Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-01-10
WAR IN TRANSVAAL.
Or. JAMESON DEFEATED lNAsATTLe
WITH THE 5oERs.

The History OF the III Fated Freeboot-
ing Expedition of the Director Of the
British Chartered Company Into the
Territory of the South African Republic.
LONDON, Jan 7.-Late dispatches from
johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town
give detailed accounts of DIR. Jameson's
invasion of the Transvaal and the battle
with the Beers in which his force was de-
feated and captured The following is an
authentic statement of the incident
For n long time past the uitlanders, or
foreign residents of the Transvaal, have
been repeatedly complaining of the treat
ment they have been subjected to by the
Beers. The uitlanders, though far out
numbering the Beers, have been compelled
TO contribute practically all the revenue Of
the republic and yet have no representa-
tion or voice in its government That is
their side of the question
On the other hand, the Beers claim that
the very fact that the uitlahders, mainly
Englishmen, so far outnumber them is
the main argument against giving them
full representation, for tissn they would
soon outvote the Beers and make the re-
public nothing more or less than British
colony.
On this ground the i'll feeling grew un-
til intimatiOns were made to DR.. Jameson,
administrator Of the territory of the Brit
ish Chartered company, that the British in
the Transvaal were ripe for revolt and
that II he would take the initiative the
uitlanders would rise and support him.
Jameson Gets Ready.
DIR. Jameson then began preparations
for a raid upon johannesburg, mastering
about 700 men and plenty of ammunition,
but little food, on the Transvaal border
When the right moment arrived, a letter
was sent to him by the uitlanders of Jo-
hannesburg, urgently asking him to 90 to
the assistance Of his compatriots, who
were in danger at the hands of the aroused
Beers, then riding about the streets and
country in most threatening manner.
On Monday, Dec. 30, DIR. Jameson's
force crossed the Transvaal border without
the knowledge however, it would seem,
of the uitlanders of johannesburg He
cut the telegraph wires behind him, to
prevent being ordered back by the British
government, it is claimed, and pushed on
for Krugersdorp, where he expected to
meet re-enforcements of 2, 900 uitlanders.
On the following day, Dec 81, there was
intense excitement at johannesburg, peo-
pie hurrying into the town from the mines
and suburbs.
The central committee of uitlander citi-
zens constituted themselves a provisional
| government for the town, and announced
that ample provision would be made to
defend 1t against any body of Beers.
The provisional government established
| itself in the Consolidated Goldfields build
ing, and three maxim rapid fire guns were
placed by the citizens in advantageous po-
sitions about it.
The so called "new government" then
sent an ultimatum to the government Of
President Kruger at Pretoria. The latter
proposed a conference at Pretoria on the
following day, Wednesday, but the com
mittee appointed by the new government
hesitated to go to Pretoria without safe
conduct.
By this time the news that DIR. Jameson
had crossed the border was in Johannes.
burg, and his arrival at that place was ex.