University of South Carolina Libraries
rHB SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April. 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THK TRDE SOUTHRON. Established Jone i 3*6 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. Published Evozy ^Tednesday, 1ST. CS-. Osteenj SUMTER, S. C. TBRMS : ;$1.50 per anoam-in advance. ADVERTISEMENT: Ono Square first insertion.$1 00 Every subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer wil be ap.de at reduced rates. AH communications which subserve private interests will be charged fora3advertiement3. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be charged for. WAR IN AFRICA. Strict Censorship Still Main? tained. Landon, Dec 6, 4 30 a m -The censorship continaes to be of the strictest character Virtually no sews is allowed to pass except diaries of events within the beleaguered garrisons and positions According to the latest accounts of j the battle of Modder river, the Boer j are was the hottest on record and j will revolotionize existing theories. It was effective op to I 600 yards, but the casualties among the prone troops was trifling lt was found impossible to bring the British ammunition reserves to the firing line Many Boers weanling Red Cross badges were actually employed io serving out ammunition. j IQ connection with the many accu j sations against the Boer indifference j to the laws of ?var, a letter published in Cape Towo asserts that before the Transvaal ultimatum was sent the i Boer leaders discussed tbe policy of using the white flag, when driven into a corner, io order to deceive i the British commanders, and this policy was generally approved It is reported that the mobilization of a seventh division will be ordered at Aldershot, as a preparation for emergencies Tbe war office today received the following dispatch from Gen Fores? tier-Walker, ander date of Bec 5 : "Gen Methuen reported that at Modder river be found 23 bodies and that 27 -bodies -bave since Seated le? the surface of tbe river. The people say that some bodies were buried and that others were taken on muies to Jacobsda?, where the Euslin wounded were also taken. Com mandant Albrecht's wagon perfectly fitted up as a pharmacy and surgery, was captured. The enemy's loss was more than ours and their morale bas been much shaken. The following is a Boer version of the battle of Modder river : "Pretoria, Wednesday, Nov 29. DeUrey's officiai report states that a large force of British yesterday morning attacked his command at Modder river Heavy fighting lasted for hours Cronje and Delarey took qp strong positions, the Free ?taters being reinforced Delarey had IT killed and wounded, including his eldest son The Free Staters losses are unknown. At dark the Boers I retiied slowly to their positions, bav iog prevented the British from forcing their way to Kimberley." Awaiting on Battlefield Ar? rival of Supplies and Arms. London, Dec 7, 4.30 a. m -Again there is a complete lull in news from the seat of war Ladysmith has established heliographic communica? tion with Frere, and it is reported that all was weil up to Suoday A dispatch from the Boer laager, by the way of Lorenzo Marques, dated Thursday, Nov 30, confirms the report that the commandoes have been closing in upon Ladysmith and mounting big guns in new positions According to the same advices a heavy cannonade has been main? tained and a general assault had been ordered for Thursday morning : but was countermanded at the last moment Modder river dispatches say that j the Boers are encamped amid the bills half way to Kimberley ; but it ; in also asserted that a large body of j the enemy has gone in the direction j of Jacobedal. It is possible, there i fore, Lord Methuen may endeavor to clear his right flank as far as Jacobs dal before continuing: his advance He is still waiting at Modder river for stores, guns and ammunition. TOE BOER LO^ES. London, D^c 6 -A dispatch from Ladysmith, dated Monday, Nov 27, says : ''Have plenty of food, water and ammunition " The war effice has received the following from Gen Buller : Pietermaritzburgr, Tuesday, Dec 5 | -It is very d'ffi>ult to make any Statement in regard to the enemy's loss. For instanc , at Belmont 81 of their dead were accounted for The enemy gave 15 as the number of killed There is every reason to believe that the enemy's loss in the fight at Ladysmith, Nov 9, was over SOO killed and wounded. Informa tion from a trustworthy Boer source shows that at Hildy ard'e fight, Nov 23, the eueray lost 30 killed and iOO wounded. It is impossible to say how far these numbers are correct, but it is evident the enemy does not admit a tenth of the losses suffered Intercepted dispatches to Joubert from a commander 6bow that even official dispatches contain decidedly inaccurate information in this re? spect. I _, ON THANKSGIVING DAY. Ladysmith, Saturday, Dec 2.