Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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rHB SUMTER WATCHMAN. Established April, 18 5 0. 44Be 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 Jone 13*6 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881 New Series-Yoi. XIX. So. 31 CJK IStatrlmtmt w? Soufbron. Published Every "Wednesday, -Br JM\ Gt-. Osteen, SUMTER, S. C. TB RMS : $1.50 per annum-in advance. ADVERTISEMENT: Ono Square first insertion.$1 00 Every subsequent insertion... 50 Contracts for three months, or longer wil i be made at reduced rates. _ AU communications which subserve private interests will be charged foras advertiements. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be Charged for. THE WAR IN AFRICA. No News Prom the Battlefield in Three Days Landon, Feb 22, 4 a. m -Lord Roberts' list of killed and wounded officers, includes two generals, [n the engagements np to Sunday evening, canses anxiety, especially as in the officers' list neither tbe losses of the Welsh and Essex regiments nor those of the mounted infantry are iooluded This is about che number that fell at Colenso, where the non commissioned officers and men brought the total losses lo SOO It is considered strange that wheo sending his casualties Lord Roberts gives no information ap to tbe result of the fighting. If he has sent such a report the war office is withholding ir. Moreover, cothiog is known as to what took place Monday, Tuesday and yesterday. This absence of details from Lord Roberts' dispatch, contrasted with his rather futi narratives danog the first parc of his operatioos, pro? duces uneasiness among military ob? servers. Ali the comment in the more iog newspapers, both editorial and ont ical, is threaded with che disturbing suggestion chat despite hard fighting, Gen Cronje has been able to beat off bis pursuers, has escaped, aod is being reenforced by rai! from Ladysmith and by forces on foot aod horseback from northern Cape Colony, as well as the late beleaguers of Kimberly. As the correspondents with Lord Roberts are silent the telegrams from Roer sources receive some countenance. The latter aver that Gen Cronje, while the British were endeavoring te sor round him between Paardeberg and Koodoosraod, received reinforcements under Dewec and that together the Boer commanders fought the British to a staodstill. At any rate while no one doubts his ultimate success, there is a fear of a temporary disappoiotmeot and that a lot of hard fighting is yet ahead of che British. The latest report regarding Gen Boi? ler circulated io the boase cf commons last eveoiog was that; ao agent of the Debeers company bad received a cabie gram from Cape Town which must have passed^ the censor, to the effect that Geo Barton's fusilier brigade bad reached the bills commanding Lady? smith. Qoite apart from this, however, and from every other rumor, the early relief of <he beleaguered oity is thought inevitable. BOER NEWSPAPERS CLAIMING VICTORIES. London, Feb 22.-The Daily Mail has tbe following dispatch from Lo? renzo Marques, dated Feb 21 : "Boer newspapers, dated Feb 19, report that Gen Dewet won 'a brilliant vic tory' over the British troops at Mod der river Gen Dutoit reports being defeated by the British cavalry col umn whicfcTgot into Kimberley. He retreated to Riverton. 16 miles north of Kimberley, with all his guns lost and seven men killed "According to the same papers. Gen Cronje succeeded in getting through a message to Koffyfontein with the news that he is holding all his positions and that thc Boer cor don ie around Kimberley sgain. "The Boers expect a general en? gagement on the Tugela All is quiet at Ladysmith.*7 Pretoria. Tuesbay, Feb 20.-Offi cial reports have been received as follows : Commandant .Steyne payn that Saturday, Feb 17th and Sunday. Feb 18ih, near Koodoorsrand, he fought the British, who tried to eu compass Gen Cronje*? laager, and drove them off They fought until late Sunday evening Boers had one mau killed and-one wounded, and captured booty and 21 horses and mules Gen Dewet say?! that on Sunday i afternoon he arrived before Paadets berg and Foodoosrand, in which di- | rection there has been heavy firing : since morning ile stormed several . kopjes which the British vacated, j leaving their dead and wounded and 40 prisoners in the hands of the j Boers, who captured the kopjes The Boer loss was two men killed and four wounded The fight iasted until late in the evening._ CJK"? It is a Fight to the Death j Between Cronje and Kitche? ner Kitchener Refuses to Agree to Armistice to Bury the Dead. London, Feb 23, 4 a. m -Gen Cronje is seemingly making his last stand He is dying hard, hemmed in by British infantry and with shells from 60 guns failing into his camp. On the third day of the fight the Boer chief asked for an armistice to bury bis dead "Fight to a finish or surrender unconditionally" was Lord Kitchener's reply Gen Cronje im mediately sent back word that his request for a truce had been misunder stood and