The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-01-03
A TRAIN ATTACKED.
Bullets of Beers Perforate the
Carriages.

London, Jan. Lit is now ascer-
tanned that the Beers who trekked
westward from Vryburg, and who
were supposed to be going to Damara-
land, are making for the Prieska dis
trict of Cape Colony.
A dispatch from Cradock says: The
Beers burned an empty goods train
near Rosmead Junction. The authori-
ties at Rosmead have sent the women
and children away to Cradock. 1t is
reported that a commando has crossed
the line, and is making toward Mid
delburg.
Port Elizabeth, Jan. 1.-Reports
are in circulation here that the train
which was held up near Rosmead was
not empty, but had 60 of the Prince
Alfred guards on board who were re-
turning from the front and about 40
passengers, women and children. The
Beers numbered 200, with supports
that could be seen in the distance.
The soldiers defended themselves until
their small quantity of ammunition
was exhausted, when all were cap
tured, though subsequently released.
The passengers had narrow escapes,
as the bullets of the Beers perforated
their carriages. An officer and three
soldiers were severely wounded. The
railway traffic has been stopped, but
the Beers do not appear to have in
jured the permanent way.
Asks Aid for the Military.
Cape Town, Jan. 1.-The Cape gov
ernmentha called upon the loyalists in
! 81 districts, including Cape Town, tc
assist the military to repel invasion by
the formation of a paid defense force
Another Dispatch from Kitchener.
London. Jan. /. - Gen. Kitchener
telegraphinS . ON Pretoria Sunday
December 80, says:
"'The post at Helvetia was surprised Al
2:30 a. m, the enemy first rushing a A.
gun. At dawn the officer commanding thu
post at Swartzkopjes sent out a patro
and shelled the enemy out of Helvetia
making them ABANDON the gun temporarily
The Beers, however, formed our prison
ers around the gun and got away event
ually. No ammunition belonging to thu
gun was captured. The casualties wer'
four officers wounded and II men killed ant
% wounded. A column was sent out from
Machadodorp, but owing to bad roads i
failed to arrive In Time"
The troops which have borne tn,
brunt of this latest disaster were {
detachment of a Liverpool regimen
which had several times figured il
hard engagements during the summe,
campaign in the Transvaal. The siz,
of the casualty list indicates that tn,
fighting was bloody while it lasted.
While Lord Kitchener sends BAT
news for England on the closing da.
of the year, the press continues t,
take a surprisingly hopeful view Of
grave situation and of revelations o
an enormously wide field of Boer &C
tivity. Gen. De Wet is still at large
Kimberley is isolated. The Beers ar
in force enough to have captured
strong position at Helvetia, in tn
Lydcnburg district, while judginI
from Lord Kitchener's very recent ad
vices no progress is being mad
against the Boer invaders in Cape Col
ony. According to further telegram
Zeerust is practically besieged, blu
has provisions sufficient for fv
months. The garrison at OttoshooI
has been withdrawn to Lichtenburg
A dispatch from ~Carnarvon, dated Sat
urday, reports that the Beers VIII,
have been threatening that point werv
driven off and are being pursued.