-The hottest bombardment of the siege took place last Thursday. The Boers got a new big gun in position on Lombard's kop, completely com manding the town, and shelled our camp that day and yesterday, plant ing shells with great accuracy iu the camp of the Gordon Highlanders and the Manchester regiment, where there were narrow escapes Today the enemy resumed the bombard ment, doing some effective shooting Several of our guns have been shat? tered by the Boer big guns . ACTIVE ABOUT STROMBERG Queenstown, Cape Colony, Satur day, Dec 2-The Boers have be? come very active in the country around Stromberg Junction, to which Gen Gatacre will make his next move The telegraph lines have been cut in various places and come? jication with Steynburg, Dordrecht and Ma ra?8burg has been severed It is be lieved here that the Boers have occupied Steynburg Firing bas been heard in the direction of Strom borg, probably between Gen Gata cre's vanguard and the Boer com mander Gen. Baller at the Front. About to Advance to Relief of Ladysmith. London, Deo 8, 5 a. m.-General -Boiler's arrivai at Frere is held to iodioate that all the preparations for an ; advance to the relief of Ladysmith are complete and that stirring news will soon be received. The faot that Lord Methuen is annoanoed as resuming his command at almost tbe same moment is iaterpreted in some quarters to mean that battles will be fought simultaneous I ly in Natal and at Spytfonteio. It j appears doubtful, however, whether ? Gen Methuen's foroe is yet ready for j what will eventually be a heavy i encounter. I The construction of the temporary bridge across Modder river has entailed enormous labor ; and evan now the structure is liable to be washed away should a heavy storm come Gen Methuen has been obliged to move his oamp a mile north in consequence cf the unsanitary state of the stream, doe to the presence of the bodies of dead Boert>. As the railway bridge was completely destroyed, he was compelled to leave a ooosiderabie foroe to proteo: his communications. A special corres? pondent sends tbe interesting informa? tion regarding Boer tactics that Commandant General Joubert has given general orders to reserve fire uotil the British are within the close range of 400 yards At the Modder river batrla the Free State burghers j became nervous, opened fired prema j turely. thus revealing their position, i -.ud iustrated the Boer plans. The government has decided to dis? patch to South Africa at the earliest possible moment, a cavairy brigade of I about 4 OOO men. j A ?-pec!ai dispatch from Modder river j ?aye everything points to the fact that I a great engagement will be fought at j Spyfootein. The Boers are massing on 'he hills :hcre, are vigorously building stcr etcoses and are digging rifle pits io every direction. Tho Boers7 redoubts on Lizretto ridge, west or K'ri)berley, are aiso being exttcded and screostneoed. showing that toe rumors of the intention of the Boers to abao r]co tbs attempt to stem Gen Methuen's advance are unfounded. The British have shifted their camp a few hundred yards away from the battlefield and are settling down for a wec-k There are some cases cf fever among the troops. Mach dependa on Gan Gatacre'a advance. There is undoubtedly a large concentration of j Boer1? ahead of Geo Methuen. Prac ! ?ically the whole of their Mafeking forces have joioed the Kimberley beseigers. A o tfficial account of tbe sortie at K obcrley Nov 28, when tbe British | casualties, ss cabled ye^erday, occur red ??vs : 4 The B iusb demonstrated towards Wimbledon rifle range. The enema's enos were positioned from the ri^ge at Spirskop to Wimbledon Piding M**j >r Scott Turner, wnh the monettd troops aitacked the enemy's right Sink, cap urhig a jaeger and three redoubts The enemy, io a.fourth redoubt, made a stubborn resistance, wben Major Scott Turner was killed. The British captured many shells and destroyed other stores The same dispatches give reports from Col Kekewicb, dared Deo 3 and 4, showing the Boers were increasing tn number? around Kimberley. The Boer advance in the northeastern part of Cape Colony is beoomiog re markable. The local farmers are flocking to the Boer laagers The town's peopie, in many instances, wel? coming thc invaders with every d?monstration of joy The annexation of British territory proceeds daily The reported Bier successes have made a great impression among the Basuros JULIAN RALPH'S REPORT London. Deo 8 -The Daily Mail publishes a dispatch from Julian Rnlnh, at Modder river, who says: 'The Kimberley people are troubled by the necessity of feeding 10.000 Bisutus io the diamond fields whom the Boers refuse to allow to depart and who, should they fail to get enough to eat. would become discontented and restless On the night of Modder river, K'tii berley, missing the accustomed signals from here, was in great anxiety fearing that we bad been defeated. The fact was that we did not use cur search light for fear the Beer's would wreck the apparatus. Five hundred aod thirty Boers were killed or wounded in the battle here That Batu ber ba? already been accounted for, at d 'he enemy's losses were probably much heavier."' Gens Baller's and Methuen's Forces Can Continue to Advance. London, Dea 9. 