New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-21
fHE BURIAL OF WAUCHOPE.
PEN PICTURES FROM SOUTH AFRICAN
CORRESPONDENTS.


by British war correspondents has been appearing
in the London papers during the last few days.
After tracing the terrible loss suffered by the
Highland Brigade Magersfontein, THE Daily
News correspondent thus writes of the burial
Of General Wauchope:
Three hundred yards to the rear of the little
township of Modder River. just the was
sinking in blaze of African splendor, on the even
low grave lay exposed in the breast of the veldt
trees, murmuringy to the eastward the
heights still held by the enemy. scowled menace
ingly; north and south the veldt undulated peace
fully. a few PAGES to the northward of that
grave fifty dead Highlanders lay, dressed as they
had fallen on the field Of battle: they had followed
their chief to the field. and they to follow
looked they lay face upward to the sky with
great hands enched in the last death agony. and
IN which they had fallen The plaids dear to every
looked. out of the distance came the sound of the
pipes; IL was the General coming to join his
with SLOW and solemn tread all that remained of
the u. hignland Brig2de In front OF them walked
81 ofice; then came the pipers, with their pipes
regatta Of their regiments. and IN the midst the
ae9d general borne by four of his comrades.
Flowers of Inc Forelf now -" rnein r on nd
high until the soldiers head went back in naughty
defiance and eyes flashed through tears like sun
woman mourning for hep r r8ans Wn the
proud heads dropped forward till they rested
Scared faces and the choking sobs broke through
the solemn tnm or the march OF death. Right
TO the grave they marched. then broke away in
companies. until the General lay in the shallow
grave with Scottish square of armed men around
nant Of his ofIcers stood with the cbansin md tbe
spoken 0'''i'" was
Then once again the pipes peaIed cut and "I.ocha-
her No More" cut through the stiffness like cry
OF pain, until one could almost hear the widow in
would welcome back no more. Then as if touched
by the magic of one thought the soldiers turned
I h tear damp eyes from the still form in the
shallow grave toward the heights where Cronje
every. cheek flushed crimson and the strong jaws
set IKE steel ana the veins on the hands that
ng with the ferVor OF the grip and that look from
than ever spoke the tongues of orators For on
each frownins face the spirit of vengeance sat- and
help the Beers when next, the Highland pihroeh
iano payonets charge for neither death; nor hell,
the enemy the General Was laid to pG en nearest
flcers grouped around him. whilst in line behind
him his soldiers were laid in double row wrapped
dead men resting peacefully: only the salute
was given and then the men marched campward
the farstretehing breadth of the veidt To the gen.
fewoPan who bears their Generals name the High
mothers and the wives, the sisters and the sweet
send their love and good wishes-sad will their
s SnTistmas be- sadder the New Year Yet, en-
preSs 10 sotfage girl let their lie the
died at MageTsfontein VIM
HOW THE HIGHLANDERs FELL
The same graphic writer thus depicts the way
In which the disaster overlook the Highanders:
III, uring the night It was considered expedient that
under e5ea HTgade about four thousand strong
cbaTee tbe tines Of the foe to make possible TO
iill-fated General moved cautiously through the
GaIkness toward the kopte where the Beers We're
Inc country out into the arkneS e eFePy inSh Of
q OJ-
u L each man stepping cautiously and slowly for
order was given in hoarse whisper and in whis
peTs II was passed along the ranks from man to
gloomy. steel fronted heights but the brushing of
So. onward, until of the clock on the rnorn,n,
q Monday Then out of the darkness a rife rang
sharp and clear, herald Of disaster-a soldier had
down by the enemy IN second ne az f wires laid
OF an eye. the searchlghts the Beers fell broad
doomed hndTs though Ie ef tff the Fa ene9 OF dne
behind them For oR 0e be mass f OF hills
seemed paralyzed by the suddenness of their dis |
gether Ike sheep within fifty yards of the trenches
f me ot zoe hen clear aboye the confusion rolled
ana, Ike an echo to the veterans, out came the |
from them The Highianders reeied BEFORE a fSs
shock Ike trees before the tempest. Their best
Mauehope was down, riddled with bullets: yet |
4 EasPPing Gylng bleeding from every vein. the
knees and cheered his forward. Men and Of !
The Black watch eRerged and the Gordon. and
the Seatorths' with yell that stirred the British
disaster The accursed wires caught them round
the legs until they foundered like trapped wolves
and all the time the rifles the foe sang the song
OF death in their ears. Then they fell back broken
and wounded Just where the broad breast of fb
easy Vei9t melts into the embrace Of the rugged
AFRICAN nils and an hour later the daWnfng came
or the dreariest day that Scotland has known for
generation past OF her officer the flower of her
cLlVaITy, the pride OF her breeding. but few re-
-4si+5 - Ieil Ie lale SAD tale truly but one
Tor up those heights under similar circumstances
even a brigade OF devils could scarce have hoped
50 So pass. a. that mortal men could do the Scots
dld they tried, they failed they fell and there is
nothlng left US now but TO for them and
All that fateful day cur wounded men Law close
10 me Boer lines under blazing sun; over their
Hecs the shots Of friends and foes passed without
c ce9TIng All day long the battle ragged; scarcely
SOola we see the foe-all that met our eyes was
Ie [ocky heights that spoke with tongue Of flames
whenever our troops drew near. once our guards
mace q brilliant dash at the trenches and like a
@ Ihelr resistess valor bore all before them
ana Tor a few brief moments they got within hit,
I5hg distance OF the foe. Well did they avenge the
- q the scots; the bayonets. like tongues
OF OIL name passed above or below the rifles guard
a az sWept through brisket and breastbone out
- the guarosmen tossed the
as men In English harvest fields toss the hay when
ne des reaperS' scythes have whitened the corn
the British Guardsmen stood. Then they fell hacL
Tor the IRE from the heights above them fell thick
ribbed coast. But the Guards had proved 70 The
tSoer mat. man TO man. the Briton was his mas
In vain all that day Methuen tried by every rule
ne ma knew 70 draw the enemy; vainly the Lancers
pets to come ont and cut them off Cronie knew
ao lst9e OF our men, and iroric laugh PLAYED
ms native fastness; but death sat ever AZ hts
snd ,b lI5 our gunners dropped the lyddite shells
me trenches ran blood and many OF his e Si,rn
Of ms b, e IN me valley behind his outer line
slope OF the hill was charneI house where The