The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-04-18
BTLTWATOENDANGERED
Fears That the Matabeles Are Con-
templating a Massacre,
A SMALL FORGE OF DEFENDERS.


Encouraged by the Beers.
! BULUwAYO, April 1S.--A feeling Of ap
| prehension as to what the next step of the
revolving Matabeles will be permeates all
| circles here Information coming from
the couhsry around makes it certain that
the natives hre preparing an offensive
movement against this place. The mum.
Der of Matabeles reported gathering al
points near by is sufficient TO appall 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 RUSS of hordes Of Matabeles and the
inhabitants put to q wholesale massacre
The fear o. treaohery is added to the ap-
prehenslon of overwhelming numbers
Many indications point to a connivance
with the war parties of supposed 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 serv
ants.
On Wednesday evening three Dutch
scouts were SEM out from hore to secure
some definite ans accurate information of
the position and movements of the ma
tives What they found has served little
TO relieve the anxiety and suspense. They
report that the Matabeles are gathered
like ants in a hill on the Umgu5a river,
only six miles north of here.
That some treacherous plot Is being con-
cocted is indicated 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 Bulu-
wayo wear clothes approaching the Euro.
pean fashion. By attirlng the native war
riors in European garments the Matabeles
hope that they will be enabled to enter the
town unquestioned. A Matabele "boy'
has also been caught stealing the badges
and the puggarle belonging to the Rhode
sia horse, and it is believed that IL was In
tended to use these for the purpose of dis
guise
1t is plainly noticeable that the natives
in the town are becoming as thick as bees
The native population is at all times o
shifting one, and large number of the
men that make it up are not known indi-
vidually to the white people Of the town.
or to the authorities. But there is little
more confidence felt in the natives who be-
long in the town than in the hostile men
who, it Is believed, are being surrepti-
tiously 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 recapture of King Lobengula's old
: capitol from the British would be fear
full blow to the paramount power in
South Africa" This is frankly admitted,
!, and yet the available force of volunteers,
=. ETC., at Buluwayo Is believed to be not
much over 700 men. Machine guns have,
1t is true, been hurried to the front from
u the British flagship st, George the mar
o ket place has been converted into a strong
laager, the old police camp outside the
town and other points have been fortified,
but it would take many men and many
distractions to Withstand over 10000 fear
less Matabeles especially If it is true that
they are being ''aided and abetted" by
Boer commandants and led by old King
Lobengula or his son.
Although the modern Buluwayo is some
slight distance away from the old chief
kraal or collection of huts which COM
posed the headquarters, about two years
ago, of the ruler of Matabeleland to the
Matabeles it is sort of mecca, which, &C
cording to their minds, they and nobody
else should possess, and which If recap
tured must certainly bring them back
their old, historic glories. The feeling has
been steadily encouraged by the agents OF
the Beers who have everywhere been
preaching covertly, but effectively, cru
sade against the British.
1t Is this crusade which Is at the bottom
of all the trouble, and 1t dates from the
time of DIR. Jamesons filibustering raid
and the bad whipping administered by
the Beers to his freebooters. To bring
about the invasion of the Transvaal the
territory of the British South Africa com
pany was depleted of mounted police
arms and ammunition. These were al
captured by the Beers and shipped out OF
the country or are now in the hands o
the burghers. Here was the opportunity o
the Boer leaders, and they grasped 1t
promptly and firmly.
Buluwayo is really prize worth fight
ing for 1t has been changed in two year
from collection of native huts to a mod
ern town of brick, wood and corrugated
iron buildings. 1t has an opera house anC
several clubs a newspaper, law cour
and squad of lawyers, stock exchange
and several hotels, a chamber of com
merce, polo ground and golf links anC
streets, avenues and churches.
The food supply is reported sufficient tC
last for month, but there have been ap
peals for additional supplies of ammuni
tion, which must come from the south and
must be two or three weeks on the way
even If the convoy meet with no violence
The keeping open of communication is
Un0relOfe, Ol nrs1 lillpoIbdhOo' AAO Aooe
- for twenty miles south of Buluwayo runs
, through difficult and dangerous country
and if the Buluwayo forces are shut up in
the town and unable to patrol the road
= from Buluwayo to Mangwe fifty miles
south it will, it is believed, be impossible
to keep the road open and to get through
provisions.
impossible TO Avoid Future Trouble.
LONDON April 1s.-The Times has 4
e letter from johannesburg, bearing date
of March 80, which confirms the intelli
eence hitherto brought by cable that Co
IS lonial Secretary Chamberlain had de
y manded President Kruger's reply to th'
IS invitation to visit England within Ger
tain number of hours, but that Mr. Cham
berlain had granted an extension OF th'
time on President Kruger's request. ~
- In.