The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, December 13, 1899, Image 1
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.
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Every subsequent insertion. 50
Contracts for three months, or longer wil
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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
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