The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-11-07
GALLANT COL. BENSON KILLED
SEVERAL OFFICERS AND FIFTY
FOUR MEN ARE AMONG THE
DEAD.
FIGHTING AT CLOSE QUARTERS
ENGAGEMENT MAINTAINED WITH
DISCRIMINATION ON BOTH
SIDES.

London. Nov. 3.-The British PUBIC
this morning will read with dismay
the announcement that the British
forces in South Africa have met with
another reverse. and that Col. Benson.
"a gallant officer, is'among the dead.
In the battle with Beers near Bethel.
In Eastern Transvaal, the British lost
two guns, several officers were killed
or wounded, and fifty-four men were
killed and ten wounded, Several or the
Injured have died of their wounds.
Gen. Kitchener's dispatch announcing
| the reverse was received late last
night Following is the text or the
dispatch, dated Pretoria, Nov. i:
II have Just heard of a severe attack
made on the rear guard of Col. Ben
sons column when about twenty miles
northwest Of Bethel, near Broken
laagte,
During Thick Mist.
The strength Of the enemy is reported
to have been a thousand. They rushed
two guns with the rear guard. but II is
uncertain whether they were able 10
remove them. / fear our casualties
were heavy. Col. Benson was wound
ed, but not severely. A relieving col
umn will reach him this morning"
Later Lord Kitchener telegraphed as
follows:
"Col. Barter. who marched from the
constabulary line yesterday, reached
Benson's column early this morning
friday, unopposed. He reports that
Col. Benson died of his wounds. The
other casualties are the following:
Killed, Col. Il. Guinness, Maj. Il. d.
Murray, Captains M. w. Lindsay and
f. t. Thorrougld. Lieutenants f. V. j..
Brooks and r. Z. Shepherd and Second
Lieutenant A. ]. Corlett. Died of his
wounds. Capt. Eyre Hloud."
Heavy British Losses.
Lord Kitchener then gives the names
of thirteen other officers who were
wounded, most of them severely, ana
announces that fifty-four non-commis-
stoned officers and men were killed
and 100 wounded, adding that four of
the latter have since died of their
wounds. The dispatch then says:
"I assume that the two guns have
been recovered and the enemy has
, withdrawn, but / have no further de-
tails. / deeply regret the loss of Col.
Benson and the other officers and men
who fell with him. With Benson the
service loses a gallant and most capa-
BILE officer, who invariably led his col
umn with marked success and judg-
mt mt The fighting was at very close
quarters and maintained with deter
mination by both sides. The
Enemy Suffered Heavily.
but I have not vet received a reliable
estimate. The Beers retiI ed east"
| Col. Benson has been for some time
I operating in the vicinity OF Bethel,
which is northeast of Landerton. He
surprised a Boer lager Oct. % near
| Trichardsfontein, taking thirty seven
prisoners. Three days later, according
to Lord J{itchener's report at the time,
after long nights march the COM
mardoes under Grobelaar and Eras-
mus heavily attacked Benson's rear
guard and TANKS at Yzirvarkfontein,
but were easily driven away"
Whether this was the attack which
resulted so disastrously or whether the
Beers, who had been repulsed, took adj
! vantage of the mist to renew the at
| tack, is still unexplained. Lord Kitch-
ener does not give the date of the
Bethel engagement