Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-08
CASUALTIES AT DORNBAALT
Both Beers and British Lose Heavily in
Dead and Wounded in the Fight,
CANADIANS SUFFER HEAVY LOSSES
one Party of Dominion Troops
Fight Under Fierce Attacks of %
Beers Until All Are
Killed.


KLERKsDoRP. April T.-Reports OF the
battle at Dornbaalt Farm, March 81, In
which the British had three officers and
twenty men killed and sixteen officers and
1871 men wounded, while the Beers had 1871
men killed or wounded, show that quite
1000 Beers opened a strong attack from
different points with three guns and a
pompon.
This attack was made at a moment when
the British had left their luggage in a
lager, in charge of the Canadian contin-
gent, and we're galloping across the open
plain with the intention of capturing a Boer
convoy which had been discovered Ave miles
ahead. The British retired steadily and,
having d~lsmounted, opened a return fusil-
ade on the Beers. While the luggage in
charge OF the Canadians was sent for the
British formed a camp and started digging
trenches. The Smelling Of the Beers STAN
peded the mules and caused confusion. but
otherwise 1t was not very effective, as many
shells failed to explode.
Front Attacked.
The Canadians front was attacked in
strong numbers, but they CALAMITY repealed
every attempt made by the Beers to break
through. One party Of the Canadians
fought until they we're all killed, and the
last man Of this party, although mortally
wounded, emptied two bandoliers Of cart
ridges at the Beers and then broke his
rife.
The lighting was severe and general for
fully three hours, but after the British had
entrenched and the guns got into action
the forces repealed numerous and determ-
ined attacks made under the personal ex-
hortations Of the Boer leaders. Towards
night the nre gradually ceased and the
Beers retired.
The British then telegraphed for aid and
further entrenched their camp for the night
to await the arrival Of General Kitchener,
but the Beers made no attempt to renew
the attack.
Careful computation gives the total
strength Of the scattered Boer commanders
at between 5000 and 5000 men.
Casualties AmOnR Canadians.
OTTAWA, Ont, April IA cablegram
from Book Neck. South Africa, to Lord
among the Canadian troops in the engage
ment at Hart River.
Killed:
SERGEANT JOHN CAMPBELL BERRY,
Guelph.
PRIVATE W. t. PETERS, cranbroOk,
B. c..
CORPORAL sEERRITT, Guelph.
PRIVATE W. VoLLWoRTH. Bevelstok,
B. G.
PRIVATE NJ. G. HUSTON, London.
PRIVATE G. N. EVANS, London.
PRIVATE w. P. X. MILLKEN, Peter
boro.
Since dead:
PRIVATE A. WEST, Montreal.
PRIVATE d. H. CAMPBELL, Brandon,
Man.
Dangerously wounded:
Corporal F. s. Mel. Howard, Montreal;
Private S. NJ. Biszont, Cranbrook, B. c.;
Private J. G. GRAINS. ~Cranbrook, B. c.
Severely wounded:
Sergeant A. Milne, Calgary, N. w. T.;
Shooting Smith, w. H. Hunter. Winnipeg,
Man.; Private j. c. Fisher, Vancouver,
Private L. Shelton, Mooseomin, N. w. t.;
Private F. b. Hodges. verdin, Man; Pri-
vate F. w. Denny. Calgary.
Slightly wounded:
Sergeant C. r. Othen, Brandon, Man;
Sergeant Thomas Western, Portage, La
Prairie, Man; Private A. Fortey, Winnipeg;
Private J. Simms, Nelson. B. c.; Private
P. Hendy, Rossland, b. c.; Private Alex
ander Mcdonald, Fort Steele, B. c.; Private
Harris, Halifax, N. s.; Private G. N. Boss
manger Halifax, N. s.
Field hospital, severely wounded: ]. G.
Gum, London.
The list is not complete.
PRETORIA, April "details received
here Of the rear guard action during the
night Of March 81 between the Second ORA
goon Guards Of Colonel Lawley's column
and the Beers, near Boschmanskop, show
that a force of 200 British. while endeavor-
ing to surprise a Boer lager, rode straight
into a force OF 400 Beers.
The night was dark. The Beers were hid
den in a drift and opened fire almost from
under the legs of the British horses. A
fierce hand -to-hand struggle ensued in
which both sides freely used the butt-ends
of their rifles. The British regsined the
ridge they had just left and began a rear
guard action.
In the meantime a strong force of Beers
had barred the road back to the British
camp. The coming of daylight enabled
Colonel Lawley to see the Guards were hard
pressed and he dispatched endorsements
with two guns to their assistance. The re-
Inducements soon compelled the Beers to
retreat. The Guards had had a very hard
fight and were ordered to retire by squad
ron.
Beers Press Guards.
The Beers disputed every inch Of the road
and continually attempted to rush the
Guards, shouting Hands up!" Al each
successive position taken up the British
appeared In diminished numbers, for as 1t
grew lighter the aim OF the Beers improved
proportionstely.
The following incident of the lighting Is
reported:
Commandant Pretorius, who was cap
tured the previous day in a Cape cart, was
In charge OF some Natal scouts. The
scouts rode into a party Of Beers dressed in
khaki. supposing them to be British troops.
The Beers opened hre and Pretorius es-
capped in the confusion. One report says he
was shot as hs ned.
Commandant PrinEloo is also reported to
have been killed in the fighting, as we'll as
other Boer oficers- The British wounded
who fell into Boer hands were we'll treated