V
Tuluuuluuow
The Very Critical Condition of Be-
leaguered Bulawayo.
FATE MAY NOW BE DECIDED.
At Any Rate, It Is Feared That an Impor-
tant Engagement Cannot Be Long De-
ferred—The Work of the Boers
May Be Easily Detected.
CAPE TOWN, April 23.—Unless all the
news which reaches this place from Bula-
wayo is misleading an engagement be-
tween the British force defending that
town and the Matabeles besieging it will
occur shortly ormay have occurred before
this dispatch reaches its destination.
It is now known that the force of hos—
tile natives which assembled about Bula-
wayo after the outbreak of the rebellion
was much greater than was at first sup-
posed.
The highest estimate placed the number
of the besieging force at 15,000, but al-
though a large body of natives, said to
number about 5,000 warriors, is known
to have struck camp and started south-
ward in the direction which the relief
forces from Mafeking must follow, it is
estimated that fully 15,000 hostiles are
still in the vicinity of the beleaguered
town. _
The natives, when they first took up
positions about Bulawayo, formed a half
circle northward, but gradually this for-
mation has been contracted, and the Mata-
bele army is now only about three miles,
or within easy striking distance, on a
dark night especially, of the 3,000 white
people in the besieged town protected by
600 white fighting men of the place.
The southern portion of the half circle
is mountainous country, and the main
pass is held by about 300 whites. It is
through this pass that the relief force and
supply trains must come; consequently
its retention in the hands of the British is
a matter of vital importance; otherwise
the 800 men holding that important posi-
tion would have been called in long ago
in order to take part in the defense of
Bulawayo itself.
Bulawayo’s Thermopylee.
'The men holding the pass have been
divided into four bodies. The first, or
advance guard, is occupying a position
farther south than the main body, or at
the entrance or knee of the first of the
most difficult turnings. The main body
occupies the strongest position in the pass
itself, where a maxim gun has been plant-
ed behind a well constructed stone breast—
work or fort, commanding the critical
turn in the road. This force is also looked
upon as being in a position to slew the
gun around and defend the pass from an
attack coming from the north. The third
body of troOpers, or rear guard, is holding
the northern entrance or exit of the pass
which leads to the open ground and road
to Bulawayo. The men holding the pass
have provisions for about a month, but
their supply of ammunition is limited,
some of it having already been called in to
replenish the diminishing store of the
town.
Both Bulawayo and Gwelo, which is
also besieged, have been practically ren-
dered impregnable from an outward open
attack. But in both cases, especially in
the case of Bulawayo, a large number Of
so called friendly natives have flocked in-
to the place under the plea of seeking the
protection of the whites from the hostile
natives. These persons could not well
be turned adrift or refused the shelter they
requested. Consequently they Were ad-
mitted within the lines and allowed to
camp outside the regular town. although
mines rith the names who {as Iarlz
inhabit the native to’vin. The num er of
these “friendlies” has increased alarm-
ingly, and it is believed that fully 2,000
natives are now being fed from the com-
mon stores of Bulawayo. Thus, while it
may be true that Bulawayo, thanks to its
dynamite mines, barbed wire defenses,
strong laager around the market place
and half dozen or so rapid fire guns, is
safe from an attempt to carry the place by
storm, it is not safe from being reduced
by starvation. and it might be captured if
the “friendlies” were suddenly to rise
some night and create a diversion within
the lines which would enable the native
impis to make a successful dash for the
laager.
The Greatest Danger.
This is the greatest danger new threat-
ening the town of Bulawayo, and, as al-
ready cabled, signs of preparation for such
an outbreak upon the part Of the “friend-
lies” have long been noticed and guarded
against. One maxim gun has been so
placed as to command the native portion
of the town or colony, and sentries, on
elevated stages, keep watch over the
Matabeles night and day.
Then again the Matabeles seem to have
suddenly learned the art of approaching a
town with defenses, for, with each move
forward, with each fighting of the half
circle around Bulawayo, they have throwu
up light mound earthworks, topped with
stones, which form quite effective Works
in such a siege. Indeed, the skill they
are manifesting in these operations is
pointed out as another proof that they are
being directed by Boer strategists.
The first of the relief corps from Mafe-
king is still believed to be about 150 miles
distant from Bulawayo, and this body of
men is really little more than the advance
guard of the 500 or 600 men which the
Chartered company’s Officials hope to
throw into the besieged camp within a
short time, but it is believed that serious
fighting must occur before Bulawayo is
relieved.
The one bright spot in this dark out-
look is the fact that in the engagements
which have hitherto taken place between
the whites and the natives the latter have
almost invariably been beaten, and with
severe loss. In fact, it is said that fully
1,200 Matabeles have already been sent to
their last account, against which show-
ing some 200 whites have been massacred.