that his determination then as before was to fight to the death. The battle went on This was the situation of Gen Cronje Tuesday evening as can be sketched in the scanty telegrams that have emerged from the semi silence of South Af? rica Officially Lord Roberts wires that he had scattered the advance com mandoes of the reenforcements that were striving to reach Cronje It is regarded as singular that Lord Rob erts wiring Wednesday should not mention the appeal for an armistice on the previous day, and also that the war office sbouid withhold good news, if it has any Without trying to reconcile even .the scanty materials at hand, it seems plain that Gen Conje is in a bad, and even a desperate situation, and that the British are pressing their advantage While the attack on Gen Cronje proceeds there is a race for concen tration between the Boers and the British The engagement with Gen Cron je'8 5,000 to 8,000 entrenched men is likely to become an incident in a battle between the masses. The sep arated factions of the Boer power are rapidly drawing together to at? tack Lord Roberts. Will Gen Cronje be able to hoid out until the Boer masses appear, or if he does, will they be able to succor him ? The British are facing the Boers on ground where the arms, tactics and training of the British are expected to give them the advantage Gen Buller, according to a dispatch from Chieveley dated vVednesday, finds the Boers in positions north of the Tugela largely reenforced This seems strange. The war office for the first time bas given ont an officiai compilation of the British losses The total is 11,208 to Feb 17. This does not include, therefore. Lord Roberts' recent losses, nor the Wilishires prisoners The pre J association learns 'hat the British losses at Koodoosrand were 700 Three thousand fresh troops will embark for South Africa today ARMISTICE ASKED FOR BY BOER COMMANDER London, Feb 23 -The Daily News bas the following dispatch from Mod der river dated Wednesday, Feb 21 : 4 The Boer forces under Gen Cronje are estimated at 8.000 men. At 12 o'clock he asked an armistice for 24 hours which was refused ' Later be sent a messenger to say that he would surrander ' The British general sent a reply telling bim to come into camp. Cronje refused, saying there had been a misunderstanding and that he would fight to the death "The bombardment was then re I opened and our lyddite shells set fire j to the Boer wagons. We continued shelling the Boer laager through the night and in the morning we re6um ed with Maxims and rifles, princi? pally from the north side "Un Sunday there was much waste of life in attacking and the same result will be achieved without it. During Monday night seven Boers mude an attempt to break through our linos but they were caplured and their leader was killed. Four were carrying letters lt in believed that 11*^ re was one other got through "Other prisoners say that (jen 1 Cronje marched from Magevsfontein ; here without outspanning, a distance j of 33 mile3 Had he succeed in es ' caping it would have been one of the greatest perform? ances in the armais of war The Canadians made a gallant charge at the laager but were driven back with lose Gen MacDonald cad Gen Ku<>x are slightly wounded. Cape Town Thursday Morning, Feb 22 -In reply to Gen Gronje?e request for an armistice ot '21 boure, to allow bim to bury his dead. Lore Kitchener told the Boer commander tliat he must light to finish or surren j di. r unconditionally Gen Cronje's position is i ^orted i hopeless The British have occupied Barkly | London, Feb 22, 4 17 p m-The war office bas received from Lord Roberts the following message, which was delayed in transmission, dated Paardeburg, Wednesday, Feb 21 : "Yesterday afternoon I was satisfied by a careful reconnaissance in force of the enemy's position that I could not assault it without very heavy loss, which 1 was most anxious to avoid Accordingly I decided to bombard him with artillery and to turn my attention to the enemy's reenforcements The result was most satisfactory The Boers werejdriven off in all directions, losing a good many killed and wounded and about 50 prisoners, who say they arrived from Ladysmith two days ago by railroad. They also say it was our artillery fire which caused them to abandon the kopje they were cccu pying Our loss was two officers, Campbell of the Ninth Lancers, and Lieut Houston of the artillery and four men, all slightly wounded London, Feb 22, 3 37 p. m -A special dispatch from Paardeberg, dated Wednesday, Feb 23, says : "Commandant Botha bas been at tempting to relieve Gen Cronje. There has been severe fighting. Gen Botha's force is scattered with heavy losses " Paardeberg, Wednesday, Feb 21, 6 20 p m -A Boer kopje has been capture with 50 prisoners Gen Cronje's position is unchang? ed. London, Fab 22 -An additional list of casualties sustained by the British troops during the retreat from Rena burg Feb 15 shows tbat 14 men were killed and that 158 members of Wilt? shire and Worcestershire regiments are missing, the latter fact coofirmiog tbe Boer reports that a number of prisoners bad been captured by them. ADVANCE ON LADYSMITH. Chieveley Camp, Natal, Wednesday, Feb 21.