The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-01-24

~ lDt Hedu VI bIlt BIuNti NJ tht
point nearest the enemy the general was
laid to sleep, his officers grouped around
him, while in line behind him his sol.
diers were laid in double row, wrapped
in their blankets. No shots were fred
over the dead men, restingso peacefully.
Only the salute was given and then the
men marched campward, as the dark.
ness OF an African night rolled over
the far-stretching breadth Of the veldt.
'To the gentle woman who bears the
generals name the Highland brigade
send their deepest sympathy. To the
members and the wives, the sisters and
the sweathearts in the cottage homes by
hillside and glen, they send love
and good wishes. Sad will be their
Christmas, sadder the New Year Yet,
enshrined in every womanly heart, from
queen empress to cottage girl, let their
memory be the memory Of the Highland
brigade, who died at Magersfontein."
The Disaster TO the Hignandefs.
The same writer depicts the way In
which the disaster overlook the High.
landers;
During the night il was considered
expedient that the big Highland bri-
gade, about 1000 strong, under General
Wauchope, should get close enough to
the lines Of the foe to make it possible
TO charge the heights. AZ midnight the
gallant general moved cautiously
through the darkness towards the
kopie where the Beers were entrenched
They were led by guide who was sup
posed to know every inch Of the county,
out into the darkness Of an African
night Tho brigade marched IN line of
a quarter column, each man stepping
cautiously and slowly, for they knew
that any sound meant death. Every or.
der was given in hoarse whisper, and in
whispers IL ran along the ranks from man
10 man. Nothing was heard, as they
moved toward the gloomy, steel.fronted |
heights, but the brushing of their feet
In the veldt grass and the deep drawn
breaths OF the marching men,
80 onward until 3 O'Clock in the
morning OF Monday. Then out OF the
darkness rifle rang sharp and clear, u
herald OF disaster--a soldier had tripped
In the dark over the hidden wires laid
by the enemy. In second, in the
twinkling Of nm eye, the searchlights of
the Beers fell broad and clear as the
MONDAY sun on the ranks Of the doomed
though II left the enemy
in the shadows Of the frown.
ing mass OF hills behind them. For one
brief moment the Scots seemed para
yzed by the suddeness oftheirdiscoyery,
or they knew that they were huddled
.ogether like sheep within fifty yards
II 'the trenches OF the enemy. Then
lear above the confusion rolled the
'olce OF the general, Steady, men,
teady' and like nm echo 10 the vet.
rams out came the crash OF nearly a \
thousand rifles not fity PAGES from
hem. The best, their bravest, fell in
he wild hail OF lead. General Wauchope
vas down, riddled with bullets, yet
asping, dying bleeding from every vein,
he Highland ehicitain raised himself =
m his hands and Knees aud cheered his
nen forward ID
"Men and officers fell In heaps To. 81
ether. The Black Watch charges and
he Gordons and the Seaiorths, with "
ell that slirredthe British camp below,
lshed onward to death or disaster. The N
ocursed wires caught them round the 10
'gs until they floundered like trap. DC
ed wolves aud all the time the rifles ~ ~
the foe sang the song OF death in their a
lrs. Then they fell hack, broken and q
eaten, leaving nearly 1900 dead aud ai
ounded just where the broad breast ny
the grassy yeldt melts into the em. .ll
race OF the rugged African hills, aud sy
q hour later the dawn came ON the -
'eariest day that scotland has known !,
= generation past. OF her officers, Il
70 flower OF her ehiyalry, the pride oi ,S n.
" breeding, but few remained to tell ,m
- tale, sad tale truly, but one nm
inted with dlshOnor or smirched with
sgrace for up thee nights under sim. of
n circumstances even brigade of tol
wills could scarce have hoped to pass :"
I the mortal men could To as the Scots a
D. they tri,d, they failed, they iell Y
d there IL nothing lett now but To u
uge them. res
All thai fateiul day oar men lay clpse -
the Bocr lines undvr blazing sun. pu
day long the batllc ragged. S,arcelv asl
aid We s,a the ioc--all that met our
rs MAS the rocky hpivlts tb.t s,,,k -"