Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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ras SCMTSK WATCHMAN, Established Apr!!, 1S50. Consolidated Au?. 2, 1881. Published Effary TSTe?nesdaT, -ur BJ. C3k Osteeiij SUMTER, S. C. TSK1?3 : ?1.50 per annaui-ia advasr-e. ADVBRTISKMBKT: One Square 5rst insertion.?1 00 Bverv subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer wil be made at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private interests will be charged foras advertiement3. Obituaries aad tributes of respects will be okarged for. Boers Are Awaiting The British Attack. And British are Awaiting Ar? rival of Lord Roberts. London, Dec 27, 4 50 a m -Dis patches from Sooth Africa are still greatly delayed. Kat they are arriv j ing more freely, which shows that the ! censorship bas been relaxed. There appears to be no great change in tbe situation A dispatch from Lorenzo Marques dated Thursday, Dec 21, gives the i following from the Boer head laager, dated Tuesday. Dec 19 : "The British naval guns at Colenso I ?ave been cannonading Bulwer! bridge, over the Tugela river, with a view of smashing it "The bombardment of Ladysmith I is proceeding siowly Gen Joubert : bas arrived here and beeu accorded a hearty welcome He addressed I the burghers on Dec 18 "More British prisoners have been ? sent to Pretoria A dispatch to tbe Daily News from ? Ladysmi?y, dated Friday, Dec 15, by i Heliograph, gays ? 4,Aoother sortie last Dight Gea Hunter, with 500 volunteers, destroyed ?we six inch Creusot gun, one Howhz?r pad one Maxim Ooo Briton killed. The Boer gunners fled.7' Tcere is an idea io some quarters here that G^o Baller's destruction of the Tugela bridge heralds an attempt to out o? the Boers now south of tbe river, bat the gsoeral opinion is that the British wi!l not make any serious move pending tbe arrival of Lord i Roberts. Dispatches from various points indi- t cate the steady growth of Du'ck j dissection. The Cape Town corres pondent of tbe Daiiy Chronicle reports i the discovery of a pict to connive at j tbe escape of Boer prisoners. The Times advises stern treatment of the disaffected Dutch colonists aod the enforcement of the penalties of treason against persons and property. The Stxtenvh Lancers willv go to South Africa from india at the special request of Ljrd Roberts, even after the government bad decided that no more troops should be withdrawn from Icdia The war ofiiae has nominated Sir William Stokes as consulting surgeon to the Sooth African forcea. He will leave Da bl ID for ibo Cape in a few days Lord Somerset writes to The Times urging the seizure of Lorenzo Marques and its retention if necessary, until the end of Ibe war, tn order to prevent tbe landing of war material for the Boers The transport Tantallon Castle bas arrived at Cape Town with a number of Howitzers and quick firers, which Geo. Baller urgently needs. - A dispatch from Modder river dated Thursday, Dec 21, reports that inter? mittent firing was oontiouiog oo born side?; although the B >er shells fell short A number of Free Srate burgh ers bad surrenderee. There is an un? confirmed report that the Canadian picket was cut off near B Imont. It is abo asserted that fever is raging amens the Boers The tests of wireless telegraphy a? Modder river have be^n bighiy success ful, communicition over a dis:aoce of 70 mile* baicg perfec'Iy established Six Marconi instruments, intended for J the Boers, have been seized at Cape Towo. j A dispatch from Chieveley camp, dated Thursday. D c 21., says: "Lyddite shells are daily thrown into the Boer camp to prevent them working at ?ne trencher. Toe firing of big guns j ?S heard daily from the ?ifec?ioa of L?d?smirh ;; j Comma?)fiant D?melioo, who was j captured at E?*r?d-;la3?fe and brou?h: j to Siwoatowo, where ho !