The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-04-04
Matabele Uprising Much More
Serious Than Prev O IS
Ones.
Two Engagements Fought Near
Near BuluwayO--Native
Loss Heavy.
The EXiled Son of LObenguela
Has Returned and Is in
Command.

CAPE Town, March 30.-D:spatches
received here from Buluwayo announce
that Frederick G. Selous, the explorer,
who left that town at the head of a
strong detachment of volunteers and
police, has met and engaged the enc
my, killing a large number. Five
troopers were killed. The prompt &C..
ton Of the authorities has had a good
effect upon the rebellious Matabeles,
who did not expect to be attacked for
some time to come. The Matabeles have
set fire to a large store about 40 miles
from Buluwayo, and executed a med.
cine dance around the flames. The
transport riders are abandoning their
wagons in all directions and are hurry.
ing into the towns, where armed men
are gathering for defense and for act.
i've operations against the rebels. Many
fendish murders have been reported,
and the settlers are terror stricken. In
nearly all cases they have abandoned
their homes and are encamped in
laagers while awaiting to be rescued by
the mounted police and volunteers.
Gravity of the Situation n. .t Exaggerated.
The gravity of the situation has not
been exaggerated, although it is still
hoped that the promptness of the au.
thorities in commencing operations
against the Matabeles may result in
checking the spread of the rebellion.
Fears are entertained for the safety
of a party of 1000 settlers, mainly
women and children, who are in the
lager in the vicinity of which a strong
force of Matabeles has been reported.
The settlers have only sufficient provis.
ions for a short time.
Captain Spreckley on Thursday, it is
announced, met and repulsed a strong
body of Matabeles and inflicted great
loss upon them. Spreckley's troopers
escaped with only a few men wounded.
Native Polio, Revolted.
One of the gravest features Of the
uprising is that it is now admitted that
the native police have been induced
not. only to take part in the rebellion,
but to induce the various tribes they
were supposed to control, to take up
arms against the whites. 1t is esti-
mated that in this manner, 700 we'll
trained fighting men, armed with mod.
ern rifles and well supplied with am
munition have gone over to the enemy.
Cecil Rhodes in nina
Cecil Rhodes is expected to arrive at
Buluwayo during the day. He will as.
sumo the direction of repressive meas
ures.
Business throughout the Matabe,e.
land is completely paralyzed and will
go remain until the rebellion is crushed.
Mounted police are being drafted to
Buluwayo and Salisbury, and add.
tional Maxim guns are being forwarded
to both those points.
Later advices from Buluwayo an.
nounce that the son of the late King
L~obenguela, who was banished from
Matabeleland, has returned and placed
himself at the head of the insurgent
Matabeles. The latter have in some
obtained posse sion of a great
many rifles and a stock of ammun ton,
which, although not large, is sufficient
to enable them to make a very much
more effective fight than they did two
years ago.
Scouts who have returned to Sails
bury and Buluwayo report that the
natives are gathering in large bodies al
different points, ana are herding to-
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