The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, October 18, 1899, Image 1
EE SUMTES WATCHMAN, Established April, 1S5C "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Trutrrs." THE TKCE SOUTHRON, Established Jene. 3 2*6
Consolidated Au?. 2,1881. SUMTER. S. C., WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 18.1899 New Series-Yol. XIX. So. 12
Cfc WSt l asi m Butyim.
Ptiulisiied Sirery Wednesday,
-BY
ft INT. Gk Osteen.
SUMTER, S. a
TERMS :
$1.5(Pper annum-in advance.
A P V S R T I S S M E K T :
Ono Square first insertion..;............51 00
Every subsequent insertion-. 50
Contracts for,three months, or longer wil
be made at reduced rates.
AU comnmnicatioo8 which subserve private
interests will be charged forasadvertieoents.
Obituaries and tributes of respects will be
charged for.
England is at War
With the Transvaal
KRUGER SAYS SOUTH
AFRICA MUST BE
FREE.
London, Oct. 10 -The altimatum
of the Transvaal government is sato
rally the absorbing topic of conversa
tion at the dabs and in political cir
cles tonight.
The text of tbe Boer ul'timatcm on
arriving tbis morning waa sent with
all speed to Lord Salisbury, who
came to town this afternoon and a
dispatch box was sent to the Prince
of Wales, which is only done in cases
of special urgency.
The cabinet bas been summoned to
meet at tbe foreign office on Friday
next.
War preparations by Great Britain
are being pushed with the greatest
energy. The Wo!wich arsenal has
already forwarded to South. Africa
over 3,000,000 cartridges for rifles
and machine gone, and the reservists
continue to respond eagerly to tbe
mobilization proclamation.
Tbe Transvaal's ultimatum, whicb
is signed by F. W. Keitz, secretary
of state, contains the following :
"Her majesty's unlawfai interven
tion m the internal affairs of this re
public ia COL fi i ct with the London
convention of 1884, by the extraordi
nary strengthening of her troops in
the neighborhood of the borders of
this republic has caused an intolera
ble condition of things to arise, to
which this government feels itself
obliged, in the interest not only of
this republic, bot also of ail South
Africa, to make an end as soon as
possible ; and this government feels
itself called upon and obliged to j
press earnestly, and with emphasis j
for an immediate termination of tbis j
state of things and to request her
majesty's government io give as
surances upon tbe following four
demands :
First-That all points of mutual
difference be regulated by friendly
recourse to arbitration or by whatever
amicable way may be agreed opon
by this government and ber majesty's
government.
"Second-That all troops on the
borders of this republic shall be in
stantly withdrawn
"Third-That all reinforcements of
troops which have arrived in South
Africa since Jone 1, 1899, shall be
removed from South Africa within a
reasonable time as agreed upon with
this government and with the mutual
assurance and guarantee on the part
of this government that no attack
upon or hostilities against any por
tion of the possessions of the British,
government shall be made by this
republic during the further negotia
tions, within a period of time to be
subsequently agreed upon between
the governments ; and this govern
ment will, on compliance therewith,
be prepared to withdraw the armed
burghers of this republic from the
borders
.'Fourth-That ber majesty's troops
which are now OL the high seas shall
not be landed ia any part cf South
Africa"
To these demands is appended the
definition of tbe time limit for a reply:
"This government presses for an
immediate and affirmative answer to
these four questions and earnestly re
quests her majesty's government to
return an answer before or upon Wed
sesday, October 11th, not later than
5 o'clock p. m.
"It desires further to add that in
the unexpected event of an answer
not satisfactory being received by it
within the interval, it wili with great
regret be compelled to regard the
action of her majesty's government
as a formal declaration of war, and will
not hold itself responsible for the
consequences thereof, and that in the
event of any further movement
of troops occuring within the above
mentioned time io a nearer direction
to our borders, this government wiii
be compelled to regard that also a
formal declaration of war.
"I have the honor to be,
"Respectfully yours,
} "F. W. Reitz,
"State Secretary.''