-u?ce? d- d in making his escape frau) the British eruiser Penelope, has been rcca^tur ad. Augusta. D?o 27 -VV C 8 wa* arrested late last night on a warra- t sworn oat by Chief of Police Hood, charging bim wirb arson Stoy is an exourMon manager The <hr^e disas trous fires in rbis ci?y recently, their origiB pointing s?roLg!y io incendiar:; n>, have greatly exceed tbe people Recently a building was fired three times in ore day m the lower part of the city and laet night shortly be.'ore j tbe big fire the department wat cailed if a residence on Waltoo Way to a ire plainly incendiary, which was also a. second attempt on that building. Glanders And Sedition. Spreading io &m arican 55aie and British Subjects in Cape Colocy. London, Dec 26.- A cable dis patch from Cape Town, dated Wednesday, Dec 20, says that glanders has broken out among the America:; mules, of which there are 1,100 at the Stellenbosch remount farm Twenty six of the mules have been destroyed and 78 have been ieoiated The dispatch says sedition is spread? ing in Cape Co'ony Three members of the Cape Parliament are alleged to be implicated, and one of them is said to have presented a Free State flag to a Boer commander, at the same time expressing the hope that he would carry it to glory and victory. Another member of the parliament is said to be recruiting for the Boers In addition, wealthy farmers are now aiding the invadeis FRENCH ALMOST FASTENED. London. Dec 26 -The Boers heavily bombarded Ladysmith for a couple of hours Dec 16, the day after the battle of Tugeia river, but little damage was done They killed one man and wounded two men of the garrison Advices from Cape Town say the New Zealanders with Gen French at Newport, were in a tight corner Dec 18 They were nearly surrounded by Boers and retired under a hail of bullets fired at short range, but sus? tained only iittle IOSP Among the Boers killed at Strom? berg were many of that ioea'ity who had joined the Orange Free State forces Several uewspaper correspondents have returned to Cape Town from the Modder river, apparently confirming the belief that no immediate advance cf the British is projected CHURCHILL Om SITUATION London, Dec 28 -The Morning Post has received the following from Mr Churchill under date of Dec 26th, telegraphed from Chieveley Camp, where he has arrived : "Ail runks have complete confi? dence in Sir Redvers Buller and there is a stern determination to succeed next time at ail costs A painful impression was caused by the announcement of the change of com mander in chief, and the soldiers here are resolved to vindicate their trusted ieader .'The situation, neverthless, is diffi cuit, the Roer position being one of extraordinary strength, with high hills lined tier on tier with trenches and galleries rising from an almost unfordable river, and with a smooth plain in front "The enemy have all the ranges marked, asd many powerful guns dominate the various points of the river, while the drifts are commanded by converging musketry fire from probably 12.000 Boers The are 16 miles of wild, broken country before reaching Ladysmith which demands early relief " Dispatches from Modder river rep resent Dutch disaffection in Griqua land West as growing very serious. In some towns the entire Dutch pop? ulation has joined the Boers. lt is announced that the Boers have raised the siege cf Kuruman and have all withdrawu to Mages j fontein The Cape Town correspondent of the Times, under date of Friday, Dec 22. says : "Anxiety regarding the attitude of the Colonial Dutch is steadily growing They make no i effort to conceal their sympathy with the two republics ; and the only question now is whether if the mili? tary situation is not changed they ! wii! keep from open rebellion. ROBERTS AND KITCHENER Gibraltar, Dec 27 -The B.itish steamer Dunottar Castle, having on board Gen Lord Roberts of Kandahar, commander in chief of the British forces in Son th Africa, arrived here yesterday evening. Gen Lord Kitch? ener, who came from E?rypt to joh: j Gen Roberts as hid chief of staG', em ! barked ou board the Dunottar Castle anti the vessel saiied early this motu ! ir:g for Cape Town _ i - i F F LT THE BOERS FROM KIM BERLEY j Kimberley, Dec 20 -At 2 30 this morning detachments under G-? I { Peakman, with three Maxims and j three seven pounders under Maj May j reconnoitered. Leaving the cu trenmen!8, the British advanced on Toll Pan The Boers pickets fired aua our Maxims replieu, the Boers disappearing over the ridge Our guns then began to shell Toll Pan at a range of 2,500 yards. A Boer gun dropped four snells near our met! but did no carnie As th Boers were strongly entrenched w withdrew Their gi:as :ire well piaced MAFEKING RELIEF EORCE. London, Dec 27 -The Rhodesian Mafeking; force according to a dis patch from Mocbudi, Bechuanaland, dated Saturday, Dec 16 was progres sing slowly owing to the necessity of repairing the bridges, averagin0 one per mile. An intercepted Boer mail bag, it is added shows that 20 Boers were killed and many wounded during the Br?ish attack on the Sequani laager Gatacre's Disaster Not Yet Explained. London, Dec 29. 