The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-01-25
Mothers
1: q !; 8 Z !! friend

22.-The quarters of Gems. White and
Hunter were smashed this morning by
shot from "Long Tom" 1t is not
known whether any of the occupants
of the building were killed.
Continue to lombard Kimberley.
Kimberley, Jan. 21.-The Beers con-
tinue an active and heavy lombard
ment of this place.
BOer Account.
London, Jan. 24.-The following ac-
count of the fighting is from Boer
sources:
Boer Head Laager, Ladysmith, Monday.
Jan. PA battle has been raging along the
oliviers Hook road since Saturday between
the Beers, under Pretorius, and $3.50 Brit
lsh The fighting is in full swing at Spions
Kop. The Beers under Botha and Cronje
have been sent thither. The British else
where are only making reconnaissance OF
the Boer positions. President Steyn was
under fire at the foremost position or the
Free Staters.
Fought Until Dark.
Boer Camp, Upper Tugela River, Sunday,
Jan. 21.-After Commandant Botha checked
the British advance yesterday morning, 1t
was expected that there would be no fur
Their action until tomorrow. This after
noon, however, signs were discerned OF
an intended movement in the British north
ern camp. When the heat, which was
more frightful than any yet experienced,
had worn off, the British cannon started
in full force, and the infantry advanced
in extended order. Gems. Botha and
Cronje held the high hills over which the
road to Ladysmith passes. When the
mauser fire opened a pandemonium of
sound filled the air. The vindictive crash
of lyddite shells, the sharp volleys OF lee
metfords and the whip-Iike crack of maui
sers were interspersed with the boom of
the Boer maxims. The battle ended with
darkness, but not without evidence of exc
cution among the British that were mani
fest at sunrise Field Cornet Ernst Emilio
was killed, nor did the generals escape UNI
scathed.
AT the central position, Swart Kop, where
the other road to Ladysmith crosses the
hills the British advanced from low kopjes
on the banks of the Tugela unmolested.
Then they entered the zone of mauser fire,
and although their naval guns kept up
the usual terrible racket, the advance was
stopped and the British had to count out
their dead and wounded. Commandant
Viljoen, and two burghers were knocked
senseless by an explosion of lyddite, but
Commandant Niljoen recovered. Field
Cornet Hebron was wounded and, on re-
fusing to surrender, was shot.
Deny Use of Explosive Bullets.
The British loss was probably insignih-
cant. They complain that expansive bull
let's in mausers were found in the field and
soft-nosed bullets with lee-metfords. The
Beers admit that sporting mausers were
occasionally found, but that they deny
the charge respecting expansive bullets.
Not a shot was fired by the Beers with
cannon or rife at the Swart Kop position
this side of the river. One thousand in
fantry and a battery advanced into the
second row of low hills between the re-
publicans and the river. Heavy cannonad-
ing proceeded at a range of 1905 yards, but
the Beers maintained the silence of death
This must have staggered the British, as
the advance, was stopped, and this morn
ing they had retired to their old positions.
resituntion Unchanged.
London, Jan. 24.-Field Marshal Lord
Roberts reported from Cape Town
Tuesday that the war situation is IN
changed.