Late this afternoon the colonial (
fice gave out the text of the followii
telegram, transmitted by Sir Alfr;
Milner, British high commissioner
South Africa, to the secretary
state for the colonies, and receive
at 6.45 this morning :
.'Sir : The government of tl
South African republic feels itself coi
pelled to refer the government of hi
majesty. Queen of Great Britain ac
Ireland, once more to the conventic
of London 1884, concluded betwee
this republic and the United Kinj
dom, and which in article Xl\
secures certain specified rights to th
white population of the repul
lie, namely, that all persoi
other than natives on conformin
themselves to the laws of the Sout
African Republic
A-Will have liberty, with the
families, to enter, travel or reside i
I any part of the South African r<
j public.
!. B-They will be entitled to hir
or possess houses, manufactories
warehouses, shops and other preu
ieee.
C-They may carry on their com
merce either in person or by agent
whom they may think fit to employ
D-They shall not be subject in r(
spect of the premises or property, o
in respect of their commerce and ic
dustry, to any taxes other than thes
which are, or may be, imposed upo
the citizens of the said republic.
"This government wishes farther t
observe that the above are the on!
rights which ber majesty's governmeo
have reserved io the above conventio
with regard to the Outlander popalatioi
of this republic and that a violatioi
only of those rights conid give tha
government a right to diplomatic repre
sentatioqs or intervention ; wb*!e
moreover, the regulation of all otha
questions affecting the position of th
rights of the Outlander population
under the above mentioned oonveotioi
is handed over to the government a&<
representatives of the people of th
South African republic
Among the questions, the regulatioi
of which fails exclusively within thi
competence of this government and o
the volksraad, are iaciuded those of tbi
franchise and the representation of thi
people in this repuhlio ; and, althougr
this government and of the volksraac
for the regulation of the franchise ant
tbe representation of tbs people ii
indisputable, yet this government bat
found occasion to discuss, in friend!}
fashion, the franchise and representa
tion of the people with her majesty'*
goverameot without, however, recogniz
ing aoy right thereto on the part o
her u*ajesty'u government.
.'This government also bas, by th
formulation of the now ezistiog fran
chise law and by a resolution witc
regard to the representation, constantly
held these friendly discussions befor<
its ejes. On the part of her majesty'*
government, however, the friendly na
ture cf these discussions has assumed
more and more a threa:eniog tone, and
the minds of the people of this repub
lic and the whole of South Africa have
j been excited sod a condition of extreme
tension bas beeo created owing to the
fact that ber majesty's government
could no longer agree to the legislation
respecting tbe franchise and the r s
olution respecting representation tn this
republic, and finally by your note ol
Sept. 25, 1899. which broke ot! all
friendly correspondence on the subject
and intimated that her majesty's gov
ernment must now proceed to formulate
their own proposals for the tina! settle
ment.
"This government can only see ic
the above intimtion from her majesty's
government a new violation of the con
vection of London, 1884, which does
not reserve to ber majestj's government
the right to a settlement of a question
which is exclusively a domestic one for
this government acd which has already
been regulated by this government.
(,On account of the strained situation
aod the consequent serious loss in and
! interruption o! trade in general, which
j the correspondence,respecting franohise
I and the representation of the people of
! this republic had carried io its train
I ner majesty's government have pressed
I for an early s?ttlement aod finally
; pressed, by your intervention, foran
! answer within 48 hours, a demand
. subsequently somewhat modified, to
: your uote of Sept. 12, replied to by the
cote of this government of Sept 15,
and to your note of Sept 25, 1899;
and thereafter further friendly oegotia
I (ions were broken off, this government
receiving ao intimation that a proposal
! for a final settlement would shortly be
made.
"Although this promise was once
more repeated, the proposal, up to uos?
bas not reached this government.
Even while friendly correspondence was
still goiOg on, the increase of troops co
a large scale was introduced by her
majesty's government, the troops being
stationed in toe neighborhood of tbe
borders of this republic.