4 30 a. rn -Dur k'g the contioued lull to the military operations io South Africa the papers are filled with letrers and articles criticisiog the government and the campaign and suggesting remedies, improvements, alterations in the plans and the like. The Times complains of "needless censorship and concealment 7' It cites the fact that nothing has yet transpired to ?bow bow Gen Gatacre oame to lose 600 mea at Stromberg The dispatches from the froot all represent the Boers as in nervous condition and constact dread of the British advance, bu: this is probably an exaggeration The Modder River correspondent ot The Daily Chronic'e gives an explana? tion of a sudden rft* fire inexplicably opened from thc Bier treoehes. He says : 4"Tue Boers have wires stretched along the grout d in front of the trenches, and connected with lamp?-. If a wire be touched a lamp is ex'in guished. thus giving warning. One night a high wind extinguished a ^amp, which resulted in a false warning The fire ceased when th9 Boers discovered that the alarm was false." A correspondent of The Daily News at Frere Camp announces that a tramway is being coostructod from the railway to the hill comaodiog tho Boer position, and that . )ng this the British will convey heavy guns. According to a dispatch from Lady smith, dated Wednesday, Dec 20, the heat then was intense, being 104 degrees Fahr in the shade. Tb^rr were many cases of entrio fover io the town at that t>me, cut not enough to cause alarm On the other band, report from Boer sources on the continent assert that typhoid fever is epideu-ic in Ladysmith The Transvaal government, accord icg to information supplied by B >er sympathizers, threatens to "reduce the rations of British prisoners if Great Britain stops the entry of food by Dc-la?oa bay It is estimated that the war will cr?Rt at least ?60,000 000 ($300 000,000) it is suggested tba: the sinking fund of the national debt should be suspended for five years in order to defray the cost j THE BOER ADVANTAGES MORE CLEARLY REVEALED. London. Deo 28 -A dispatch to The Daily Mail from Pietermaritzburg, dated Saturday, Deo 23, says : 1 Every day reveals some new fact regarding the strength of the Boer position at Colenso. Thanks to the services of continental officers, the character of the campaign bas chaoged We are no longer fighting a foe which relies upon guerrilla tactics, but we have to deal with what is rapidly becoming a well disciplined army and . ojoyiog the advantages of knowing the country and of selecting the scene of contest without the burdens of a cumbersome comissariat. "The Boers have converted the hills near CoieDso into farnesses of immense strength Everywhere they have splendid trenches, many of them bomb? proof Tramway "lines permit the -biffing of guns with astonishing rapidity. The main positions are con nectcd with the outlying positions by undergrad passages and the forts proper bristle with machins guns that commaud the approaches. Proba! ly mines are laid. "O?C hears !o?-s nowadays abou? Boer shell:' not burs'iog. Oopervern of thc Colenso fight nay the Boor fire w:<s very effective. This is due ?argel v ? to the ct that distances aro marked c?j wish white paint ' Tho enemy's discipline is improv? ing Tho trenchPS represent, groat ?.ritual labor for which thc Boers have a keen ot^lik^, and tho way in which they restrain") d ttu-ir fire when our i troops were advancing is another proof j of imp:: ,*d sol'li.?rit)g " THE GERMAN PRESS I ! B'rlin. Dec. 28.-Tho German pre.?s continues to comment upon tbe tvar in j South Africa Tho Milita:- W>,ch.