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rs? SOMTBR WATCHMAN. Kctabiiahed April, isso. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established June I3h? Consolidated Aug. 2,1881 SUMTER. S. C.. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 28,1900. New Series-Vol. XIX. No. 35 ?j)tN ??it?rljiinit w? ^outljroit Published Every Wednesday, -Br JN". CSr. Osteen, SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : $1.50 per annum-in advance. ADTERTISIVIKT: Ons Square first insertion.$1 00 Every subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three month3, or longer wil be made at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private interest will be charged foras advertiements. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be charged for. The War in Africa. A LULL IN MILITARY OP? ERATIONS. London, Maroh 21, 4;50 am - While there is a lall in the military operations the political sorroaodiogs 6bow interesting developments The colonial office has telegraphed to Cape Town the text of the proclamation con? cerning the destruction of property. This will oct be published io London antil after tts promulgation io South ?frica, but it is known that it will con? vey ao intimation that aoy wanton destruction of British property dariog the war will be regarded as warranting a claim for compensation and as justify? ing a ievy upon private property, should the resources of the Transvaal republic i prove inadequate The fac? that the proclamation is issued by the colonial office is regarded as a significant indica? tion that the republics will be adminis? tered as crown colonie? Io this con- j neotioo it is understood that the leaders of the opposition in parliament now admit that no other settlement is possi? ble since the republics insist upon their demand for absolute independence ID view of this the efforts of the Liberals will be confined to securiog io the set tlement the best treatment for the dense population including security against their disfranchisement It is regarded as a settled matter that should the war be ended, as is now boped, before June, the government will dissolve parliament and appeal to the country on the basis of a success ful South African policy. Should the war drag on, dissolution will be post? poned until next spring In any evant one of the foremost planks of the gov? ernment platform will be army reor? ganization There is no farther information as to the movements of Sir Alfred Milner. It is regarded as certain, however, that he bas gone to Bloemfontein to arrange for the temporary administration of the Free State. The reply to Lord Roberts' commu? nication as to the ase of the flags of truce is commented upon a?) impertinent and ridiculous and Lord Roberts' course io olo?iog a useless discussion is commended as wise Indications from Natal seem to abcw that Gen Baller's forward movement viii not be loog delayed. The government has decided that Maj. Geo Frederick Carrington shall command a colonial force of 5,000. in? cluding the 2,500 meo Mr. Chamber? lain asked from Australia Lord Roberts Continues Act? ive Preparations for Ad vacoe Into the Trans? vaal London, March 22, 4 12 a m - Several telegrams have passed be? tween President Kroger and the British government, in addition to the Salisbury Kruger correspondence already published The foreign office received a dispatch from Pretoria yesterday The contents of these communications cannot yet be ob? tained So far as the military situation is concerned, there is practically no change Lord Roberts is continual ly making preparations for toe next move. As necessary to a beginning, Geos Gatacre aod Barabant are swiftly moving from point to point in the southean districts of the Free State, dispersing or accepting the surrender of any remaining Boers, toas ensuring the safety of Lord Roberts' communications before start ing towards Pretoria A correspondent of the Daily News at Springfontein. describing these movements, says : ' Gen Gatacre is sweeping through the country like a cyclone, with flying columns in all directions His swiftness and strat egy have proved of inestimable value to Lord Roberts " The rebuilding of the railway bridge at Norvai'e Pont will occupy j two months The temporary bridge will be completed in about 10 days Meanwhile supplies ^re transported j in an aerial tramway across the gap These works ripcessarilv dHay j tb? providing of supplies for the I advance Lord Methuen's movement? north I of Kimberley are believed to 'oe a j prelude to the gathering of 2. ,000 j mea with Kioberlev,. to i strike eastward from Fourteen Streams into the Transvaal The long and anxiously awaited news cf the the reiief of Mafeking has not yet been received Mr Schreiner, the Cape premier, has granted the request of the mayor of Cape Town that a public holiday be proclaimed throughout the colony on the relief of Mafeking. AMALGAMATION OF DUTCH STATES London, March 22 -The corres pondent of The Times at Lorenzo Marques, telef -aphiug Tuesday, says : *4It is reported from Pretoria that a soheme has been arranged for the amalgamation of the Transvaal and the Free State. President Kroger wili become president of the federated states and Steyo commaodaot general of tbe Boor army The fla? will be the same as that of the Transvaal, with en additional orange oolor. "Although the story is not confirm ed, it is not improbable. Ic is a notorios fact that. Gen Jaubert has lo.