The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-18
THE sTORMBURG DISASTER.
A Gunner's story Of the Trap Into
which Gatacre's Men Were Led.

A Gunner's Story Of the Trap Into
Correspondence of the Associated Press.
LONDON, Feb. 10.-One of the men of the
Seventy-fourth Regiment, who was in
charge of a gun that was lost at the Storm
berg engagement, writes to his father in
Newcastle from Sterkstroem, Jan. 9, as
follows: I'VE left the camp about three
thousand strong, under General Gatacre,
and reached Stormberg hill about 8 o'clock
Sunday afternoon. Under the hill the in
fantry opened out. but all of sudden the
Beers let us have it with the Mausers. We
were surprised in trap. and well we knew
it. The artillery of ours, which was in
battery column at close intervals. wheeled
into line along the plain. southwest of
Stormberg hill, to take up positions under
the enemy's fire. and 1t was during that
movement that the gun / was in charge of
got stuck in a ditch. There We were left;
It was awful, maddening, but the moment
the enemy saw the position we were in they
turned their fire on us. In a short time
they wounded my three drivers. All the
while / was under heavy fire myself. and
main to get the gun out, but 1t was all to
no purpose. For twenty minutes the Beers
pounded US. and in that time all the six
were killed. 1 must say that both the driv-
ers and the gunners acted splendidly.' Or
the eight of US not a man left his horse
until Major Lowrie ordered US away. Maj.
Lowrie, who has already got the ID. s. o.
at the risk of his life. galloped across the
line of fire with spare horses to try to
save the gun, but 1t was no good Then he
said to our party: Men. you have done
your best, and done it braveiy, too; leave
your gun, II cannot be saved This we did.
but we did it sulkily, thinking the Roers
would meet us again with our own. This
is the true story OF how the Seventy-fourth
lost their gun"
Commenting on the transport problem,
the correspondent of the Times at Queens
town writes: "It has been truly said that
an enemy fights on its belly-a fact that
some Of our generals at times overlook
and in the matter OF keeping man and
horse supplied with food the OK wagon
transport plays a great part In South
Africa. True it is that so far during this
campaign the railways have done all OF
this, but when the Free State is reached
the OK will be called upon. Meanwhile AT
various camps all over the country the OK
transport is being utilized for all sorts of
useful purposes. such as removal OF stores
TO outposts, carriage of fire wood and daily
camp necessities. In the Cape Colony alone
a contract is about concluded with Julius
We'll to supply 100 wagons, each with a
span of sixteen oxen. Though originally the
idea had been to allocate these in equal
proportions between three advancing coli
umns. the exigencies of the campaign have
resulted In one-third being sent 10 De Aar.
which supplies Naauwpoort. Arundel and
the Orange river forces. as called upon,
while the rest or about 40
Queenstown. In addition TO the
wagon contract another was concluded for
practically unlimited number OF small
spans OF oxen TO be used in military carts
and wagons. The imperial government
learned several valuable lessons In the Zulu
war and one OF these was to contract for
such transport and not to purchase. The
service is at once more efficient and I'm the
end Is undoubtedly more economical. The
contract could not apparently be in more
able hands.
Private Eade. who lies wounded I'm the
CONTINUED ON SECOND PAGE.)