-The steady progress of the relie; column is uninterrupted. The Boers Taesday were forced from their lase position south of the Tugela, resulting in the evacnation of Colenso, which was promptly occupied by the Dublin Fusiliers and Thomeyoroft's Horse A Transvaal flag was captured as was a handkerchief inscribed with Gen Botha's name. This is treasured as a great trophy. The Boers heavily shelled Hiang waua bill and Colenso Wednesday. Feb 21?t, and the British advanced infantry was subjected to a severe musketry fire, but they had cover and the oasu&ities were few The Boers had tbe railroad runniog from Colenso to Bulwaoa. The British ooctinue to discover large quantities of ammunition The Boers are well supplied with food and a quantity of provisions was left behind. It is expected that further resistance will be half hearted and rbat Lady? smith will be reached io a few days TOWN BEING BOMBARDED. London. Feh 22-Tee Morning Poet's seooud edition publishes a dispatch from Ladysmith dated Feb 19 b, wbiob pays tbat the bombardment continues with unusual persistency and activity from Bulwaoa and Biaaowbank, but is doing small damage. He ls Holding Oat Hoping for Relief. London, Feb 24, 4 15 a. ID -Gen Cronje is presumably still unbeaten. No other construction is placed upon the three days' silence of Lord Roberts Yet no one sees how it is humanly possible, judging from the descrip tions of his situation Wednesday morning, for him to resist so long i Great Britain does not withhold ad- | miraiion for ihe valor of a losing fight against such odd? The Daily Newe says : "In a posi? tion covering only a square mile, hemmed in on ail sides circled with a chain of fire from rifle, Maxim and howitzer, played on by deadly lyddite, bursting in its own sickly j green li^ht, in hastily built trenches j enfiladed by a stream of ?ead sweep- j ing down the river from the north j bank. Gen Cronje stiil elects to fight ! it is magnificent courage '' Gen Cronje's wife is described by the prisoners as urging bim to sur | render in order to save the. liven ofj his men, but he woaid not The British cavalry patrols s;-nt by Lord Methuen north of Kimberley discovered the Boers concentrating, ' whether for (.11" use or defense is simply conjecture The Bons seem to be retiring from Gen Gatacre's front at Sterke ti oom in order to reenforce the Free Staters. Ladysmith had not been relieved when the latest news left Natal two ? days ago The Boers had then re j tired hali way between Ladysmith and Colenso If only 6,000 went to j the Free State, as both the Boer and I the British accounts assert, the 12. 000 who are left may purpose to maintain the siege and to resist Gen Buller within contracted lines, al though the impression at Gen Buller's headquarters is that the Boers are merely covering a retreat The editorials in the morning pa? pers complain, more or less vigorous ly. of the insufficiency of the govern? ment^ naval proposals, especially in view of the immense naval efforts of Germany and other powers London, Feb 23, 2 10 p m -Ev? ery hour is expected io bring news of Gen Cronje's surrender On all sides wonder is expressed that the gallant yet ghastly battle at Paarde berg drift has not yet ended in what is considered to be the inevitable With 50 guns bearing upon the de? voted band within the terribly short range of 2,000 yards, -surrender or utter annihilation can bs the only result, unless all reports of the strength of the Boer reinforcements are wroog. The critics canvass every untoward contingency that can afjfect Field Marshal Roberts and can see nothing that eau save Gen Cronje from the terrible vice in which he han been caught Even an unexpectedly strong attack on Lord Roberts' com roonicatioo could scarcely materially affect the result according to these experts The severe losses incurred by Gen Kelly Kenny Sunday have produced some adverse criticism.but it is point ed out that had he fought leas fori ously he would have given the Boers the opportnoity to entrench them? selves and perhaps further flight to a more advantageous position "Gen Buller's progress towards Ladysmith is so slow that it scarcely appeals to public interest Gea White appears to be still full of fight and to be endeavoring to assist Gen Buller by a vigorous bombardment. Advices received at Cape Town yesterday said it was reported tbs British were gradually driving the Boers out of, northern Cape Colony and that many of the burghers bad recrossed the Orange river. REPORTS FROM THE BOERS. Pretoria, Wednesday, Feb 21. The following official war bulletin bas been issued here : "A report was received this morn ind of cannon firing west of Colee berg "At Pietrusburg cannon firing commenced at 6 in the morning. A big fight was expected today "Dewet telegraphed yesterday from Pietrusburg that all was quiet, except