*: the confidence of the burghers simply because from th i first he refused to shut his eye* to the inevitable result of the war. With all the burghers io the field, it might not be difficult, to secure a formai endorsement of this rumored scheme. " TRANSVAALERS LEFT COLES BERG SUNDAY. Landon, March 22 -A dispatch to oqjL Staadard from Bloemfontein, dared Tuesday, S-J^S: 4 Four tonnes M Tran?, vealer* from Colesbsrg trekked on Saturday and Snoday to the northeast, going cy way of the Basutoland birder. They wiii probably be caught- ar one of the passes A striking feature of the advance on Bloemfontein was the abandonment of our communications with Poplar Grove. Lord Roberts, confident in thc ability of his transport to meet ali che imme diate needs of the army, deliberately ?eft the enemy at Abraham's kraal to do what they liked. The result folly justified him Tbe enemy to the sooth were paralyzad by the boldness and rapidity of the stroke, and General Clements and Gataore were enabled to cross the Orange river almost, witboot opposition .'NEGOTIATIONS PROCEED? ING ? London, March 22 -The Cape Town correspondent of The Daily Mail tele? graphing Tuesday, March 20. says : "I have just arrived from Bioemfootein. where I learned that no further move? ment is probable for three weeks, as negotiations aro proceeding I failed to ascertain tbe nature of the negotia t:oos or whether Sir Alfred Milner's departure from Cape Town is connected with them, but I shouid Lot be surprised if the war calUpeed quickly " Steyn's Warning to Kruger. London, March 21.-At Warren town, north of Kimberley, desultory figuring occurred all Sunday, result ing in tbe retreat of the Boers towards Christiana ooder sheli fire The progress of this column towards Mafeking has either almost ceased or is forbidden to be mentioned in dispatches Mafeking apparently still awaits relief The Pretoria account of the skir? mish at Fourteen Streams March 16th, says that a Boer command was preparing to destroy a railroad bridge and that tbe engagement lasted half an hour, with that result that one bugler was slightly wounded The same dispatch announces the arrival at the Tiansvaal capital of Gen Schalkburger from Natal. The second edition of The Times today publishes a dispatch from Bloemfontein dated Monday, March 19th, which says : "The blowing up of bridges by the Boers is an evident sign that the Transvaalers intend to abandon the defense of the Free State " Ali is quiet in the south and west A corps of young Boers from the farms surrounding Bloemfontein, under an imperial officer, bas been detailed for police work and to pre? vent tbe further looting of abandoned farms by the Kaffirs It is said that when President Kru? ger left Bloemfontein after his recent visit there, President Steyn's parting remark was: -'Mind the British do not catch you, or you will get better quarters at St Helena than I " Rudyard Kipling has gone to Bloemfontein. The Boers at Aliwal North are re? ported to be still holding a position in the big hills on the Free State side. From a Pretoria dispatch it appears | some misunderstanding regarding Lord: Salisbury's reply to America's offer of mediation exists there. It had been quoted to the effect that Lord Salisbury said he could accept tbe intenvention or no other power, which lead? to the belie! that the I American representations would be | listened io in tb No Startling News From Seat of War. London, March 23, 4 a. m.-A sain there is a persistent rnmor that Mafe? king has been relieved. The war office, however, deolares that there is no confirmation of the rumor and that no further news on the tubject is at hand. It seems certain Mafeking's only chances lie in relief by the colamos supposed to be advancing from the sourh or io the possibility that Colonel Baden Powell ts stiil strong enough to attempt a sortie, with a view of captur? ing the Boer guns, at a time when Commandant Snyman ha? withdrawn bis men to opposa Colonel Plumeros advance. All the reports regarding the British operations in the Free State continue most satisfactory It is resorted from L reozo Maraues that Pretoria is prepared to stand a siege of two years, and that the Boer womeo, frantic at the reverses to the Boer arms, are entreating to be allowed to shoot the British officers imprisoned at Pretoria It is announced from the Transvaal capital that the Italian government has ? declined to intervene. A report from Kroor.siadf, O F S., via Pretoria that the Boers, under the command cf Gen O?vier. had defeated toe British troopg under Ger Ga'aore ic the vicinity of Bethuli--;. is not believed here. ? dispa'ch to The Daily j News from ?priogfont??in, dated