The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-29
BRITISH FOUGHT
DESPERATELY
Their Efforts, However, Were Futile
Against Rush of Beers.
STIRRING ACCOUNT OF FIGHT
Enemy Climbed to Precpice OF Kople and
Charged With Irresistible Force-Brlt-
ish Fought GameIy aud Most OF
Officers We're Killed.
(By Associated Press.)

LONDON, December 2S.-The War Of
flee this afternoon caused to be posted
a list Of the British casualties at Zeafon-
mans company, consisting of three
companies of Yeomanry and two guns was
successfully rushed by a Boer force ur-
der the command of General Dewet. The
success of Dewet's attack. Six officers
and fifty men were killed, eight officers
were wounded and four are missing. It
IS expected that the missing officers were
taken along with the captured guns.
The numbers Of the non-comrnissioncd
officers and men wounded and missing
have not yet been received but the ag
gregate promises to make the Zeafonteiu
affair q memorable disaster to the Brit
iSl.
simultaneously with the above the War
Office gave out a dispatch from Lord
Kitchener chronicling a minor success of
the South African constabulary. who
raide6 Bothaville and captured thirty-si1
Beers
STIRRING. ACCOUNT.
In a subsequent message Lord Kitchener
sends stirring account of the fighting
at Zeafontein, showing that the wounded
and prisoners must number about $50.
He says that in the absence OF Colonel
F'irman, Major Williams, who was killed.
was in command. The column was en-
camped on the slope OF a kopje. the south
ern side of which was precipitous. Out
posts held the edge OF the precipice. The
northern slope. on which the camp was
pitched, was gentle. The outposts were
well pushed out. anG the position, nat
urally strong. had been entrenched. 1t
was moonlight night. The Beers appear
to have climbed the precipice and. mus
tering near the top at ? a. NJ. suddenly
attacked the picket on the summit. Be
fore the men could get clear of their tents
the Beers swoorred through them, shoot
ing the soldiers down as they came out.
Most of the British officers were shot
while trying to stem the rush. Lieutenant
Harwich himself opened fire with the
pom-poms and was shot through the
heart while firing. Lieutenant Watney
was killed while leading charge.
NO PANIC.
There was no panic, and all engaged
did their best. But once the picket was
overwhelmed the superior force of the
Beers had all tho advantage Including
the killed and wounded. about half the
column is now at Ellands River Bridge
The remainder are prisoners. y fifteen
FOUNDER. after two rounds, became
jammed. the men composing the detacf-
ment stood by the gun aud We're shot
down around IL.
Lieutenant Scarlet, who was wounded.
was overlooked by the Beers and left
behind He saw two wason-ioads of oead
and wounded Beers carried off. They
were mostly hit during the first attack
on the picket.
The Beers, who apparently numbered
about 100 under General DeWet, be-
haved well. leaving men to look after the
wounded
The Imperial Light Horse were fourteen
miles distant They heard of the fight at
430 an6 arrived on the scene at $50
After breathing their horses they galloped
after the Beers, who. however, succeeded
in reaching the broken country, where the
light horse were useless against superior
numbers.