Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-06-08
BLOW STRUCK
BY DELAR[y
The British Suffer Heavy Losses In
a Battle Near Golden Reef
City.
thS CASUALTIES NUMBER TIA
'ih5 CASUALTIES NUMBER ia
Most Serious Engagement Since
the British Reverse at Mag
Iiesburg.
sOERs ARE FINALLY DRIVEN OFF
Leave Thirty-Five Dead on the Field
News Reaches England on tho Anniver-
sary of Lord Roberta Entry Into
johannesburg.

London, May 31.-On the ami
versary of Lord Roberts entry into Jo-
hannesburg the country has been
startled by the receipt Of news of des-
perate fighting and heavy British loss
es within forty miles Of Gold Reef
City. The battle at Vladfontein, on
the Durban-Johannesburg railroad. re-
ported by Kitchener today, Is the most
serious engagement since General
Clements reverse at Magliesburg. II
shows General Delarey was in no way
daunted by the capture Of eleven of
his guns by Genera Darlington six
weeks ago. The garrison Of Vladfon-
tein, apparently largely composed of
yeomanry, had TIA men put out of &C
ton. That their assailants came to
close quarters and suffered heavy loss
es is shown by the number of dead left
on the field. The dispatch from Kitch-
ener, dated Pretoria, May 30, fol-
lows:
General Dixon's force at Vladfon-
tein attacked yesterday by Delarey's
forces. There was severe fighting. The
enemy was eventually driven off with
heavy loss, leaving thirty-five dead.
regret our casualties were severe. The
killed and wounded numbered 174.
Four officers were killed."
"Delarey the silent"
Douglas Story, South African CORE
spondent Of the Daily Mail. recently
wrote of Delarey:
The most digniied of all the Boer
generals, General Delarey, has the APP
pearance Of a Hebrew patriarch, and
the manner of an old-time French
seigneur. And yet Is Delarey a true
Boer. The fine lines Of his Huguenot
ancestry are apparent in his high
bridged, finely chiselled nose, his we'll
poised head, his delicate hands and
feet. His breast is swept by a we'll
combed beard, and his whole stature
shortened by the massiveness OF his
fine beard. General Delarey stepped
into the wal with q fine repu-
tation as a leader. AS a field
cornet he had served his country In all
Of it's native wars since 1852 and when
the Free State was at war with the
Basutos in 1866 he had Cargo of q com
mando. For eleven years he has oc-
cupied a seat in the first volks-
raad and gained for himself there a
Widespread reputation as the silent
member. A lifelong opponent OF Paul
Kruger, he said some years ago in my
presence, to very intimate friends of
his and mine, No good can possibly
come TO this state until that old man
is out OF the way His known opposi-
ton to President Kruger cost him the
position Of commandant general when
Pet Joubert died.
I'm the war General Delarey has
been the silent man. And yet he has
lone work second to none in the field,
His chance came at Modder river. The
true story of Modder river battle has
not yet been told. Suffice 1t that Gen.
era Delarey, n not General Cron-
je, vas the moving spirit on the Boer
side. He chose the positions and he
fought the battle. 1t was at this fight
General Delarey suffered q tragic
loss. l give the little story exactly as
the weather-worn general gave 1t tc
me. Remember only hat It's tragedy
was infinitely deeper when one was in
the actual presence of the t%aciturn
sad-eyed man. with his soft voice still
ing the movement of his busy adult
ants.
How Ills Young Son Died.
Eyes, 1 had my eldest boy with me-
in the first battles. He was only Is
and NOT hig for hio ago btit ubarayay