The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-05-19
McEVOY Bros, PrOprietOrs.
Court Street

e-e<see-ss - -, - - =
,iGcs % sSs T:5Sc, icl~aen ne nns-
the tall grass had been fired by shells,
and the British In their soaked khaki
! looked at the warm glow with envy, al
though the rumor sped along the line
that some Beers had been caught I'm
the fire anu were burning up beyond
the reach of help. Next morning was
Sunday, and Hllyard's brigade rushed
n third gorge, adding another spur TO
the British captures, and all the army
I began to crow over the victories which
later turned out valueless.
In all these movements the British
held their breath, grlpped their wea-
pons for death struggles used up their
nerve and vlgor lighting men OF straw,
all with tremendous show OF energy
and valor. The Beers played good
game. They let no chance slip TO rake
the British advancing lines with shrap-
mel and often moved down the ranks
In heaps. Really the British died count
less deaths In Imagination
A lull followed one terrible outburst
OF Bocr FIRE poured into some Of the
Queens and Yorkshire regiments who
tried TO rush over the naked iat.
at was Of short DURATION" says the anonymous
writer whose story In Rlaokwood's Ia the basis Of
this account land was broken into by the Arst
shot Of six da.s' continual nlping aud yolley
firing, All along the ridge ran the steady roll o,
hre, from behind low sangers, big bowldcrs, from,
little dcprcssions, sometimesdying away In portions
Of the line, sometimes vdouhling In intensity
49, A. Al 49,
and then q company would top the orchcstra with
rhythmic yoloys, while thousands Of free lances
ON either side tthd their hands for a moment a.
u TO listen; then the independent firing would re-.
e5 SommePss rS by as gRg ss t@m -:
then two or three MaSims would chime In, and
the whole ridge resounded from end TO end, peak
calling to peak, uyine to ravine.
1T was TO this crashing accompaniment Of mus.
kcry that the writer's battalion moved forward
late In the afternoon 20 relieve a regiment upon
the crest line. shell or two wide OF the mark
and a sprinkling Of bullets dropping almost per-
pendicuarly were all the notice taken Of our un.
seen but doubtless aignaled advance, Evening
was Just falling whcu we entered the deep gorge,
at the top Vt which lay the battalion We had
come 20 ren,vo. II was a curious and depressing
spectacle Imagine huge basin oi blackish
brown earthcnware with sides 30 steep that your
neck is strained as you look up from your pos.
tion at the bottom From the encircling rim are
darting innumcFabe spurts Of Aamc looking Al.
most scarlet against the darkonng sky. These
are from the rides oi men clinglng like files 60
the crest line. All around casual whit. whitl'
more iclt than heard, AZ the MausF bullets whisk
down at the end Of their night and plop into the
soft earth or strike with q crisp split upon a
bowldcr There are not very many Of them now,
for the Beers are easing on after hard day. and
We are sending them ten Ice Mctford's for one
hauser across the plateau.
stony wall, The released battalion atumblos
weadly past us and disappears In tho gloom be.
hind 10 ita well earned rest. all save one OF its
officers who refuses 20 90 until he has found
some Of his dead lying out on the plateau. lie
pokea about In the darkness In front Of uS, nnds
the horrors he 10 looking Tor and on hls return
Joins us In hasty candlcght dinner With AZ
much unconccrn as II he had been out mushroom
picking"
During the night the Beers planted
some guns TO rake the gorge and show.
cred the British with small shot all day
the 22d. There was not an lnstant's
cessation OF fire, not an inch OF ground
gained nor an inch lost Another night
the counterpart OF that OF the 22d. bro
ken by the same fuslllade nc dawn, and
another day under ceaseless rain of
iron, and the battalion was ordered
back for a nights rest, then. early on |
the 24th, was sent forward TO support |
the attack on Splon kop. SpIon kop |
had been seized IN the night.
"As We started toward the fatal kop al was |
quiet upon its summit The stormsTi. having won |
Tho hill sitter bdsi sounho with = surprised pick
~ were busy feananging the confusion oi q nitht /
idvance and piling up sangam With the iew loose !
'ippes auailabls. The enemy. very much disoon-
ened for tha mornsny, were quarfsling IN tho
background az 20 THAR next move. ouly fsW
ardy spirits lay on the far end of the Ridge wait
ng Tor 'somethilg 10 tufn up,' Over ell lay
ensr mist and quiet which was ounousy con-
faated with ths iaroh yoleys from the spurs and
orgcs Of our LETT sttack. Then the sun foss and
he niats ned before a. when the last hlmy coli
at disappeaTed. one could 80 the crowded hg.
fra % the bhtish force like little black mari
neties against the light blue shy aud how thick
hey appeared
"suFoy the summit must BE- very narrow n but
nr brigade must huddle together In this manner.
mark such az artilleymen dream of, but seldom
ope 10 zee. The noer stilehsts sed thfm al
post a. soon o. We DO boom from The high
pound which fah iike the ofOstpieoe d z acfoss
Do lins ~ ths k0p- a pgn " woblly smoke Ia ths