-n j tflaft, the mil:;arv organ, cor.-iios a s.-vero critici.-m by a high officer, in j which the writer claims that hitherto Boors, bm h 'leader* and moo, have proved far more efficient in every way than the British The National Zei tung says editorially : "The best so lotion for Germany would be a peaoe .,?:,r....2 t|30 ]J.jCfis thrir ir-i' j?w er: cc r.i-. Recurr&g the 'Ufare ; tb ar is creating a state wtiose frFooiicr r -u .??.-. M! 2 ?M . r?et" ff? i" *":''.':! f'" !? td ;> r r. ::::- !r io the LC tr cisnes upon whiei. A'rina i'; en te ri y g. "T?ia: mu-r. bo the policy of th? Boers. Wo ?o oct desire the Britisi :o be wholly expelled frota Africa, bu< we d:i the necessity tor makins the eot:re African coo.noeot Bri:i-h Thc ideas of Cecil Rhodes will spii upoa th-3 rock of Boer courage " BOERS VERY CONFIDENT. Durban, Natal. Saturday, D^c 23 Mr Winston Churchill, on arriving here aftsr h s escape from the B.ers, received a tremendous ovation. He savs that from conversations with mern bers of noe Transvaal executive at Pre? toria be learned that the BJCTS began the war with trepidation, but tba* President Kruger is cow confident Great Britain will SOOD sue for peace. In the highest Transvaal circles, Mr Cbfirchiii asserts, there is serious taik of a compromise, by which G*eat Bnt aio would eedo the territory now oocu pied by the armies of tbe two republics, pav ae indemnity of ?20,000,000 (?100.000,000) aod acknowledge the complete independence of the Trans? vaal Believed Buller May Try to Retrieve Defeat. London, Dec 30, 5 a rn -The latest special dispatches from Chieve ley camp hint datkiy at some imoor tant movement as imminent This is interpreted, with 6ome misgivings, to mean '?hat Gen Buller contemplates a renewel of his attempt to relieve Ladysmith It is reported by the same dispatches that the Boers have now retired to the north bank of the Tugeia being afraid that the swollen river may bar their retreat They are also moving their laagers nearer Ladysmith, probably with the inten? tion of further preseuecn tbegarrion, which now seems to be suffering pretty heavily from the bombard ment It is difficult, however, to conceive that Gen Buber wouid make another frontal attack, especially now that the river is rising and an additional indication that this is not bis purpose in the fact that he has re moved bis headquarters back to Frere The Boer movement northward from the Tugeia is quite in keeping with the enemy's usual pian of securing a safe line of retreat It is known that artillery is due to arrive for Gen Buller but the belief here is that his force, however, is animated by a desire to accomplish something before the arrival of Lord Roberts and to satisfy the keenness of his men to retrieve their defeat The reported engagement with Kaffirs is very vague and cannot be explained pending the arrival of later dispatches The times bas a dispatches from Lorenzo Marques dated Dec 28, which says: "The suspicion that the Boer intelligence department is in close touch with a foreign consulate io Pretoria is confirmed by the fact that the news of the appointment of Lord Roberts as commander in chief in South Africa was generally known in Pretoria on Dec 20. indirectly reaching Delagoa Bay from the Transvaal two days later Suspicion rests upon a consul which is noto rious for his Boer sympathies There is reason to believe that Pretoria is kept well informed with regard to British military movements. "With reference io the rumors of smuggling- contraband is significant that Maj Erasmus of tbe Free State artillery is here, his arrival being coincident with that of the French liner. Considering the freedom with which the Transvaal secret service fund is spent considerable mischief may be done unless cargoes are | inspected by British searchers. wi?o i understand ioreign bills of lading SIEGE OF LADYSMITH Pieir-rmarheburg, Wednesday, D^c 27.