Then again the rinderpest, which is de-
laying the advance of the relief corps and
provision and ammunition trains, is also
playing havoc with the cattle of the na-
tives. The spoor, or trail, of a large body
of natives, driving with them some 5,000
cattle, was marked at about every 100
yards by the body of a dead or dy-
ing beast and this dread disease may
therefore have more effect than the rifles
of the whites in enabling the latter to hold
the South African Lucknow, as Bulawayo
is now termed, until relief reaches the lit-
. tle garrison. ’
. Extra Precautions.
Day and night the Open ground around
Bulawayo is patrolled by mounted troops
who now and then exchange shots with
the scouts or spies of the Matabele army,
but the latter is apparently either holding
off for further re-enforcemcnts or is still
awaiting the development of a well studied
«Advertise in ' the—GAZETTE.
plan to either starve out the garrison by
sending into the lines as many “friend‘-
lies” as the commanders will receive, thus
slowly eating up the supplies. 'or, when
the right moment arrives. calling upon
the “friendlies” to make a demonstration
and then attempt to carry the place by as-
sault. In the latter case, unless the wires
connecting the dynamite mines with the
central laager are out, there will be ter-
rible loss of life on the side of the Mata-
holes.
The native portion of Bulawayo has re-
peatedly been searched for arms. but it is
well known that the “friendlies” have
succeeded in concealing their weapons.
although a number of war clubs, assagais,
knives and shields have been seized. ‘ As-
sngais (the dreaded throwing spear of the
natives), however, are easily buried in the
ground, and unless the native colony was
dug up from one end to the other the con-
cealed weapons could not all be found.
The News Via London.
LONDON, April sa—The officials of the
British Chartered South Africa company
received today the following dispatch from
Bulawayo dated April 21: .
“The situation is most serious. There
are 14,000 Matabeles within three miles
and 1,150 friendly natives have arrived in
town.” '
A dispatch to The Pall Mall Gazette
from Bulawayo, published this afternoon.
says:
“Both Bulawayo and GWelo are abso-
lutely safe. The Matabeles are not dis-
posed to attack, but are content with cut-
ting off small hands of whites. It is be-
lieved that 800 whites, prospectors or
farmers, have been murdered. In seven
fights 9 whites and 1,000 Matabeles have
been killed. The rebels are running short
of ammunition.”
Eva Boom In St. Louis. .
ST. LOUIS. April 23. —- Commissioner
Eva Booth of the Salvation Army has ar-
rived from Chicago. About 60 Officers of
the midland division Of the Army were at
the Union statiOn and gave the commis-
sioner a hearty welcome. Commissioner
Booth directed a meeting in Grand Music
hall. She stated that out of the 200 ofi‘icers
in the United States but 35 have left the
ranks of the Salvation Army.
Religious Education Congress.
WASHINGTON. April 23.——The first paper
read at this morning’s session of the con-
grass of religious education was on the
subject of “The Preacher as an Educa-
tor, ” by Rev. Davies, pastor Of the Fourth
Presbyterian church of New York city.
.“Science and Philosophy as Aids to Pulpit
Instruction” was the theme of a paper
by Rev. Dr. L. T. Townsend of Washing-
ton.
His Tramp May Prove Fatal.
PITTSBURG, April 23.—-Dick Whitting-
ton, the man sent out by the California
Athletic club with a wheelbarrow, dog
and $1 in his pocket to defray the ex-
penses of a pedestrian tour to New York
and return, is lying in a very critical con-
dition at the West Pennsylvania hospital.
He is suffering from hemorrhages brought
on by exposure on the journey.
President’s Cousin Wedded.
MILWAUKEE. April 23.--Miss Josie M.
Cleveland of Chicago, a cousin of Presi-
dent Cleveland, and Robert C. Battisby,
a merchant tailor of Minneapolis, were
married here. Miss Cleveland, accom-
panied by her mother, arrived here and
met Mr. Battisby by appointment. The
couple left for Minneapolis after the cere-
mony. , '
. White Coppers Arrested.
MERIDIAN, Miss, April 23.-—Warrants
were issued for the' arrest of Charles and
John Torrance, Lewis Smith, Arnott
Smith, Frank Bellson. Press Love, Charles
Weatherford and Charles McNice, who
were charged with the crime of White Cap-
ping. Sheriff Reed arrested all the parties
named and lodged them in the county jail.
Baron Hirsch's Death.
LONDON. April 23.—A Vienna dispatch
says: “Baron Hirsch had as his guest the
night of his death Herr Ehrenfeld, a land-
owner, and a large company. The baron
was unusually gay and drank a quantity
Of champagne, responding to all the toasts.