Having regard to occurrences in thc
history of ibis republic which it is
unnecessary here to call to mind, this
republic felt obliged to regard this
military foroe in the neighborhood of its
borders as a threat against the inde
pendence of the South Afrioan republic
since it was aware of DO circumstances
which would justify the presence of
such a military force io Sooth A rica
and in the neighborhood of its borders.
I "In an answer to ao inquiry with re
spect thereto, addressed to his excel
lency, the high commissioner, this
government received, to hs great as
tonishment, io answer, a veiled insinu
ation that from the side of tue republic
ao attack was being made on ber maj
esty's colonies, and at the same time, a
mysterious reference to possibilities,
whereby this government was strength
ened IQ its suspicion that the inde
pendence of this republic was being
threatened.
"As a defensive measure this gov
ernment was therefore obliged to send
a portion of the burghers of this re
public in order to offer requisite resis
tance to similar possibilities.93
London, Oct. ll, 1.15 p. m.-Up to
the present hour DO dispatches have
arrived from the Cape timeu since the
expiration of the ultimatum, so it is not
yet koowo whether the first shot bas
been fired.
A telegram from Pr tons, timed
7 30 yeeterday eveoing says : "The
situation is becoming more critical
hourly. Numerous Americans, Ger
mans, Frenchmen, Swedes, Belgians,
Norwegians, Danes, Italians, Dutch
man, Swiss and Cape Afrikanders have
gone to th3 border to fight for the
Transvaal, although they are not
burghers, while many British residents
also have taken the oath of allegiance.
The hope is expressed by many that
war will yet be averted/'
Nothing since this has bejn received
from Pretoria and doubtless telegraph
communication with the Transvaal is
now cut.
The absence of news from the Cape
since early morning is not due to an
interruption of the cable, but to the
immense pressure of work, the cables
being nearly monopolized by British
government dispatches, which take
precedence of ail others. Only two
cables run to Cape Town from Europe
and the one on the eastern coast is very
slow, so that practically all the work is
thrown on one Atlantic cable which
meaos that the present exasperating
delay will recur repeatedly during the
progress of the war and that the news
paper dispatches will probably be very
meagre.
Further particulars regarding the
correspondence between President
Steyn of the Oiange Free State and
Sir Alfred Milner, governor of Cape
Colony and British high commissioner
io South Africa, cabied from Bloemfon
tein, show that Sir Alfred on Oat. 7
slated that the imperial government
was reconsidering the situation in view
of the grave fact that both the republics
were on a war footing, aod was even
then prepared to oonsider a definite
suggestion for the termination of the
crisis. In another dispatch be savs :
"My object in all communications since
October has been to leave nothing
undone to prevent such action on the
part of the Transvaal as is calculated
to make a pacific solution finally impos
sible. I cannot, however, ask the
imperial government for a pledge either
regarding the disposition of troops in
British territory in Sooth Afrioa or
their dispatch from other parts cf the
empire.19
President Steyn replied : "The rea
sons for arming the Transvaal were the
presence of an alien, hostile population
in its midst which was always stirring
up hatred and endeavoring, for political
or financial reasons, to undermine the
independesoe of rho State. The Boers
have never taken the offensive, not
even after the Jameson raid, when the
Transvaal was strongly armed and there
were few British troops there.
"Regarding the Free State army, it
will be remembered tha the Free State
always lived at peace a jd in harmony
with its neighbors, and has everything
to lose and nothing to gain by a rupture.
The burghers will certainly not be
called out unless the government is
thoroughly ooovioced tba: the British
troops on the borders of both states are
a decided menace to the independence
of the Transvaal, which the Free State
is bound to assist."
Great preparations arc being made at
Southampton for the departure Satur
day of Geo. Sir Redvers Buller, and
a great demonstration is anticipated.
The Dake of Connaught, the Duke of
j York Lord Lansdowne, Gen. Lord
j Woi ley and Sir EveiyD Wood are ex
pected to accompany bim to Southamp
ton from London.
