Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-10

they are very bad ! know that out of
hundred men who charged with the
two companies sixty fell. and that any
escape was due only 20 the uneyenness
OF the ground I'm certain spots which
particularly concealed AT the critical
moment portions OF the line. The loss
OF the lnniskillens was stated TO be
well over 400 out OF 500 mustered that
morning but believe this 10 be an
eXaggeratlon. Two companies were left
behind. only about 500 advanced TO the
attack. and probably 400 took part IN
the charge ! should think 300 should
be nearer the mark. Five officers only
are left.
AFTER THE DISASTROUS CHARGE.
This disastrous charge took place
about o'clock, and there the un-
fortunate men lay dead, wounded and
sound, huddled together or scattered.
just as they fell covered hy Boer
rifles, unable TO move or even 90 look
around. The groans and cries Of the
wounded We're terrible 20 listen 10;
some cried for help, some murmured
for water. once or twice. moved by
pity a sound man would try 10 get
his wounded neighbor 10 the rear, but
he was shot Instantly, What was Left
durinC those terrible hours. ] win not
attempt TO- describe
"The bin could not possibly have
been taken I'm Pieters hin on the right
rear came into our possession and tIll
the enemy had been driven from the
Kloof and hin on the left Moreover.
II IL had been taken u could not have
been held. for the summit was swept
by cross-dre and enflade In fact the
Irish brigade was only saved from am
utilization or capture Boy the extraordln-
airy steadiness OF the soldiers and by
the enemY's guns and a great part Of
the Gre had already been drawn Nor
would the position have given us any
great tactical advantages. The Beers
would still have held the mountains
from Crobelers Kl0of and Onderbrook
90 Pieters HIN and their lines would
have remained unbroken.
sADDEsT PART OF THE STORY.
81 come now 10 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 dur
ing all the blazing heat OF Saturday
and even Saturday night passed with
out relief Not "a drop of WAGER in their
feverish mouths, no food. no help, but
a tropical sun heat on their heads, on.
the int0lelable agonies that were en-
dured. If one heard that such
thing happened In England or Ireland
10 horse or dog one would SILVER
with pity but here hundreds Of gal
liant lrIshmen, who had fought as no
other troops have fought In this war
were left on the battlefield 70 endure
horrible death.
Most Of them, Of course, died. one
Of them, a very senior officer whose
name. out OF pity, / SHAH not mention
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
Beers WERE ALWAYS KIND.
81 win not attempt 20 appoltion the
blame-if blame there may be- Gen
Hart was present tlll Saturday. and II
seems 10 me that a nag Of truce should
nave been dispatched asking for leave
20 bring In the wounded. The Beers
have never yet refused such demand
and have, indeed been slnguarly
kind and conslderate in an such cases
There have been unanswerable reasons
against this, but any way no attempt
was made, and an explanation ought
20 be demanded on Sunday an armis-
tice was asked FOR and obtained. but
the necessity was now more 10 bury
the dead than 10 tender aid 10 the
wounded"