Probably this induced syncope, and when
his meanings were heard it was too late.”
Will Sell to the Government.
KANDER, Wy., April 23.—-The council
Of the Shoshone and Araphoes with In-
dian Inspector Major McLaughlin, held
at the agency, has just closed. After much
oratory it was decided to ofi'er the govern-
ment the Big Horn -Hot springs, with a
territory 5 by 10 miles surrounding it,
for $60,000.
Anti-Parnellites’ Plans.
LONDON, April 23.-—The Chronicle an-
nounces that a meeting of anti-Parnellites
has been held which decided not to offer
any obstructions to the Irish land bill, and
only to propose such amendments as are
urgently needed, so as not to give the
government any pretext to drop the bill.
The Abyssinian Campaign.
ROME, April 23.—The Tribune, com~
menting upon the rupture of the peace
negotiations between Abyssinia and Italy,
violently attacks the government. declar-
ing the ministers to be responsible for the
“dishonor suffered by Italy through King
Menelek"s haughty attitude.”
Smelting Furnaces to Close.
JOPLIN, Mo., April 28.—Owing to the
depressed condition of the metal market
and the light demand for spelter, the
Cherokee-Lanyon Spelter company, which
controls a mafiority of the great zinc smelt-
ers of the country, will shut down 12 Or
15 furnaces at once.
A Man Milliner Commits Suicide.
RICHMOND, April 23. —- Gustavus A.
Kohn, who has had charge Of large milli-
nery establishments in London, Paris, St.
Paul, Chicago, New York and Richmond,
committed suicide in the reservoir park
by shooting himself. He was about 40
years Of age.
Marries Again at Eighty-two.
ORANGE, N. J., April 23.—-Jeremiah
Meeker of South Orange astonished his
friends and neighbors by taking unto him-
self a wife for the second time. Mr. Meek-
er is 82 years old, 9nd the new Mrs. Meek-
er is some 40 years his junior. The groom
is wealthy.
A “'oman on the Jury.
DENVER, April 23.—.Tudge Johnson has
accepted Mme. M. A. Warren as a juror
in the district court. She is the first wo-
man to serve as a juror in Colorado. The
other district court judges hold that wo-
men are ineligible.
Not to Amend the Raines' Law.
ALBANY, April 23.—There will be no
amendments to the Raines liquor tax law
by the present legislature. That was de-
cided today at an adjourned conference oi
the leaders of the Republican party.
Advertise in the Gaznm.
T
II b. E V Ev
_ A Militant Divine.
SAN FRANOIsoo, April 23.-——The confer-
ence voted to suspend Dr. Brown by a
vote of 43 to 32 until he could prove his
innocence. Dr. Brown became greatly ex-
cited when the result was made known,
and denounced Dr. McLean in unmeas-
ured terms. , He even tried to assault him,
but was held back by his friends.
The Pederewski Fund.
BOSTON, April 23,—Mr. H. L. Higgin-
son of this city has accepted the oflice of
trustee of the Paderewski $10,000 prize
fund to encourage compositions by Amer-
ican musicians, and telegraphed Mr. Pad-
erewski to that effect before the latter
sailed from New York today.
The Canadian-Cabinet.
LONDON, April 23.—-A dispatch from
Ottawa to The Times says: “Sir Mac-
kenzie Bowell, the premier, has announced
that the resignations of the ministers will
be handed in in a few days. It is expect-
ed that Sir Charles Tupper'will be the
new premier."
Baron Von Hammerstein’s Trial.
BERLIN, April 23.—The trial of Baron
von Hammerstein, for er editor of The
Kreuz Zeitung and fo mer Conservative
leader, who fled from Berlin and was
brought back from Athens last December,
began today. The court was crowded with
people.
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
Ar St. Malo, France, there has been
on exhibition an edible mushroom four
feet in circumference and weighing
seven and one-half pounds.
A PECULIAR form of asphalt paving
has recently been tried in France. The
asphalt powder is heated to 120 degrees
and molded under a. pressure of about
five and one-half tons per square inch
into blocks, which are afterwards set
in cement mortar.
A FRENCH speculator who has been
acting through English brokers recently
refused to pay his losses, on the ground
that French law only recognized trans-
actions through French agents do
change. The courts.‘ however, have de-
cided that as the transaction was legal
in England, the English brokers can
recover in French tribunals.
THE chief sensation of the Paris ex-
hibition of 1900 will consist of a. new
bridge over the Seine 100 meters broad,
and with houses, theaters and monu-
ments on either side of it, like the
Pont Neuf in the Old days, not to men-
tion Old London bridge. It will span
the Seine from the Champs Elysees to
the Invalides.