several cannon shots and small skirmishes Yesterday evening the British stormed the federal positions as far as Scauser, but were driven back. '.A message for Cronje is to the effect that his loss yesterday was 14 dead aud wounded Dewet's loss was nil. Command ant Fronoman reports that from Feb 15 to Feb 20 he was almost sur? rounded by the British at the Modder river. "On Sunday there was a heavy fight The British prepared to lay seige to the Boer laager, with fight? ing general We were surrounded by 2,500 British five miles from the chief laager. At night we cut our way through with the loss of seven dead and 16 wounded The loss of the British was heavy. Yesterday we cut our way through to reach Desvet, who was in the neighbor hood Fifty three prisoners formerly taken have been forwarded "It is reported that the British were continually attacking Koodoors rand yesterday with infantry and Lancers, but that they were driven back BULLER'S MOVEMENT. Colenso, Natal. Wednesday. Feb 21. (via Chieveiey. Feb 22.-Toe Britub have crossed the Tugela over a oontjon northward of H?30gwaca and new 02cupy Fort Wylie. While the naval brigade wa1* bom? barding Grobierskloof the Boers' bis ! Creuso: replying, yesterday, after tbe occupation of C?>!orjso. a poall party of Tborncyoror>'s Hn>c cros^d the river bur wer : dr; ven 'r^ek by Sro from the Trenches The Baers' gu'!- a-o still sheiiing the j relieving force from 'ho nilli sou* h <;?\ Ladysmith, bu* the impression is sproadii;:; 'hat they are merci* c>ver j in?; the retreat . >[ the entire Boer force ? Gen Buller's ca?uaiti< . Tuesday, \ Feb 20rh. and Wednesday. Fib 2IsfJ were : Killed, Capt Creal nek and Lieuts j K nh Faieooer and Parry, of the j Somerset hi^e Light iofantry and nine ? men. Wounded. G officers and 97 ; m-n. Missine. 5 men. C'jievaley, Thursday, Feb 22 -Tho main body of the Bo?*rs ra? fled, evi dtntly -'-irb tbe object of sr^c:rair>g the '< advai.ee o? Lord Roberts WBITE THIES TO ATD RELIEF FORCES. Hoofd Liager, Ladysmith, Wednes- i day. Feb 21.-There waa heavy fight? ing all Mooday^aod Tuesday and it still continues since early this moroiog Our cMoers hope ro dislodge the British from their position. Last night a body of British troops tried to cross tbe river, but they were beaten back with heavy loss. Our loss was lignt Oar positions are being bombarded from Ladysmith at a point where tbe Klip river passes tbroogh the hills Our Loog Tom is replying with good effect. ?<0 MORE MULE SOUP. Kimberley, Feb 22 -Lord Methaen arrived here Tuesday He will act as ? administrator of the Kimberley district, extending southward to the Orange river. Col Kekewich will remain in ; command of the local foroes The issue of siege soup ceases today. There'are 64 Boer prisoners here. I -'? BRITISH KILLED LAST SUN? DAY. London. Feb 23.-Tbe official report gives 146 men killed at Paardeberg drift Sunday, Feb 18, including 63 Highlanders and 18 Canadians. Filipino Soldier Accused of Murder. Manila, Feb 20. 3 55 p. m -A military commission meets at Colamba tomorrow to try a Filipino member of the guerrilla band which attacked a squad of Americans Feb 2, killing a corporal. The charges are murder and assault with intent to kill The case is important as foreshadowing the policy of treating guerrillas as bandits. It is supposed tbat one reason which has hitherto deterred tbe American author ities from adoptiog this policy is that the insurgents have more than 50 American prisoners aod may retaliate*, although a few of them were oaptcred while fighting. Affairs in Kentucky. Frankfort, Ky., Feb 20.-The attor? neys for Taylor and Beckham will bold a joint conference at 10 oViook tomor? row for the purpose of discussing propo siti?os to settle wbioh of the ;wo in? junction suits relating to the contest over tbe governorship shall have prece? dence or the consolidation of both cases io order to avoid a clash between courts over the question of jnrisdiotion. The Beckham suit ie set for heariog before Joage Cantrill at Georgetown, Friday, aod the attorneys will attempt to agree upon a plan of action and facts forming the basis of the sait and as to what judge the agreed case shall be tried before. Trying to Cover up a Scandal Columbia Feb 20 -The Neal case bas taken a rather curious turu Now that the exeitment over the case bas died out to a certain extent the effort is being made to quash tbe whole matter. Governor McSweeney today re? ceived several letters asking bim to use bis influence and to take the ini? tiative m having the cases against Col Neal dropped Gov McSweeney feels that the matter is entirely out of bis bands and there is absolutely no occasion for him to interfere. He will take no steps either to proeecute Col Nesl or to have the cases dropped The grand jury has found true bills against Col Neal and he does not feel that there is anything for him to do. From the fact that several ietters have been received upon the same line within the last forty eight hours it is possible that their bas been a suggestion on the line indicated - News and Courier One-quarter of the sum England is expending in tbe war to exteod its domioioo in Sc-utb Africa would sof fioe to feed every s'arviug mouth in India That the world should bo asked to support ber famine stricken surjecfs in ooe part of the empire in j crder that she may devote ail her ener I gies and money to crushing a people who s:and in the way of a limitless extension cf tbe empire in another part, isjCcrtain?y a mest exrranrdinary propo? sition -Augusta Chronicle. A special from Tallahassee, Fia, says : Reliable anvic?