The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-03
Six Beers Killed, Twelve Wounded,
Forty Captured and Incriminat-
ing Papers Seized.
PITCHER NOW AT DOUGLASS
OCCUPIED THE TOWN WITHOUT A
BRUSH WITH THE ENEMY.
GEN. BuIIer's Army Ready for Another
Attack-The Boer Joker Now
Using the HeIfograph.

LONDON, Jan. 2.-The War Office has
received the following from Cape Town un-
der to-day's date:
Colonel Pitcher reports through the Of
fcer commanding at the Orange river: I
have completely defeated a hostile COM
mand at the Sunnyside laager this day.
jan 1. taking the laager and forty prison.
ers. besides the killed and wounded. Our
casualties are two privates killed and
Lieutenant Adie wounded. Am encamped
at Dover farm. twenty miles northwest of
Belmont and ten miles from Sunnyside.'
A dispatch from the Associated Press
representative at Dover farm. dated Jan.
!. says: "a mounted force consisting of
100 Canadians Of the Toronto company
and 200 Queenslanders commanded by Col.
Richards, --vo guns and a horse battery
under Major De Rougemont, forty mounted
of the Cornwall Light Infantry, the whole
commanded by Colonel Pitcher, left Bel
mont yesterday at noon on a march west
ward. covering twenty miles before sunset.
The force en- -aped at Cooks farm, where
the troops were welcomed enthusiastically.
At o'clock this morning the force ap-
preached spot where a laager of the
Beers was reported. Colonel Pitcher on
approaching the position. which was
line Of strong kopjes. detached Major De
Rougemont with the guns, Toronto and
mounted Infantry to work towards the
right. making a turning movement himself
with the Queenslanders towards the south
position. The maneuver was a complete
success. The British shells were the first
indication of the presence of the troops.
The Beers left their laager and opened
fire. but the Queenslanders completing the
movement. the laager was captured with
forty prisoners. The British casualties
were two men killed, three wounded and
one missing. The whole force worked ad-
mirabiy. The two men killed belonged to
the Queensland contingent"
COLONIALS FOUGHT WELL.
Another dispatch from Dover farm, dated
JAM /. says: THE colonial troops who
have been longing to be allowed to meet
the Beers. have at last been given an op-
portunity to do so and scored brilliant
success. The raid. conducted by Colonel
Pitcher, was very difficult, owing to the
fact that the movements of the troops
were Immediately communicated to the
Beers by natives. In order to prevent this,
Colonel Pitcher in making his forced march
from Belmont left a British trooper at
every farmhouse. with instructions not to
allow the natives to leave their huts, the
patrols calling the names of the natives
hourly In order to prevent their escape.
TN the maneuver at Cooks farm. Col.
Pitcher sent mounted patrols east. One of
these. consisting OF four men, commanded
by Lieutenant Adie. suddenly encountered
fourteen Beers, who opened fire. The
lieutenant was severely wounded and Pri-
vate Butler gave up his horse in order to
carry the lieutenant out OF range An
other private. whose horse had boited.
pluckily returned to render assistance. He
was wounded in the leg and his horse was
killed.
Meanwhile Lieutenant Ryan, who had
worked magnificently. reported that the
veldt on the right of the enemy was clear,
vhereupon Major De Rougemont ordered
the guns to a trot. They arrived within
1.500 yards OF the laager unlimbered and
planted five shells in as many minutes
within the laager. Immediately the enemy
could be seen streaming over the kopje.
They were completely surprised, but
quickly opened well directed fire.
"a representative OF the Associated Press
had the privilege OF carrying order to
the Toronto company TO double-quick into
action. The order was received with great
satisfaction. The company rushed forward
until within a thousand yards of the ene-
my's position. when it opened hot fire
upon the kopje and completely subdued the
Boer fire.
"The British artillery shelled the posi-
ton with wonderful accuracy while
Lieutenant Ryan with mounted infantry,
worked round and completely uncovered
she fire OF the Beers. who had been en-
sconced In the bushes. Meanwhile, Colonel
Pitcher. with the Queenslanders. taking ad-
vantage OF every cover. made a direct at
tack. the Australians moving slowly but
surely and only shouting when they saw
the enemy retiring under their steady fire
The Queenslanders behaved with great
coolness. laughing and chatting even al
the moment OF greatest peril.
During the advance the Boer fire sud-
denly ceased. Thlrty-five Beers hoisted a
white flag and surrendered. A portion OF
the Torontos moved across the front OF
the guns and entered the laager. The Beers
had fed. Fourteen tents. three wagons. a
great store or rides. ammunition. forage.
saddles and camp equipment and numerous
tneriminating papers were captured. The