‘y;
Yankee Ingenuity in Arizona. I
Yankee ingenuity is displayed on the
Arizona deserts. One of the ranchers,
says the Los‘Angelcs Times, the story
goes, 'wanted water, so he trained a.
number of wild desert camels to go to a.
water hole, fill themselves with water
and return to the ranch. He thereupon
introduced a reed siphon down their
throats and emptied the water from the
stomachs of the patient animals. Thus
did he irrigate his fruit trees. Of
'course. the camels soon grew thirsty
again and readily carried an indefinite
number of loads of water for the
rancher. .
Killing
a Pain
with narcotics intensifies the
disease while giving temporary
relief. Kidney troubles are
caused by congestion of the
parts affected. Backache is a
symptom of derangement. Rem-
ediesthat deadcn pain do not
remove the cause.
Buker’s Kidney Pills
remove disease and inflamma-
tion. Alcohol is an irritant—
pl/astcrs will not aid Kidney dc.-
rangemcnt—narcotics — opiates
. ——are injurious. Buker's Kid-
ney Pills are safe and specific in
all Kidney and Urinary troubles.
Druggists sell them for so cents.
Book about Kidney trouble,
free.
Baker .Pill Cm, Bangor, Me,
RH. WYER.
DON’T BE SIOE-TRAOKEO.
ALTERATION SALE STILL OII.
OUSTOMERS ALL SATISFIED.
SALES LARGE.
VERIIOT-uA SIIOOESS.
Here are a few reasons:
IIARIIESS OILS.
34c quart were 75c
I99 pint were 450
Labels 3. little worn, torn, etc.
Oils are A NO. I' though,
Standard go’ods.
OIISTERS.
98c were $1.50.
14;; were $1.25.
59c were $1.00
38¢ were 75c.
Equlilly useful for house, car-
riage. stone or barn. Always
useful. Never so cheap.
I still drum upon those $9.93 Har-
IIOSSOS- They’re worth it,
every cent.
Also five drummer’s samples single
harness, Will go at $1.98.
Made to soil at double. They
are a bargain, all new. Have
been carelessly handled.
P. H. DWYEE‘,
Cor. Knight and Wall Sts.,
" NORWALK. CONN.
# UNDER ruu HEAD l!
THE BOSTON STDBE’S MONEY-SAVING SALE
. New Spring Coeds!
3 Grass ‘ Va us in Men's umishings
54 dozen of the celebrated “ Stanley” Shirts, all new, made of fine percales, sold by all dealers at $1.25, special
for this sale. 66 cents each. ‘
6O dozen Fancy Shirts, laundered, Collars and Cuffs attached, soft finish and French Domet Flannel, full size
and perfect fitting, 41 Cents each. '
3O dozen Men’s all-wool white and gray Merino, spring weight Shirts and Drawers, Sold by the best New York
houses at $1.50, sale price 98 Cents each. I
One Care Men’s gray Half Hose, ex‘tra fine, spring weight, worth 25c, at I2 [.2 cents P” pair.
SILKS and DRESS GOODSW—J
Largest Variety, Best Quality, Lowest Prices.
At 50 CENTS, AH'WOOI Fancy Suitings, black figured Mohair. black Serges, black and colored
- Henriettas; real value 75 Cents.
1 I . .. .
‘ At 622‘ cents, 10 pieces Silk warp Henrietta, usually sold at $1.25.
A t . 6 9 Ge "ts, 25 pieces figured black silk Tafi’etas, the proper thing for spring and summer wear,
worth 89 cents. '
3,000 yards colored silk Dresden efi'ects, just the thing for fancy waists, 33 per cent under value, - .
THE BOSTON STOB
« N ORWALK.
New York Oflice. 442 Broadway»
.\
A POINTER...
Is your plate glass or safe insured? If not, call on me and
I will write you a. policy in the Mutual Plate Glass and Safe .Insur-
ance Company. Glass will break and burglars use dynamite.
Incase of Fire
You should be insured. A policy in the Reliance oI Thiladelphia;
Phoenix of Hartford; Scotland Union of Scotland; New Hampshire of
Manchester; Rochester German of Rochester;United States and Pacific
of New York; Security of New Hampshire or Granite State 01 Ports-
mouth will protect you against the fire fiend. ' » .
W. Er, EYENEEON,
Real Estate and General Insurance,
ROOM 1, GAZETTE BUILDING
LOANS NEGOTIATED AND INVESTMENTS MADE.
—__C0RRESP0NDENCE SOL/CITED,
I
Norwalk Chronicler