Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-04-04
the march resumed, and at . a. m. we

late creams to mail bags. 1t appears
they had allowed the train that we
had seen to pass unhindered. Another
came along, however q don't know
what our left wing was doing, and Of
| this they managed to derail some
trucks, but the rest of the train would
have escaped had it not been for the
resource of one of Theron's men, who,
Just as the train was moving on again,
sprang on the engine and smashed the
| vaIve, bringing it to a standstill. Fir
ing was already going on, and after a
few minutes the enemy shouted, 1--WE
surrender" Their arms were taken
and the dead and wounded seen to.
On the second day we reached, near
Reitzburg, the first range of hills since
leaving Fouriesburg. At 10 the next
morning a scout raced in with the
news that the enemy had captured our
convoy and was coming down on US at
full speed. A London fire brigade
could not have beaten our cannon and
horsemen in the race that followed for
the hills lying between ourselves and
the British, and no sooner were they
reached than heavy fire was opened
on the British cavalry slowly advanc-
ing across the plain in parallel lines,
under protection Of their guns, it is
true, but absolutely without cover. 1t
was a grand sight, shortly to be fol-
lowed by grander, for presently Cen
eral Philip Botha, the brother of Louis,
gave the order, Storm
| Out from the shelter of the hills the
burghers dashed, right in the face Of
the enemy, who halted at the sight and
fired rapidly. Never wavering for q
moment, our men raced along, each
! anxious to be first Then the British
cavalry turned and sped back to their
guns. The scene now resembled a
game of chess-at one part a cloud of
! English retreating fast, closely pur-
sued; another section making stand
and keeping their particular opponents
at bay, and a third party, lying in a
mealie field, brought a Nordenfeldt
into play, driving back the Beers near
est them. Presently firing slackened,
and the dashing little affair ended in
both British and Beers returning to
their respective starting points, with
honors fairly even.
| The British movement now became
more and more vigorous. We attempt
ed to cross the Vaal at n certain drift,
but when actually in the water were
! fred upon from the other bank. With
the enemy In front and rear we had to
retreat under shell fire to another drift
higher up where we managed to cross,
| losing a couple Of wagons in the proc
ess. Lord Methuen had marched from
johannesburg to intercept us here, but
| after O heavy engagement we forced
our way through and passed the rail-
way near Potchefstroom, meeting
| Transvaal commando which had occu
pied Potchefstroom on the previous
| day. We now expected little respite,
but our hopes were vain, for the Brit
] ish kept on our heels. Our mules, OK
en- and horses dropped out daily, and it
| seemed as If the shelter of the Maya
| liesberg range would never be reached.
That night we made another long
! and the following afternoon the first
| outlying hills of the Magaliesberg
! range were passed. At 6 o'clock the
enemy attacked In force, and the rear
! guard was forced to retire, losing five
| killed and wounded We continued
| trekking through Oliphant's mex, which
was being held by small body of De-
! larey's.
The wagons, safely through, outspan-
| ned beneath the tall green trees that
stud the pleasant valley beyond the
mex and by the clear waters Of the mer-
rily ripping Hex river. Beyond, an
! other mex lies, and this we also man
ned, although no serious attack was
expected there. We were wrong, for
on the second day the British rushed
| the pass, forcing us to retire. The
whole range had consequently to be
| given up, and a general retreat follow
ed. The road being clear, hot pur-
suit was feared, but for some, to US in
explicable, reason the British made no
advance, leaving us to recuperate at
| leisure.
| Anxious to meet Kruger and discuss
further operations, Steyn now took
! leave of De Wet. 1t was a short leave
taking, but significant. De Vets part
| ing words were:
President, they say the blood being and
still to be shed will rest upon my head. Be it
sol ! prefer that to surrendering and thereby
rendering useless all the sacrifices of the past.
Should peace negotiations be opened do not
clude them without my presence. l want no half
peacel
The president signified his assent,
and after a cordial handshake the two
parted, and the little column set out
! on its perilous way, Kitchener in the
rear, in front Baden-P Powell. What will
posterity say of the fact that the entire
party consisted of barely so men? We
pushed on rapidly and reached Pie
naar's river at dawn on the third day,
Here we found q commando in hourly
expectation of an attack from Baden.
Powell, who was bent on intercepting
US. After breakfast we set forth again,
and just in time, for scarcely had we
started than the first scattered shots
began to fall, followed by a rapid
Maxim fusillade, showing the expected
action had begun. Time and our charge
were too precious to admit of our TAX
ing part, however averse to leaving
during an engagement. and we cOntin-
ned on our way, listening and looking
back till out of earshot. Baden-Pow-
ell just missed US by an hour.
We were now heading for Middle
burg, but upon nearing 1t we heard
1t was In possession of the enemy, so
we sheered off toward Belfast Bel
fast also taken! 1t was really getting
monotonous, and we lost no time in
making for Machadodorp, which was
duly reached on the following day and
where a special train was waiting to
conduct the president to Waterfall On
der and Paul Kruger