-A dispatch from Ladysmith, dated Dec 22, s-VS : "The Boers bav;; incurred another Howi'z^r on Surprise bil!. replacing the gun c;!p*u-.ed in flic sortie of the R'.flo? brigade. While they watch us nightly wi.h a search light aod bombard thc ol ?ce daily, they ?how no signs of assaulting the rowe. They probably think they cu. darve or. oui, but we have p!e:?'y or providions. "Thc total casualties sinop the si<*r?e peg-in are 70 met! killed aod 236 wounded " THE BOER ARTILLERY. Ladysmith, Dec 2i,via Pi eterna ari .?. burg -Geo White bus bad a flight ;i't:>cb of fever nut he i$ now convales? cent. The Boer .?hell fire has been very damaging rcceotly. Friday one sh :! killed sis roeo aod wounded ot.e. Tho (?iBie misfile killed 14 borner. Another just ni'S^ed the Fifth LmcsrN' Itoes, slightly wouodiog six officers. Several shells have falleo close to Gen White's boase, compelling the removal O? h":':(''::>r:t:rs to rr.ck : p inf I is reported roa; Geo Jouher? ?. "o-.\n ir pr,:r.G3-!.- '] of tbe Bje?3 here, i'he m?H"ary ac-h :?'i* s pr; tar co?;fi - nr bot rbey are v.- ry re iceor. 1> ers Live b ri o h-or'.'iii movir??? northward and westward in large cc robers SORTIE FROM KIMBERLEY Kimberley. Friday. D ?o 22, via Modder river, Wednesday, Dec 27 - Before dawn today a detachment of tbe mounted forces with artillery and infantry, moved io a westerly direction. Boor artillery from Kamnerdam opened fire at O-tos Kopje, Kimberley fort replying with twenty shells The British force reconnoitered out? posts along Lazaretto ridge, the B >er patrols retreating. Having accomrdismed tbis and hav? ing discovered Boer reenforcement^ approaching from Wimbledon ridge, Col Charnier, with the Royal artillery, exchanged a dozen 6bei!s as sooo as the guns could be limbered up Some 500 Boers poured in a heavy fire from their earthworks, the British finally retiring with the ioss of one horse. The movement snowed that the Biers were still keeping their guns in the vicinity of Kimberley and are able to summon reeoforcements rapidly. It also snowed their proneness to vacate a position immediately when weaker than thc opposing force TAXING GOLD MINES Pretoria, Doo 25, Monday -Gen Sebalkburger reports under date of Dec 23 that trains are now running to Colenso, indicating that the Boers have built a connection around Lady? smith. G?n Cronje reports from the Modder river. Dec 24, that tho Boers captured two British forts at Kururaan Dec 17 It is rumored that Gen Methuen's big o^val gun bas exploded The Transvaal government bas pro mu'gated a new gold tax law, by which individuals and companies working their own mines are taxed 30 per ceot of the output, while mines worked by the government will pay 50 per cent Suspended mines will pay 30 per cent cn their probable output, calooiared OD three months7 working Reducing works wiii pay 30 per cent of their profits The law is retroactive to Oat ll. British Subjects Warned. London, Dec 27-The privy council hold a meeting at Windsor Castle at which Queen Victoria proclaimed a warning to all British subjects not to assist inhabitants of the Transvaal or cf the Orange Free State or to seii or t-ansport mercbr.LCise thereto under penalty of the law The proclamation wa3 gazetted tonight Three Leading Questions Austin, Tex, Deo 26 -William Jennings Bryan's attention was called to a dispatch from Washington stating that he had written Coogressmaa Daly of Nsw Jersey tbat be would make several speeches in the east, discussing trusts aod imperialism, and be was asBed as to whether the report indicat? ed any ioteotion of abandoning the silver question He said : Congressman Daly has probably been misquoted. I expect to make several speeches in the east but I expect to discuss the mooey question aioos with other questions There are three questions now prominently before the people, to wit : the money quotion. :be trust question aod the Pni ippice question Whenever I make a politi cai speech I discus.? all three quos tione " Mr Bryan will leave here S-.turday i f"r hts trip to Lincoln, Ornaba, Kansas City aD'j tberce to tho east Ile will j be gone about one month Mis Byan today received a letter ? from Andrew Carnegie, statiog that be ? would gladly furnish the money for the erection of o library building at Lin colo, Neb. which, it is esiimared, will eos: between ?50.000 and ?75.000. Laurens, Dec 27.