4 50 a. m -Lord Methuen's restoration of tbe railway, while relieving a load of anxiety here, accentuates the dangers still threaten ing his forces. It is gathered from the brief official dispatch that Commandant Prio8 Loos' contingent was taken between forces aoting from Belmont and southward from Modder river. I is quite possible, however, thar rein foroemeots were soot to Belmont merely as a preontionary measure There is little other news of import ance. Reports continue to come from Ladysmith that dissension exists among the Boers and especially that the Orange Free State troops are discon? tented There are also all kinds of minore of movements of oommaodoes from place to place, but the fact is thar little ?9 known here regarding the actual position of the Boer forces Moreover, the rumors of a collapse of Boer spirit have been heard so often as not to cause much satisfaction. Gen Forestier-Walker has sent the following dispatch, dated at 9 o'clock last Friday evening, to the war office, from Cape Town : .'Telegraph and railway commuoica tion to Modder river has been reopened A battery of field artillery and a batta lion of infantry were dispatoned from Modder river against Commandant Prins ' force of 1,000 Boers, with one lu, who bad destroyed tbe rail* .j. Oor losses were 14 io wounded "Belmont has been strengthened by infantry and two guns and a cavalry regiment and troop? from Naauwpoorr occupied Arundel Thursday. The enemy's forces near Gen Garaore are reported as follows: "At Dordrecht 800 marohing from Jamestown to Dordrecht, 700. with six guns ; at Stormburg, 1,700 ; at Waterfall, a large force, strength unknown ; at Molteoo about 400 Lord Methuen reports casualties Dec 6 on patrol duty, as follows : Missing; Lieut. Tristan and four men of the Twelfth Lancers : wounded, four men The war office has just issued the folowing : "No further news has arrived from Gen Methuen today, bat the following has been received from Orange river station ; 44 *A railroad culvert was blown up near Gras Pan this morning Tee teiegraoh was also cut. The gu'de.* reoort neaw firing of guns toward the north.' " The foregoing implies that tbs Biers have cat the line of communication behiod Gen Methuen, who apparently is DOW fighting The Times has the following from Modder river ?aced Tuesday, Dtc 5 : "The river is low and the railway bridge i? rapidly approaohiog comple? tion. The first train will cross tonight After extraordinary exer?ons thc pontoon bridge has been oompletcd. ! BRITISH ADVANCE ON COLEN? SO. Pretoria. Thursday, Dec 7.-The following dispatch dated today bas been received from the bead laager near Ladysmith : "The British aro ad vane mg on Coleneo, but last night r ?.s?rd without an attrck There wa? ad?$ol? ory cannonade tm's morning, the naval gux.8 in Ladysmith npiyiog vigor..;:?, y to our fire " New York, Deo 6. - A seat in ?he New York cro^k . 2<hani?e was tod?* sold for $40,000, the higher price ever paid. The Hunt For Aguinaldo. Gen Young Arrives at Santa Cruz. Manila, DPC 4-10.3u p. m -An Associated Press dispatch from Santa Cruz, province of I locos forwarded by courier to San Fabian, says that Gen Young, with three troops of the 3d cavalry and Major Peyton C March's battalion of the 33d infantry, arrived at Santa Cruz ?oday The Americans left Hamapacan Province of Union, this morning expecting to have a hard fight at lagodin, in South Illocas province, but thpy found, or arriving there, that 600 rebels, under Gen Tino, had evacuated thirty-six hours before deserting aa almost impregnable positiion The insurgents had been entrench a Tagudin, on the north side of the j river where a hundred weil discipiin ed troops could have slaughtered a whole brigade crossing tbe river, with the men ap to the arm pit in water. The residents of Tagudin received the Americans outside the town with a brass band They had been robbed of almost everything by the insur? gents and were glad to welcome friendly and protecting troops A similar reception awaited Gen Young at Santa Cruz Prominent citizens beaded by a band escorted the American officers to houses, where rest and refreshments were offered Gen Youngs command was almost without food The men bad been living on the country, which affords but (ittle, and the horses were com pletely worn out, most of them with out shoes Ge Young's desire is to pursue the rebels into the mountains There is no commuf'icarioo betweeo bis small com rnand and any of tbe other American columns?, exoepr indirectly, perhaps, by eiehtif g and signailiog Uoited States gunboat bound to or from Manila C>pt Rumbold, wirb 35 men of Com paoy G. 32i iofaotry; while escorting the signal corps laying the wire from Porao to Florida B anea, charged and rooted eeveory insurgents, killing a captain aod several privates The Americans found oo the captain a sword and revolver that were taken from rbe body of Naval Cadet Welborn C Wood, who was killed by the losargeurs while in command of the gaoboat U daneta when that vesse was captuted in the Orani River. AGUINALDO IN A STRONG? HOLD Manila, Deo 4 -ll *p. m.