Tues ! diy, March 20, says Gen Gatacre w;is j "ali well" ard adds tbr:t he and Gen i Brabant bad not lost a dozen mon in a fortnight. The last advices also place Geo Gatacre about 30 miles north of Bethulic, where the Boer report says the defeat, was inflicted Tois, com hired with the fact that no mention of the affair was made by Lord Robers, in his dispatch of March 21, corjfirms tho belief that the Kroonstadt advioes are errooeous The reports of skirmishing near Lobatsi while apparently not inflicting any serious Ios9 an Colonel Plumer'e oolumos, cause grave anxiety io regard to his ability to reach Mafeking Fur? ther news from that quarter is anxiously awaited, for in the six days that have elapsed since the last messages were sent off a serious engagement may have oocurred, though not of Ccionel Plumers seeking The Boers seem determined not to give up their prey at Mafeking wi hout a fierce straggle. Io reply to the mayor of Cape Town's request to/ make ''Mafeking relief day" a public holiday, Premier Schreiner wrote : "May the holiday come soon and may a spirit of general good will and kindly consideration prevail later." The Times in its second edition, published a dispatch from Lorenzo Marques which quotes President Steyw as saying, at Kroonstadt, that the Boers could continue the struggle for six months longer While the Boers and British in the Orange Free State are taking advan? tage of the period of inactivity to enjoy a rest, those on the borders of Natal are beginning to show activity. A special dispatch from Durban says the town of Pomeroy, 30 miles east of Ladysmith, bas been burned by the Boers. A British detachment arriviog at Pomeroy a9 the Boers evacuated the place shelled the burghers, but they succeeded in taking op a strong posi? tion tn the hills with a force estimated to oumber 5,000 men It bas been learned that no new peace overtures have been made to Lord Salisbury, nor are any expected at present by Great Britain The tele? graphic correspondence has been confin? ed to the tre&tmSBt of prisoners. Lord Salisbury, as already cabled, is holding the presidents cf the South African republics responsible for tho welfare of British prisoners. The question of safety of Johannesburg and the gold mines there has not been raised. The correspondence exchanged be j tween Lord Salisbury and President Kruger will shortly be given to parlia? ment. Replying io the house of commons today to a series of questions on the subject of Geo Lord Metbueo and bis alleged disagreements with the officers of bis colamo, whioh have caused con siderable soandal, the parliamentary secretary of the war office, George Wyndham, declared no charge bad been brought against Gen Methuen by Col Gough or any other officer. Coi Gough, he added, has been informed that an inquiry would be held into his case. Col Gough is alleged to have been ordered home by Gen Methuen after declining to obey a command issued by the latter, and the colonel demanded a trial by courtmartial. SIT^NDER OF MANY DUTCH. ?LUOO, March 22.-Lord Roberts rr graphs from Bloemfontein under date of M rch 21, a* follows: "So maoy burghers have expressed ? desire j ro ?.urreod'T under rho t 'rms of tho last proclamation tba* I have sent small j olumcs in (ht. earious directions to register their names and take over their I avalry brigade has g.op_e/<a fchfl ! eastward to Thahancbu aod a detach j meot. from Spriogfontein has occupied j Smithfield, where eooe Transvaalers j aod a wagon with arms and ammuni j t ic ii were caotored The Scots Guards j are at. Edenburg and Reddersberg. ; Gen. Clements' brigade is marobing hither by way of Philippolis and Faure smitb " London, March 24, 4 15 a m - Lord Roberts' main army continues waiting; at Bloemfontein The inter? est in the fate of Mafeking bas in? tensified with the retirement of Col Plumer's forces to Crocodile Poole, where he was two months ago Relief from the north now dwindles to improbability Lord Methuen is skirmishing with the Boers at Warrenton. although seemingly in force sufficient to do pretty much as be likes, he bas not advanced these five days It is hoped that his military ambition will give a pleasant surprise to the Brit isher8 by smashing the seige with a strong column of cavalry and detour ing to Mafeking while Commandant Snyman is drawn off to engage Col Plomer. Gen French's cavalry and mounted infantry, according to rumor are fighting somewhere east of Bloem fontein This suggests more Boer , bad news, as Commandant Olivier's commando with 2,000 wagons is re ported on the Basutoland frontier, traveling northward toward the moun tains Gen Buller bas not yet moved in ! Natal j The Eighth division will go direct to Bloemfontein Lord Roberts' ef? fective disposable at the front 10 days hence will be. it is estimated. 