Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-06-28


4 For Life by n Bullet Just When
z Scotland swept on to Triumph.
BoerrpRouted by Cold Steel.
How the Gordon hiShlanders at
| Thabanchu avenged their comrades
and beloved general who fell at Ma
gersfoutein is told graphically In the
London Daily News by A. q. Haies,
| the Australian correspondent for that
| paper. Mr.. Hales says:
when. a few months ago, 1 stood
upon the veIdt almost within the shad-
| Ow OF the frowning brow Of Mayors
/ fontein's surly heights, and looked
upon the cold, stern faces of Scotland
dead, aud listened to the weird wailtng
of the bagpipes, while Cronje gazed
| triumphaDtly down from his inaccessi-
| BILE mountain stronghold upon his
handiwork, knew in my soul that a
day would dawn when Scotland would
demand an eye for an eye, blood for
blood. I read it written on the faces
OF the men who strobe with martial
tread around the last sad resting place
OF him they loved-their chief. the
dauntless General Wauchope. Venge-
ahce spoke in the somber fire that
bIazed IN every ScOtsman's eye
That hour has come. The men who
sleep in soldiers graves beside the will
low clad banks of the Modder river
have been avenged. 1t was the LIST OF
May. We had the Beers hard pressed
in Thabanchu in run OF kOpjes that
reached in almost unbroken sequence
farther than Il mans eye might reach.
The flying French was with US, chat
ing Ike n leashed greyhound because
he could not sweep all before him with
one impetuous rush. Rumble, too, was
here. with his naughty, handsome face,
as keen as French. but with a better
grip on his feelings. Six thousand of
the foe, under Louis Botha. cool.
crafty, long headed, resourceful, have
held the kOpjes.
Again and again we unanswered to
trap them, but no wolf in winter is
more wary than Botha, no weasels
more watchful than the men he COM
manded. When we advanced, they fell
back. When we fell back, they ad-
vanced, until the merest tyro in the
art of war could see that n frontal at
tack. unless made in almost hopeless
positions, was impossible. So Hamil-
miles north of Thabanchu, and gave
them taste of his skill and daring,
while Rumble held their main body
at Thabanchu. Rumble made a feint
on their center in strong force, and
they closed in from both TANKS TO re-
sist him. Then he drew off. as If fear
ing the issue. This drew the Beers in,
and they pounded our camp with shells
,&I
man made rubbish they used would
last them much longer. Then we
threatened their left flank quickly and
sharply, giving Hamilton time to strike
on their right, and he struck without
erring, whipping the enemy at every
point he touched, driving them out OF
their positions and holding them firmly
himself, so threatening their rear and
the immense herds of sheep and oxen
they have with them, making n footing
for the British TO move on and cut
Botha off from his base at Kroonstadt.
1t was during Hamilton's thanking eff
fort that the Gordons indicated their
character for courage. Captain Towse,
a brave, courteous soldier and gentle
man, was the hero of the hour. He Is
n fine figure of n man, we'll set up, good
looking. strong, active. He was,
think, about the only soldier / have
seen who could wear an eyeglass and
not lose by it. In age he looked about
40
ION this fateful day Captain Towse,
with about 80 OF the Gordons. got iso-
lated from the main body OF British
troops, and the Beers, with that mar
vclous dexterity for which they are
fast becoming famous. sized up the pO-
sition and determined upon a capture.
They little dreamed of the nature of
the lion they had shared in their tolls.
With fully 80 men they closed in on
tie little band OF Killed men and in
triumphant tones called upon them to
throw down their arms and surrender.
1t was n picture TO warm an artists
heart. On all sides rose the bleak,
black kopJes, ridge on ridge. as in
as a watchdoS's growE on
one hand the little band of highland
ers, the picturesque colors OF their clan
in kilt and stockings, perfect
In all their appointments, but nowhere
so absolutely fiawless as In their lead |
ership. Under such leaders as he who |
held them there so calm and steady |
their forbears had hurled back the |
OF France and had tanned the |
Muscovite pride, and they were soon to |
prove themselves men worthy OF their |
captain
ION the other side rose the superior |
numbers OF the Beers. a wild and |
motley crew they looked compared to |
the gem of Britain's army. Boys stood |
side by side with old men. lads braced |
themselves shoulder to shoulder with |
men in their manhood's prime, ragged |
boards fell on still more ragged shirt |
fronts. But there were manly hearts /
behind those ragged garments, hearts |
that beat high with love OF home and
hearts that seldom quailed in
the hour OF peril. Their rifles lay in