-An A*??oo?ared Presu dispatoh from Dagu pan, containing advices later than those from Santa C'uz Rays thar Gen Young b^pes to find Aguioaldo io B;oguet Mountain Pass and to caprure him rhere. B-th entrances to B'nguet are fortified Two troops of the 3d cavalry will reinforce Gen Young in the pass. SKIRMISH NEAR MIGUEL Manila, Deo 5 -9 05 a m -Col Hood, while reconnoitering near San Miguel, drove a force of insurgents from Ildefonso, killing several. Five Americans were slightly wounded. Heavy Force Insurgents Got Into Streets During Night. Washington, Dec 6-Gen Otis to day cabled the war department that he bas had no word of Gen Young for a week This is taken to indi cate that Young is continuing his hot pursuit of Aguinaldo and pro bab?y is in a country where he re? gards it as unsafe to use couriers Gen Otis' dispatch which follows, also gives an < facial account of Lieut Col Parker's engagement at V'gan : "Manila, D^c G Gen Young with 13 companies in fantry and nine troops cavalry not herd from since 29th ultimo He was then about 20 milee south Vtgan and most of the troops marching to his support, but then had with him three troops cavalry battalion Thirty third infantry and Macabebe scouts One company Thirty third infantry sent by boat to Vigan to reinforce navy there Lieut Col Parker. Forty fifth, reports from Vigan 5th inst that he has not heard from Yoong for a week Insurgents SOO strong, made attack on his force, consisting B company and 153 sick and foot sore meu Thirty third infantry, 4 o'clock morning Ith Entering city in darkness S"v*?rp street fighting ensued ; continued tour home, enemy driven otu, leaving j behind 40 dead 32 prisoners, mclud j ing many officers and 84 rifles; now j on outskirts entrenching Parker j says can hold out indefinitely ; pienty rations and ammunition His less eight enlisted men killed, three wounded. O.ie hundred and sixty men now being transported from San Fabian to his relief ; Young must be in vicinity with large force." Believe Aguinaldo is Back id Cavit?. Filipino Chief has his Great? est Strength in That Pro? vince. Manila, Dec 7, ll p. m -The ex ppctation of catching Aguinaldo in the north bas been practically aban? doned and the probability is that he wi li return southward if he is not al ready there, with bis destination Ca vite province, hie horne, where the ! insurrection began, and where it has j the greatest strength The Filipino I soldiers in that province have recent ly been showing increased enthusiasm and boldness and captnred insur? gents say that Aguinaldo is coming to join them with a large army The same belief prevails among the natives at Manila and elsewhere that Aguinaldo intends to make his head? quarters in Cavite province. There are about 3,000 insurgents before Imus and Bacoor, keeping the j Americans sleeping on their arms and j nightiy awaiting attack The Fill? j pinos have several cannon The I first mayor of Imus under the Amer- | iean regime, who ultimately deserted, j is their leader io the assaults a?.?d ia ambitions to take the town Three soldiers of the Fourth infantry have deserted and are now with the enemy j Moat of the inhabitants of Imus are i so strong in their sympathies with the insurgents that it is necessary to use a part of the regiment to patrol the streets and to prevent shooting from h oases whenever an attack be gins The American forces in the north bave separated into many small commands and are pursuing bands of Filipinos Gen MacArthur is en gaged in clearing the mountain coun? try west of the Manila Dagupan railroad Gen Grant is moving from Angeles toward Subig with 400 men. Col Beil is sweeping south from M engataren Thus far the American commanders have been unable to locate large bodies of insurgente, although there were about 500 in San Clementine, nine miles sooth of Mangataren, early in the week. Col Hood, with the Sixteenth regiment and cavalry and Gen Lawton with a force from San Isidro are operating against Gen Pilafs army io the San Mateo valley. Maj Batchelor with a battalion o? the Twenty fourth in? fantry is making a daring expedition. He left BayombaDg, province of Nueva Vizcaya, a week ago to march through Cagayan valley to the north coast of Luzon, intending to reach Aparri, at the mouth of the Cagayen river, the most important northern seaport of the island While no large forces are known to be in his path, it may be that be has bad some fighting, although the friendliness of the inhabitants is counted upon to help him When be arrives at Aparri | he will find a gunboat awaiting him j The Spanish prisoners in the Beuguet j region are escaping from tbe Fili j pinos and are flocking into Vigan j Several hundred are there already, and a steamer will go to bring them j to Manila Insurgents Fooled by Reports