It is announced 'hat tho feet of
j transports cooveyiog Geo. Sir Redvers
j Huller's army corps will be escorted by
warships, while further dispatch boats
and gunboats will be sent to Soutu
African waters.
The government bas already expend
ed 1'5,000,000 oo naval and military
preparations, the orders placed wiih
contractors this week amounting to
L'600.000. The authorities, anticip t-j
ing a serious reduction io ibo output of I
South African coal mines, has ordered j
5,000 tons of English steam coai to be
6ent to thc Cape for the use of the war
ships
Tba outbreak of war has eeot up the
price of English wheat on various
oouotry markets. Th formers have
! refused ro ?e!l wheat under 30 shillings
i per quarter, in socne enees even holding
cut for a still higher price.
A dispatch from Kimberly says t-:at
Cecil Rhedes is expected there shortly.
_
INVASION OF NATAL.
London, Oct. ll.-A dispatch from
I Pietermaritzburg says Orange Free
j state troops have entered Natal by
the important pass of Cundy Clough,,
37 miles southwest of New Castle.,
and are advancing upon Ladysmith.
Durban, Oct. ll.-Morning -
There are persistent rumors from
Pietermarilzburg that a large body of
Free State Boers have entered Natal.
The rumor, however, lacks confirma
tion.
Boers Representative
Departs From England.
London, Oct ll -Mortague White,
consul general of tbe South African
republic in London, called at the con
sulate this afternoon and immediate*
ly ieft for the continent.
Mr. White's deoarture was not at
tended by any excitement. Before
shaking o fi the dust of England, he
said to a representative of The Asso
ciated Press : * The expected bas
happened. I only hope the hellishness
of this preraediated crushing out ot
a hardy republic is now apparent
Let me remind America that the onus
of war lies not upon those who fire
the first shot but upon those who
comped it to be fired.
"Technically we have temporarily
put ourselves in the atttUude of an
aggressor, but who would not have
done so if the existence of his coun
try was at stake ? I think we must
look far ahead to see the conse
quences of this war. Instead of the
pacifaction of South Africa, which is
the alleged act of Eogland, we shall
have perpetual unrest. These very
peoplejfor whom England is now fight
ing will turn against her io time
to come and protest against her rule
as bitterly as tbey are now protesting
ours.
"For weeks I had seen England's
determination to force a hostile issue,
cr rather Mr. Chamberlain's. I am
sure he is the only cabinet officers
whose mind was thoroughly made up
throughout all the negotiations
What his intentions were is evident
from the situation today. Had the
franchise been the chief grievauce,
our five year proposition would cer
tainly have beem accepted I have
reason to believe that England
enters upon her warlike course by
no means a unit. Opposition to Mr.
Chamberlain's policy exists to a
greater extent than is generally con
ceived.
Our evident desire to conciliate
has been much appreciated, and our
refusal to allow cur household affairs
to be administered by another nation
has not excited genuine indignation
here or in any quarter of the globe.
However, Mr. Chamberlain has ac
complished his purpose, and all hope
is gone. I believe, nevertheless, that
a considerable revision in British
opinion would be affected by any
serious defeat, for most of those now
supporting the government are doing
so with a light heart and on general
principles, not stopping to count the
cost of war
Mr White cited the Isandiwhama
massacre as an instance of such a
change in British opinion. He then
went on to say : "I suppose there
can be only one ultimate result of the
hostilities. As to the duration of
the war I am not able to venture a
guess. It seems to me a matter of
the greatest uncertainty. I hear that
Great Britain will not begin the wip
ing cut process until December. In !
the meantime we ehall see what we
shall see.
"I have received no special in
structions or news from the Trans
vaal during the last 48 hours, and I
expect none, having long ago re
ceived directions as to the course for
me to take when matters reached this
stage I shall remain on the conti
nent, and if anything further can be
done in the interest of my govern
ment, I shall, of course endeavor to I
do it. although there seems nothing!
left but to fight it out to the bitter, j
unjust end."
Mr White seemed much distressed
over the rupture, and evidently did
not entertain the least hope of Boer j
success.
