cried for help,
some for water. Once or twice. moved by
pity, a sound man would try to get his
wounded neighbor TO the rear, but no was
shot instantly What was felt during
those terrible hours will not attempt to
describe
Attempt Was Impossible.
.'The hill could not possibly have been
taken till Pieters hill on the right rear
came into our possession and till the
enemy had been driven from the kloof
and hill on the left. Moreover. II IL had
been taken II could not have been held
for the summit was swept by cross fire
and enfilade. In fact. the Irish brigade
was only saved from humiliation or cap
ture by the extraordinary steadiness OF
the soldiers under the enemy's guns and
the fact that q great part of the fire had
already been drawn. Nor could these
positions have given US any great tacti-
cal advantage Inc BptTS WOuiu SUN
have held the mountains from Grobelers
kloof and onderbrook to Pieters hill. and
their lines would have remained UNI
broken.
Suffering of the wounded.
II come now to the saddest part OF the
story. The poor wounded men who had
been struck down IN that gallant charge
remained where they fell not only all
Friday night. but during all the blazing
c..
night passed without relief. Not drop
OF water In their feverish mouths no
food, no help. but a tropical sun beat
their feverish head oh. the intolerable
agonos that were endured. IL one heard
that such thing happened In England
or ireland to "a horse or a dog one would
shlyer with pity. but here hundreds of
gallant Irishmen. who had fought as no
other troops have fought In this war,
were left on the battlefield to endure a
horrible death. Most of them OF course
died. one of them, "a very senior officer
whose name out OF pity l shall not men
ton. suffered so terribly that he begged
those near him to put him out of his
pain, He died during the day, for no
help came.
No rlag of Truce sent.
II will not attempt to apportion the
blame-~if blame there may be- Gen
Hart was present till Saturday. and Il
seems to me that flag OF truce should
have been dispatched asking for leave
20 bring In the wounded. The Beers
have never yet refused such a demand
and have Indeed been singularly kind and
consideratc In all such cases There have
been unanswerable reasons against this
but, any way. no attempt was made. and
an explanation ought to be demanded
On Sunday an armistica was asked for
and obtained. but the necessity was now
~