cf Victories Washington, Dec 8 -Gen Otis to? day cabled the war department in regard io the uprising in Negros as follows : "Manila. Dec 8. "I am informed the outbreak of natives in the district of South Negros was the rusiult of reported recent great insurgent victories in Luzon Panay, which the natives be lieve The extent of the outbreak not Jiscertained Lieut A C Led yard Sixth infantry, killed, two privates mounded One of our chief difficulties arises from the circula lion of falsehoods among the natives, defamatory newspaper articles of United States and Europe promptly published in Spanish in San Fcan cisco, Madrid and by Hong Kong junta and circulated in Philippines Insurgents have based all hopes upon iaise rumors " Montgomery, Ala, Dec 7 -Word roached here from Oreoshaw county that the ll-ye&r old son of Y> idow Rhodes shot and killed William Jones and mortally wounded John Pruitt, while they were attempting to force ao eotraoce into his mother's home. They battered down the door with a fence rail when 'he hov fired Think They Have the Train Robber. Bartow Warren, a Young White Man, Arrested on Suspicion. Special to The State. Charleston, Dec 6.-Bartow Warren, who was arrested by tbe detectives at the Southern depot last night, was sect to Orangeburg this morning. The sledge hammer, which was found on the platform of the express car after the robbery, served as a most valuable clue in the arrest of Warren. On the hammer was noticed a private mark and upon inquiry at all of the hardware stores in the city it turned out that it was one which a few days before the robbery bad been porchased from Lazarus on King street. Mr Simons, a clerk ia the store, remembered having sold the hammer and last night he identified Warren as the man who made the purchase. What connection the woman who was with Warren last night when he was arrested has with the robbery if any, is oot koown. She, it is said, was traveling with hito as his wife, but it is not believed that they are lawfully married She tefe the station house last night in company with two men, unknown to the police, and where she went to was not given oat by the police today. J B. THE EVIDENCE AGAINST WAR? REN. Information given to a representative of The State last night by a gentleman who bad been about tbe detectives yesterday, indicates that there is con? siderable circumstantial evidence against Warren. He is said to be a farmer who lives but a few miles from Branchville, aod after the robbery he was tracked aod followed by detectives to Charleston, where he speot money freely and was having a jolly good time when arrested. That is the story, and it will be seen today whether the detec? tives have anything more io reserve. A NATIVE OF BAMBERG. Special to The State. Orangeburg, Dec 6 -Bartow War? ren, tbs man arrested io Charleston last night and suspected of the robbery of the express car near Branchville last Friday night, was brought here this morning by Detectives Hogan and Miller and lodged in the county jail. The prisoner is a fine-looking young fellow, probably about 28 years of age, was well dressed and seemed to be making the best of bis ooenviable position .No statemeot could be obtain? ed from him nor from the authorities but it is understood that Warren wili be given a preliminary hearing some time tomorrow. Messrs. Sadler aod Richardson, Southern Express officials, also the two messengers, Sanders and Rhodes, were in the city all day. Sadler aod Rich? ardson left tonight bat will probably return to be here at the hearing tomorrow. The whole affair is shrouded io mystery aod it is simply impossible to obtaio aoy information relating to the facts of the case. While no btate ment could be obtained from the prisoner, several remarks were made by bim, from which any cae could infer >bat it is barely possible that he knows something about the robbery. This is merely an inference, nothing mere, but on the other band Warren also ss^erts (oararally, of coarse,) his inooerecs. The prisoner is said to be a nari ve of Bamberg County, well connect..?-, and, judging from his appearance, he heks anything faut a train robber, import? ant developments are ezpccic? ci the hearing tomorrow. Prpfr novel?, new paper Der*!?- at ? G. Ostern & Co' Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo is a sly fox ind a "siiek" flea We have captured, up to ?ate, his private secretary, twelve barren of his wife'? wardrobe, hi? ion. hi? mather, Hon. Mr Buencamino, tbe Thomas Jefferson of tho Filipino republic (author of its cocsfitutior;). Aguinaldo's hat, which he lost on hi? Jobo Gilpin ride to get out cf Gen Wheaton'^ v?sy, but we still lack Aizuioaldo himself. It would not bo surprising to hear of his being ki?lea by tho hostile tribes he is beading for or his escaping from tbe coast somewhere in a ship, and, by the way, what will we ever do with him if we get him ?-Charlotte Observer. POWDER Makes the food more delicious and wholesome ROYAL BAKING PQWOEB CO., NEW YORK.,