70.000 men, with the easy possibil ity of moving eastward, forcing the Boers to evacuate the Biggarsberg range and joining hands with Gen Buller before continuing the prome nade to Pretoria. GEN FRENCH'S MOVEMENT London, March 23 -According to a special dispatch from Cape Town, dated today, Gen French's cavalry brigade is fighting eastward of Bloem? fontein FROM BOER CAMP. Boer Camp, Kroonstadt, Thursday, March 22 -Affairs are being put in proper shape and the Free Staters who had to leave ere returning in crowds Thepresident's proclamation has shown the burghers that the gov eminent is standing firm The com mauds are mobilizing in great num bers and the men are more determined than ever President Steyn has issued a proc lamation, in which he warns the burghers who lay down their arms and help the British that they are liable to the utmost punishment as traitors BOERS MEET PLUMER London, March 23, 9 21 p m - Tbe war office bas issued the fol? lowing : "From the General at Cape Town to the Secretary of War : "Cape Town, March 23 -The fol? lowing telegram has arrived from Nicholson, Bulawayo, March 16 : " -The following is from Plomer, March 14 : -The Boers advanced from the south in considerable force this morning Tfcey first advanced from Goodes Siding After a sharp little engagement Lieut Col Bodle's advance posts compelled to retreat The retirement was excellently car ried out to our main position The casualties included Lieut Chapman and a corporal, prisoners, and two missing, probably prisoners. Five troops were wounded Chapman's horse fell with bim close to the ene? my, who immediately surrounded him. The exact Boer casualties are unknown, but several were shot at short range. In the afternoon the Boers advanced farther north and shelled our position from a ridge on our left Our 12J pounder replied, the artillery duel continuing until sunset. Lieut A J Tyler bas since died of wounds. One native was kill? ed 9 99 1 Raleigh, N. C . March 22 - The most horrible crime in the history of North Carolina was perpetrated early this morning at Garners, five miles east of this city, when a negro Tom Jones, commonly known in the county as ''Preacher" Jones, murder ed Ella Jones and her oldest daughter, Ida Jones, and then set fire to the beds in which lay the bodies of the murdered victims and four others, all children, ranging in years from a baby one month old to the largest boy who was not more than five years cf age The work wns done with ai; axe. the murderer, according to the story of little seven year old Laura Jones, who escaped with lier younger sister, deliberately and coolly striking the mother four times and then making two heavy strokes into thc body of the oldest child. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST ROOT. Alleged That He Haa Grant? ed Mining Concessions IN BED OP SEA NEAR CAPE NOME Washington. March 21.-Upon the authority of the governor of Alaska, Mr Turner of Washington made the statement in the senate today that concessions for gold mining in the bed of the sea near Cape Nome, Alaska, had been granted by the spcretary of war, and upon that statement he based a resolution of inquiry Senator Turner said if such a grant had been made it was a ' 6hame and a reproach and a scan dal " The resolution was agreed to In a few minutes and without dis? cussion the additional urgent defi? ciency bill was passed, with one or two other measures of importance. Mr Allison gave notice that he would call up the conference report 1 on the Puerto Rican aopronriation j bill j Mr Turner's resolution directed the . secretary of war to inform th*1 sen ' ate whether any concessions to ex? cavate the gold bearing bed of the ; sea in the vicinity of Cape Nome, : Alaska or in other Alaskan waters have been made to any individual or corporation or association by the sec j retary of war or any other war de ! partment official and, if so, upon ' what authority such grant was made "The secretary of war," said Mr I Turner, "bas jurisdiction over the navigable waters in the rivers and harbors of the United States, and at various times has given to private individuals authority to excavate the bed of such waters for proper pur? poses Now, if this authority has been stretched to cover such a con cession as that mentioned ia the reso lution it is a shame, a reproach and a scandal " Mr Wolcott of Colorado said that in view of this extraordinary state ment the secretary of war would be anxious to answer any proper inquiry touching it If such concession had been granted it was clearly a viola tion of the law Mr Carter said it certairjly could not be in contemplation of the secre tary of war to give mining leases without a semblance of law "I tnink the resolution should be adopt ed," said Mr Carter, "as I am satis fied the response will show the secretary has not arrogated to him? self such power " The resolution was agreed to Secretary Root Explains Con? cessions. Washington, March 22 -Secretary Root made a brief statement to the press at the war department today in regard to the action of the depart ment in granting license to pros pectors to dredge the water front of Cape Nome, Alaska, io their search for gold Re admitted that two con cessions to dredge sand had been issued and 20 other applications are pending Re says they will all