He said the Transvaal agency in !
Brussels wouid be continued as the |
European headquarters of the gov
ernment.
Mr. White's reference to the}
Isandiwhama massacre is an allusion j
to the attack made Jan 22, 18T9, by I
some 15.000 Zulus upon the British j
camp at Isandula, or Isandiwhama,
about 10 miles from Borke's Drift, on
the Tugela Five compauies of the
Tw. nty fourth regiment, with Col.
Durnford, Lieut. Coi Puileine and
other officers, were massacred, the
British total loss being about 837
Two thousand Zulus are said to have
been killed
BOERS THREATENING
ACTIVE CAMPAIGN.
Their Pian of Campaign Not
Yet; Guesssd by British.
London, Oct. 13 -When the cabi
net meets at noon today it is evident
the Boer advance will be in fall
swing. Judging from present ap
pearances, the Boers are preparing
for a simultaneous invasion of five
separate points, Laings Nek, Kim-'
berely, Veyburg, Mafeking and Lo
batsi. Therefore, it is almost irapos
sible to guess the pian of campaign.
A dispatch from Durban, dated
Thursday morning at 8 o'clock, an
nounces that the Boers seized Alber
tina station and demanded the keys,
which were delivered to them by the
station master, who reached Lady
smith on a trolley car. The excite
ment at Ladysmith is increasing, and
the troops are ready to act at a mo
ment's notice.
The home preparations for war are
growing apace. The reservists are
responding more actively to the
proclamation ordering their mobiliza
tion and the government has engaged
more transports. In military circles
no apprehension is felt at any of the
movements yet reported on the part
of the Boers and it is not believed
they will make any serious attack,
preferring to wait for the British
advance.
The following is the text of the |
British reply to the Boer ultimatum :
"Chamberlain to Milner, high com
missioner, sent 10 45 p. m , Oct. 10,
1899*:
"Her majesty's government have
received with great regret the per
emptory demands of the South Afri
can republic conveyed in your tele
gram of Oct. 9 You will inform
the government of the South African
republic in reply that the conditions
demanded by the government of tbe
republic are such as ber majesty's
government deem it impossible to
discuss "
POURING OVER THE BORDER.
London, Oct. 12.-A special dis
patch from Ladysmith, Natal, says
the Boers occupied Laings Nek the
moment the ultimatum expired, and
are now pouring into Natal. Ingogo
heights have been occupied.
Official confirmation of the an j
nouncement that the Orange Free j
State burghers have entered Natal
by way of Van Keenens' pass is at
hand, it leaves no further room for
doubt that acts of war have already
been committed and that the cara
paten has begun.
News of an invasion on the north
ern border is also generaiiy accepted
as reliable. It seems improbable,
therefore, that a clash between the
forces of Briton and Boer can long
be delayed if, indeed, it has not I
occurred already.
BRITISH TRAIN SEIZED
London, Oct 12-Dispatches from
Durban. Natal, confirm the report
that the Orange Free State authori
ties seized the Natal train that was
leaving Ladysmith yesterday morn
ing for Harrismith They aiso stop
ped a train due to leave Harrismith
in the afternoon
AH the rolling stock has been or
dered down the country, out of reach
of the seizure
It is understod that telegraphic
communication with the Transvaal
ceased punctually at 5 o'clock yes
terday afternoon (Transvaal time )
BOERS DECLARE WAR.
Johannesburg, Oct 12.-War was
declared yesterday. The formal dec
laraticn occurred at 10 o'clock this !
morning.
CUT TELEGRAPH LINES.
Vryburg. Cape Colony, Oct. 12 - j
Afternoon. -A body of Boers have
cut the border feoce, advanced to
the railway and cut the telegraph
wires. Two thousand Boes are now ;
occupying the railway line
Spartanbcrg Oc 10-The will of
D Fi Converge was probated this after
noon. estate is worth about 350- j
000, or.e third of wbich goes to bis i
t * I
wife, one-third to his daughter /md the
balance to Converse college, after j
2,000 is paid to the Kennedy library, j
5,0U0 to a oepacw and another small
bequest or two. that gives tho coilege j
about. 110,000.