-? received by the S ate ajiricu!'urai df-Dirruient say toe cUuiag'* done tn Florida hy the Surjdav tre-Z3 was comparatively slight. Eariy vegetables in Northern Florida were killel. ^Ting like weather now pre? vails Washington, F-*b 21 -It is under? stood that the president has practically decided *o appoint General Luke E Wright, cf Memphis Tenn., a member of tbe Philipoioe commission Secretary Hay Contradicts Macrum. Pointed Denials to Macrum's Statements. Washington, Feb 21-The answer of the house to the state department caliing for an investigation into the charges made by the late Consul Ma? crons was transmitted to the bouse by the president. It is signed by Secretary Hay, and after reciting the resolution, eays : Answer to the first part of the resolution : The department of state has been in regular communication by mail and telegraph with Charles E Macrum. late consul of the United... States at Pretoria, South African republic, since his entrance upon the duties of the office Communications made to bim have been answered and the execution of instructions sent has been reported by bim. His dis? patches to the department forwarded through the consulate at Lorenzo Marques, have during that time been regularly received The only in? stance of complaint in respect to the transit of the mails for Lorenzo Marques and Pretoria was in Novem? ber last, in which a temporary stop? page of the mai's occurred at Cape Town, against which Mr Macrum and the consul at Lorenzo Marques protested Arrangements were made for the prompt delivery of the con? sular mails to tbe United States consol general at Cape Town, by whom the mail for Mr 'Hollis and Macrum was forwarded to Lorenzo Marques The delay lasted a few days and has not recurred so far as the department is advised. After that time toe department's mail for Lorenzo Marques and Pretoria was sent by a neutral route which it appears was known and open to Mr Macrum and Mr Hollis as early as Nov 16 last. No obstacle is known to have existed since then to Mr Ma? crum's unhampered correspondence with the department of state At no time while at his post did Mr. Ma? crum report to the department an instance of violation of by opening or otherwise of bis official mail by the British censor at Durban or by any person or persons whatsoever, there or elsewhere. Neither bas he so reported since he left Pretoria, al? though having the amplest opportun Us to do so by mail while on the way home and in person when be report? ed tc the department upon bis return i / Answering the second part of the aforesaid resolution, the undersigned, secretary of state, bas the honor to say that there is no truth in the charge that a secret alliance exiss be? tween the republic of the United States and the empire of Great Britain ; that no form of secret alliance is possible under the consti? tution of the United States inasmuch as treaties require tbe advice and consent of the senate No under? standing exists between the United States and any other nation Department of state, Feb 20, 1900. (Signed) * John Hay The president's message conveying this report gave a. categorical answer I to ibe questions embodied in the re? solution and did not refer to the action of the department in relation to the matter It has since been given out at the state department that inquires set on foot immediately after the publication of Macrum's first statement developed the fact that the British government had no knowledge of any interference with the correspondence of t?e United States consulate at Pretoria, aud the additional fact that if any interfer? ence bad taken place it was contrary to instructions. Since Mr Rockefeller's share of the Standard Oil company's dividends ? gives him an income of $32,000,000 a year from that source alone, Mr I Carnegie's statement that the oil j king is the richest man in the world j still holds good, despite the remarks i of Mr Frick, which credit the iron I king with only $24,000,000 a year A young woman, wbose horne is i within a lew miles of Angusta, Ga, makes a comfortable living for herself and her motlier by growing bulbs and selling them to northern seed houses She inherited about fifty acres of land which the neighbors said vvas too poor to sprout co /peas She bought 3 mule and went tt work clearing: up and fertilizing. Now she has a beautiful bulb and Hewer farm BAKING Makes the food more delicious and wholesome ROYAL BAKfHO POWDER CO., NEW YORK.