be granted He says no exclusive priv? ileges have been granted and there bas been no discrimination His authority was based upon the statutes giving the war department jurisdic tion over the navigable waters of the United States It was shown, he says, that the purposed dredging of sand would not interfere with navi gation " or the riparian rights of owners of adjacent territory The particular character of the sand to be dredged did not enter into the con? sideration of the case at ali The secretary said further that anyone was privileged to dig for gold in the open sea. and the only question con 8i"dered by the war department was whether such operations conducted j within the three mile limit were an interference with navigation or an infringement on the rights of others When these conditions were complied with the department was prepared to grant permission to anyone to dig in the beach at Cape Nome or elsewhere at any point lying within three miles of low water mark Secretary Root made it clear that the privileges in question were free to all responsible persons He will shortly submit his reply to the resolution of inquiry adopted by the senate. ?IBSOLUTEIY Makes the food more del ROYAl BAKING POWOI Mob Law in Virginia. Condemned man Who Escap? ed Prom Jail is Captured. Rich mond, March 23.-Tue negra who, with a white man, was engaged in the killing of Justice of the Peace Saunders and Mr Welton at Skippers in Greenville county Thursday, was after an all night chase captured at Stoney Creek, Sussex county. He confessed to the shooting of Saunders and Welton and to several robberies, among them that of the Gizzards at Emporia, but denied the killing of George W. Black, who was murdered in bis store some weeks ago and of wbicb he was also suspected. He is a negro, Cotton who escaped from the Portsmouth, Ya, jail some some months ago, while under sen* tence of death. ? posse was immediately started to Emporia, the county 6eat of Greenville. In the meantime a large crowd of infuriated citizens of Greenville bad gathered at Emporia, bent on lynch? ing Cotton County Judge Goodwyn wired the governor a request for troops and the governor promptly ordered Co B, Richmond Blues, to to report at the Coast Line depot, where a special had been secured, and queried the sheriS of Greenville to know if he endorsed the judge's request Later the governor received from the jadge a telegram stating that it was said his life would be in danger if the troops were sent The governor asked if he must construe this as a withdrawal of the request, but subsequently the sheriff's en? dorsement came, and the troops were dispatched They arrived at the scene early in the afternoon, and forthwith 6urounded the jail, to which Cotton had been taken, and where the white man who was with him when the killing occured, is also con* fined Cotton gave the name of several parties who, be said, were engaged in tho Black robbery and murder, and posses have been sent after them. THE MOB RULES. Richmond. Va , March 23.-At 9 tonight it was represented to the judge that if the troops remained at Emporia the mob would attack them lt was thea agreed that the sheriff should order the troops back, and a local guard be placed at the jail, the citizens agreeing that the law should take its course, and the sheriff in a speech pledged himself that Cotton shouid never leave the county alive. The other company of the Blues had been held here under arms ready to reinforce their comrades, but Maj Cutchins, who is in command on the scene of the trouble, telegraphed that they were not needed Thomas Wilson Building An? other Railroad Greenville, March 21 -There is a probability that the "Swamp Rabbit" Railway will be rebuilt Thomas Wilson, who it) largely interested io saw mill property at Williamsburg, bas bought large quantities of timber land io tho section of country through which the road roos Ic is understood that Mr Wilsoo is backed by tbs Aclantio Coast Line, which owes a portion of the road Ic is thought io some quarters, vrhere inside information is supposed to exist, that the road wiil Goally be extended on to Brevard, via Sapphire, N. C , so as co ruo io over the Henderson ville and Brevard Road aod make connection at Heodersocville, on the Western North Carolina Road, for Asheville aod Spartaoburg and other points west and east A line from Sappire to Brevard was graded several years ago. - lt 9 i i -? Washington, March 21 -The fact tbat the state department bas coosist eotly, throughout the many uprising? ia China necessitating the presence of foreign warships, adhered to its policy of actio g alooe is quoted here as sufi oient to iodioate the error io the statement connecting the presence of the gunboat Wheeling at Taka with aa international demonstration. - Washington, March 21 -Lieut Commander Seaton Schroeder, at present secretary of the naval inspection board, has been selected to succeed Capt Leary as naval gov? ernor of the island of Guam. ODD ??SM LBAKING POWDER URE icious and wholesome .R CO., NEW YORK. _ ? ?II ---i-IMF*T