Boers Force the Fight.
English Await Movements
of the 3oera and Act on
Defensiv ?.
Loudon, Oct. 14.-An Ed Dbnrg
paper, the Scotsman, this morning
asserts that a battle has taken place
between Gen. Sir George Stewart
White, commanding the forces in
Natal, and the Boers, who entered
Natal by way of Van Keenans pass.
Gen. White, the Scotsman says, is
very sanguine of the success of the
British movement
The foregoing report is considered .
to be correct, as late last night the
war office had news of a British ad
vance from Ladysmith, and was
hourly expecting further intelligence.
A dispatch to the Da ly Telegraph
from its correspondent at Ladysmith,
dated at noon Friday, Bays : "A
stroBg mobile column under Gen. Sir
George Stewart White, accompanied
by Gen. Sir Achibald Sunter, pro
ceeded before daybreak this morning
toward Acton Homes for the purpose
of reconnoitering Gen. White's ob
ject was to observe what was going
on, and also to test the mobility and
efficiency of bis forces. All the
men are well and the weather is now
fine."
According to dispatches from La
dysmith to the Standard and to the
Daily Telegraph dated Thursday,
heavy storms have begun and forage
is scarce on the veld!;. Therefore
nothing is expected to happen for a
few days, unless the Boers, who
were reported to be advancing,
should threaten the British line of
defense drawn from Glencoe junc
tion to Ladysmith. In this case,
according to the dispatches, no ap
prehension is felt as to the result.
Gen. White bas 12 guns and the
Boers ll
The Daily Mail's Capetown corres
pondent, telegraphing Friday even
ing says : "I learn on good author
ity that the Boers are . attacking
Mafeking. They are reported to
have suffered several repulses. It is
generally admitted that Vryburg
cannot stand a strong Boer attack "
According to the Daily Mail's
Capetown correspondent, Mr.
Schreiner, premier of Cape Colony,
will unreservedly support the imper
ial government. His previous
reserve was dictated by a desire not
to drive]the extreme Dutch residents
to excess.
According to the same authority
the railway department had early
intimation of the intention of the
Boers to destroy railway bridges
over 14 streams, and sent adequate
forces to pretect these points The
result was that the Boers postponed
their attempts
Evart Grobler. member of the volks
raad for Pbilipopolis, has been elect
commandant geeerai of the Free
State forces. He is only 35 years of
age, is weil educated and was Free
State delegates to the Chicago exposi
tion.
The correspondent of the Daily
Mail further states that the Free
State force? have completed all pre
parations for the destructions of the
Bothulie bridge when that action
becomes necessary.
Boers Destroy Armed Train
._
Capetown, Oat. lo. 1.40 p. m.-An
armored train from Mafeking, escort
ing two seven pounder guns sent from
here to Mafeking, was attacked last
night at Kraipan. Apparently a rail
bad been removed. Tbe train left the
track and the Boers fired iDto it with
artillery for half an hoar and captured
it.
Telegraphic cornmanication with
Mafeking is interrupted at Kraipan.
Tbe women and children have been
830t to Capetown. Thc gaos refered
to belong to the coicny. They are
light and'ef old pattern. We nave no
details as to casualties.
Capetown. Oct. 13, 4.05 p.- m.-The
entire crew cf the armored tram, with
'.be exception of tbe engine driver.
were made prisccers by the Beers.
[r looks more ike 9 cents than 8
cents cotton eventually, in spire of the
Neil! proclamation. The season has
bci-n 8G ideal one for picking and the
staple is of a nlgb-^rade uniformly.
We understand that cur cotton mill
magnates are seeding cut purchaser?,
far and near. This is said to be an
unprecedented uodertakiog.-Augusta
Chronicle.
^^^^ BSO JUTEVi HJBE ^ WIPER
Makes the food more delicious and wholesome
ROY* EAKINQ POWDER CO., NEW Y0SK