The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-04-23
TREACHERY IS FEARED
Buluwayo Is Threatened by
Hordes of Matabeles.
WHOLESALE MAssACREIMMINENT
The Hostile Natives Are Gathering by
Thousands About the Town
Feeling OF Apprehension.

Buluwayo, April 20.-A feeling of
apprehension as to what the next step
Of the revolving Matabeles will be per-
coming from the country around makes
it certain that the natives are prepar-
ing an offensive movement against the
place. The number of Matabeles re-
ported gathering at points near by is
sufficient to appal the hearts of even
experienced fighters. There is dread
in the minds of many that the place is
in danger Of being overwhelmed by a
rush of hordes of Matabeles, and the
inhabitants put to a wholesale mas
sacre.
The fear of treachery is added to the
apprehension of overwhelming num-
bers. Many indications point to con-
nivance with the war parties of sup
posed friendly natives. There are
many of the latter in the town itself,
and no white man feels sure how far
he can trust his dusky associates or SER
wants.
On Wednesday evening, three Dutch
scouts were sent out from here to se-
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nation of the position and movements
Of the natives. What they have found
has not served to relieve the anxiety
and suspense. They report that the
Matabeles are gathered like ants in a
hill on the Umgusa river, only six
miles north of here. That some treach-
erous plot Is being concocted Is indi-
GATED by the fact that native women
are secreting European clothes. The
native men on the Veldt wear the ma
tive costume, while most of those in
Buluwayo wear clothes approaching
the European fashion. By attiring the
native warriors in European garments,
the Matabeles hope they will be enabled
to enter the town unquestioned.
A Matabele ''boy" has also been
caught stealing the badges belonging
to the Rhodesia horse, and it is be-
lieved that it was intended to use these
for the purpose of disguise to further
some treacherous project for taking
Buluwayo at q disadvantage and kill
ing the inhabitants. 1t is plainly no
ticeable that the natives in the town
are becoming as thick as bees. In or
dinary times, the natives come and go
in town without attracting attention.
The native population is at all times g.
shifting one, and a. large number of
the men that make it up are not known
individually to the white people of the
town or to the authorities. The fact
that the natives in the town live apart
from the whites adds to the difficulty
Of identifying those who belong in the
town. But there is little more conf
dence felt in the natives who belong in
the town than in the hostile men who
it is believed, are surreptitiously being
introduced to aid from within when an
attack shall be made from without. 1t
looks now as though that might occur
at any time.
The roads by which communication
is had with the south, both the one to
Tuli and the one to Mafeking, are felt
to be in peril. There are undoubtedly,
large numbers of hostile natives be-
tween Buluwayo and the settlements
to the south, some of them in open re
volt. The situation is felt to be serious
and threatening.
Jail-Breaker Left His Card.
Price, Utah, April 20.-S. b. Brown
lee, who has been confined in the coun-
ty Jail since March % lats, on six
months. sentence for criminal libel,
broke Jail last night and is supposed to
have taken midnight train east. When
the deputy jailer, George Simpleman,
went to the Jail this morning to feed
Browniee, he was confronted with
note pinned to the empty cage inform
ing him that Brownlee had taken the
eastbound train, and that if it was de-
sired that be should return to please
wire him at Leadville, and he would
take the first train back. The note
was signed by Brownlee, who had by
that time over eight hours start, and
was in all likelihood in Colorado.