The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-21
READ 1T IN THE SKIES.
French's Message That Made Glad
Hearts in Kimberley.

Modder River, Monday, Feb. 19.-Al-
though the rapid march of General
French's division was marked by num-
Der of conflicts, the actual entry into
Kimberley was unopposed When the
British were still eight miles off the
signalling corps intercepted a heliograph
message from the beleaguered garrison
to M0dder River, saying: The Beers
are shelling the town."
The advancing column replied: This
is General French coming to the relief
Of Kimberley
The garrison was incredulous and
thought the message was a Boer ruse
and flashed the query: what regiment
are you!"
The reply satisfied the defenders of
Kimberley that the anXiously awaited
succOr was at hand and "a few hours
later General French, at the head of a
column, made a triumphant entry into
he place the people surrounding the
troops and intermingling with them
cheering wildly grasping the soldiers
hands, waving flags, hats and handker-
chiefs ard exhibiting in hundred ways
the intensity Of their JOY. The inhabi-
tants had been on short rations for some
time eating horse flesh and living in
burrows under heaps of mine refuse.
Diminishing rationS were served out
daily az II o'clock, in the market square.
under the shell fire of tho en- my, whose
guns opened on the square whenever
the inhabitants assembled. No horse
food was left
Throughout the siege Cecil Rhodes
provided the natives with work and food
and thus kept them quiet.
The miles of convoy, bearing provi-
sions for the relief column and the
town. slowly wind ng its way across the
plain in the direction of Kimberley, was
the gladdest sight which greeted the
eyes of the besieged for four months.
General French's march was SO rapid
and the heat SO intense that many Of
his horses died Of exhaustion.
AT the crossing of the Modder River
the Beers bolted leaving their tents,
guns oxen, wagons and large quantities
Of ammunition in the hands of the Brit
ish. Moving northward, the Beers again
attempted to stem the advance, but Gen
eral French turned their flank and reach
ed his goal with insignificant losses
seven men killed and th:rtytive wounded
during three days, from Wednesday,
February 18th to Friday. February 18th.
After nights, rest at Kimberley, Gen
erai French's column pursued the Beers
to Brontveld, surrounded the kopjes on
which they We're posted ard shelled them
till nightfall when the Beers fled, leav-
ing many dead.
General Cronje left gun. his tents
food and clothes at Magersfontein.
BRITISH LOSSES.
London. Feb. 2O.-The War Office
announces the following casualties
among officers during the relief Of Kim
berley:
Killed: Lieutenant A. i. Hesketh,
Sixteenth Lancers; Lieutenant Hon. W.
McClintock Bunbury, Second Dragons.
Wounded Captain L. II. Gordon and
Lieutenant e. +. Brassey, Ninth Ian
GERS; Captain q. Il. Tuson, Sixteenth
Lancers; Lieutenants Il. l. Fordyce and
w. Long, Second Dragons; Lieutenant
II. NJ. Durand, Ninth Lanccls.
A CLEAN BRITISH SWEEP.
Kimberley. Feb. 1S-(By Heliograph
to M0dder RIVER Feb. 19)-Thc coun-
try is all free around Kimberley. The
Beers have evacuated Droniield, Salt
pan Spytfontein and Scholtz Mex. One
of their 12-pounders with ammunition
was captured, as was also their laager
at Dronfeld, which was abandoned on
Friday night
Rails are being laid to Modder River.
Several herds Of cattle have been cap
tured
Cecil Rhodes is in excellent spirits.
BCLLER'S CASUALTIES.
London. Feb. 20.-The casualties
among General Buffers forces in tine
fighting at Hussar Hill, Monte Christie
Hill and other places from February
18th to February 18th wera:
Killed: Captain T. II. Burney and 13
men.
Wounded: Six officers and 154 men.
THE P0EP LION AT raw