- In a rabbit, hunt yesterday near Cross Hill Casper Fa !er a ycODg gentleman 19 years :>i.J. was accidentally shot by Mr Butler Richardson Young Fuller died this morning. They ?re cf cur bc?t cit iz;-r,s Tho accident will bc greatiy I deplored San Francisco. Doo 24.-Thc United States transport Westminister sailed for .anita today with 400 head cf horses ?>nd mules The Sjfiy Valve of the Clan na Gael. Ar, Alleged Officer Talks of Contemplated Blow to England. New York, Deo 27 -Relative to the attitude of the Irisb Revolutionary .-.ocietief toward tbe government of Great Britain at tbe present juncture of affair5. The Evening Pest today quotes ac officer of the Ciao Da Ga'l as say iog : "England cao only be made to feel pbyeioal force, and we're now ?o:og to give ber 6ome Boer treatment. V? e did intend goi?g out aod sinking that first expedition from Caoada to South Africa, but thought it be-'er to wait a little We can mobilize our meo without much difinolty for an attack oo Caoada, and we are fairly well armed-as well as the Ucited States troops io the Spanish war. We have lots ofs Springfield rifles aod are haodv wirb the bayonet ' No d^cieioo bas been arrived at yet. Everythiog wiii depend oo the imme? diate fo'ure We have either regi ments or companies all over the Uoited 3 ates aod are fairly well drilled, and a great maoy of our men are in the militia The Aoeieor. Order of Hi beroians bas really nothing to do with chip. It -tumbers about 250 OOO and a maj ?rity of its members belong to our organization All its officers do, aod so of course it will act with us. We have lots of meD in the regular army camps or clubs io every post-aod even if they vrere sent against os to step us on tbe border they woo!d either march across with us or give us biaok cart? ridge?. "If ic is decided to attack Canada we shall do all io our power to keep matters so secret ce DOC ro embarrass the government until we are actually oo the border Tbe Freoch population io Canada would be witb cs, acd there are cumbers of our own coun!rymen ready to welcome us. Canada would be ao easy mark We would have the Canadiao loyalists on the ruo in' a week.7' Additional National Banks Washington, Dec 28 -The Eecre rary of the treasury today designated several additional national banks as goverrment depositories to receive internai revenue receipts, and. ic is said will continue to do so until'the ro'al amour:' so deposited amounts to $30 OOO OOO cr $40,000 OOO Depos? es, however, will cot be made with these additional banks until (be banks comprising the first group, designated several days ago, have received depos? its equal to the amount of bones turn? ed ioto the treasury by tbem as ?ecor ity, which approximates $17 6C0 OOO. It is expected thar deposit? will fcegin ??o be made under tho new designations about Jao 10. Any natiooal bank owoiog or controlling Uoited States bonds, willing to deposit tbe same io tbe treasury as seouricy, including those DOW receiving deposits, is enti? tled to participate io tbis distribution of internal reveoue receipts NEGRO KILLS SHERIFF. Monticello, Fla., Dec 28.-Will Gorman, a negro shot and instantly killed Sheriff T B Simkins this morning at the Scurry place, six miles north of town Gornnn was wanted for murder and Simkins and a posse went to1 arrest bim They closed in on the cabin in wjiich the negro was concealed As Simkins pushed open the door, Gorman shot him twice in tbe breast The mur? derer escaped from the rear door, but was shot, down and killed An experiment is being made io Washington County Ga, on the line of rural school consolidation and free transportation to and from school that wiii be watched with interest not only in Georgia but in other States. The plan that has been in operation, and has so far proved eminently satis? factory, provides for the consolida? tion of eight or ten small schools of one teacher each into one academic institution with several instructors. Transportation to and from schcol costs, under the experimental pian, about one dollar a month per capita. The arrangement for continuous sessions in made by private subscrip? tions of the patrons ABSOLUTES* ?H) RE POWDER Makes the food more delicious and wholesome POYAL GA KINO POWDER CO., NEW YORK.