THE WILMANSRUST DISASTER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4896, 2 October 1901, Page 4

THE WILMANSRUST DIS AS TER.

tiOW THE TICTOEIANS BEHAVED.

Mr Bennet Burleigb in the ' Daily Telegraph 1 writes as follows of the terrible surprise of tbe Victorians after they bad turned ia and tbe camp was (sleeping on the night of the 12th June to tbe south of Burg-spruit and Middleburgh :— The Victorians turned in early on the 12th instant. Indeed, what else can troops do upon the bare veldt when night falls, and with it descend chiil boar frosts ? For then you are snugger if rolled in your blanket and waterproof. For tbe most part of the •rmjMveFe piled— nn unwise adherence to drill regulations, now more generally '-honored iv tbe breach than in the observance/ Boer knows better, and by day carries bis rifle slung over his shoulder, whether afoot or on horseback) and he Bleeps with it lying baodj- by his side, it is hiß weapon, i hio particular property and charge, ' and not to be Stacked and shuffled With promiscuous rifles. No sooner bad darkness set in than tbe Boers who were but a few. miles off, advanced to surprise the Victorians. Guided by traitors, they came on up the Talley, passing the picket without dbsHeoge. Viijoea posted part of bits men to command one side in case of accident) and Muller, with about one hundred and eighty men, stole towards the |#mp. AH - was quiet, save the touml ol the horses, which were securely picketed in a double line upon the east side, muncbipg the corn and mealies the Australians had spread out for them. Tbe saddles and bridles were ranged behind. By them most of the troops slept, but there were soldiers lying about by tbe carts, baggage, and guns. In the first— and last^Hsleep of many, about 8.20 p.m., there burbt over the still camp a wild roar, of Boer musketry, fired from a range of fifty yards It instantly swelled into a diabolical fcoraado, witfe » savage accompaniment of human cries, and the ear-piercing and heartracking shrieks of maddened, wounded horses. Without pause tbe Boers rushed in, firing their Mausers the while, and yelling} ' Now, you khaki ; yon English bastards, Hands up you bastard*,' bufc never reas/ng to ahoot Mid slay. Tbe groans of mangled men now' rose, and mingled 'with tbe screams of the struggling, plunging steeds. Over 180 of the poor animals were slain upon the lines. Half awake and ditzed, soldiers scrambled out of their wrappings and ran* to grab their

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rifles from the piles. But the Boers covered tbe stacks and shot the troopers down. Tbe officer in command of the pom-poms ran to cast one of them loose and use it. He was riddled with bullets in an instant. And still the Bbouting and slaying went forward, the enemy rushing wildly about tbe. camp. In the first rush around the horßelineß a Boer yelled at an unarmed eoldier, who had sprung to his feet, ' .Hands up !' Tbe trooper complied whereupon the Boer pulled the trigger of his Mauser, which was planted against the Victorian's breast, and murdered him. ' Oh, you coward !' roared a wounded officer stretched upon the ground, and frieziedly pulling out his revolver, he fired,, and stretched the Boer mortally wounded beside his victim. And still tbe bullets snapped and burst, for the enemy were using both expansive and explosive missiles. ' Never have I seen anything like it,' said an officer to me. ' Tbe enemy's bullets flickered everywhere, and many of. them burst into flame, flashing like very brilliant fire-fließ or lively will o'-the-wisps. 1 Some of our men escaped by getting among the dead horses and under the overturned baggage and saddlery. One or two basbm«?n caught loose hordes, mounted, and rode for life towards Middelburg and General Beatson's camp. Others broke away on foot, and, as best they could, struck north to reach the rail,way. Lieutenants Burnie and Hennessey were sleeping close by the end of the horse lines. When tbe roar broke out, Burnie snatched hiß' carbine from under his head. Boers appeared through the horse-lines, and one came straight for them, fired, but missed, whereupon Burnie, returning tbe fire bowled him over. Tbe plunging horses kept the enemy off: them. Seeing the camp in the BocVb possession—and tbe action was over in three minutes although some think it lasted a quarter or half an hour, and no wonder — Burnie, Hennessey, and two privates made their way out past on horses. In the darkness they saw Boers about, and fired upon them, meanwhile pressing forward. Tbe party bad but three rifleß. Farther on, near the creßt, they saw a thin line of Boers, placed to intercept stragglers and fugitives. A few rounds caused the enemy to leave an opening, through which all four ran, under a haiJ of bullets, managing to safely run the gauntlet. Once through, they took matters more lei surely, for the Boerß on guard at that point were dismounted men. Ultimately, and towards 2 a.m., they euc1 ceeded in walking into General Beatson's camp -without even being challenged. They found -that some negro servants, who bad also escaped, bad arrived before them with the news of tbe disaster, warning that camp. It appears that Yiljoen, within 10 minutes from tbe commencement of bis attack, brought up six harnessed horses and took bff tbe first of tbe pom poms. The second, which was under a tarpaulin, was removed later, ••together with about 1,000 rounds ofammuni tion and much small-arm ammunition rill the rifles and stores also fell into ' the enemy's bands, but moßt of the latter was burned. They got very few horses, however, so many having been killed or wounded. In tbe morning they released Mnjor Morria, 8.A.., and all their prisoners. Our casualtiesVictorians — were 19 or 20 killed and 40 wounded. The Boers were seen to remove at least eignt of their dead in a cart. They confessed to baying sustained considerable loss, despite the attack having been a complete surprise.