The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-04-06
SAVED BRADWOOD'S ENTIRE COMMAND
FROM CAPTURE.
AN AMERICAN WITH THE B0ERS
Tells of the Magnificent Pluck of the
Entrapped soldiers Many Acts OF
Conspicuous Gailantry Beers sur
prised at their Failure TO Capture the
sion of the waterworks-To Make n
stand Great Mortality Among Boer
Prisoners

buShma rs kOp, April 2.-Hearing
that the waterworks were deserted the
correspondent Of the Reuters Tele-
gram Agency rode forward today. Ar
irving at the crest of a hill a volley
was fired at him, and moment later
a man appeared at the top Of the crest.
He proved to be an American who de-
clared that he accompanied the Beers
only as a sight-Seer. He said that
never during his whole life had he
witnessed such magnificent pluck as
that shown by the British on Saturday,
and ne asserted that not only himself,
but the whole Boer army Were pro-
fondly :ouched with admiration at
their gallant behavior.
Ii appears that the Beers never
doubted their ability to capture the
whole British force and were dumb
founded at the courage displayed and
the mastery way in which the force
was able to escape from the death trap.
The Beers force was detached from
Kroonstad. joined the Ladybrand force
and again divided north or IhaDa
N'Chu, one portion following the other
treating forces The burghers engag-
ed consisted of Schoeman's command
which was accompanied by many for
egners. Commandant John Y. Blake
was present with the Irish brigade and
other foreigners.
DELAY IN GETTING ACCURATE
REPORT
London, April 3.-The war office has
posted a dispatch from Lord Roberts
reading as follows:
"Bloemfontein, April 2, 10:30 p. M
In continuation of my telegram of
March 31st. There has been consider
able delay in getting accurate returns
of the casualties, as the action took
place twenty-five miles hence. The
telegraph cable has been interrupted
Seveal times, cloudy weather. has in
terferred with signaling, and, although
there has been no engagement since,
the force is continually in touch with
the enemy.
MANY ACTS OF GALLANTRY.
There were many acts of conspicu-
Gus gallantry displayed during the
day. o. Battery remained in action,
under cross-fire at 1,2O0 yards, for
some hours, the officers serving the
guns as the casualties reduced the de-
tachments. Several gallant attempts
We're made to bring in two guns, the
teams of which had been killed, but
at each attempt the horses were shot.
'"The Essex, Muster, Shropshire and
Nortl? 3,mberland mounted infantry and
Roberts horse covered the retirement
of the guns from that position to the
crossing of the drift found by the cav
airy two miles further south and with
stood the determined attacks of the
enemy, who, in some cases, advanced
within 100 yards
AN ACTIVE BATTERY CAPTURED.
"A battery of the Royal Horse Artil-
lery was suddenly surrounded in the
drift and the officers and men were all
made prisoners without a shot being
fired; but Major Taylor and sergeant
| major succeeded in escaping in the
confusion. Five guns We're captured
at the same time Further details to-
| morrow"
BOERS TO MAKE A STAND.
Lord Roberts dispatch seems to fl
| naily dispose of the earlier report OF
| the recovery of the guns, and tne
| fact that the Beers remain in occupa-
| ton of the waterworks is taken as an
| Indication that they intend to make
| a stand at least sufficiently long tc
cover the withdrawal of the guns anC
| wagons to a place of safety.
Messages from Springfontein sugges
| CndI. The IdCI JIltl plSSS llicooo6Co ei
| keenly censored indicates an early ad
vance northward, although there is
question whether the loss of guns ant
convoy will not delay the commander
in-chief'S movements.
PASSENGERS FOR TRANSVAAL.
The German liner Koenig has agail
reached Lorenzo Marques, this tim
having on board 257 passengers boun'
for the Transvaal.
DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF
BOER PRISONERS.
Simonstown, April 3.-The conditio
of the Boer prisoners is deploraolt
The medical authorities seem unabl
to cope with the spread of typhoid re
yer. There were four additional death
last night and the sick are panic
| stricken The dead are buried wit
as much respect as the exigencies
the place admit, but a gun carrlag
is no longer used, a wagon being re
QUESTIONED to convey a number of col
: fins at single trip.
LABOR TROUBLES IN SAN JUAN
, Mobs Drive Laborers From The
5 Work-TroOps on Duty.