The herald., 1896-04-03
NEWS FROM MATABELELAND
HOPE INSPIRED BY The PROMISE OF
STRONG REINFORcHMeNTs
The Matabeies Defeated In Some Sharp Skir-
mishes-The Natives Are Massine at
Various Points and No Help Is Expected
from the Beers
Associated Press Special Wire

CAPE Town, April 2.-News from Mata.
beleland is meagre, but there are now indi-
cations that the rebellion may be checked
before 1t has time to spread dangerously
far. Dispatches received here from Eng
land say that preparations are being made
to send reinforcements of 5000 regular
troops here at short notice, should such a
step he necessary, and it is said that 5000
additional troops can be hurried here from
India in very short time. These an
upon the public mind and there is not so
much loud talking on the part of the bur-
ghers and their advisers. A delayed dis
patch from Buluwayo. dated Tuesday last.
says that Captain Mcfarland, in command
of the mounted patrol. had a sharp skir-
mish with a band of rebellious Matabeles
at Queens reef, Dembezzi. The natives
are reported to have attacked the troopers
in fine style, in a hand to hand encounter,
in which they were beaten off, leaving
thirty killed. Captain Mctarland's party
lost one horse and several white troopers
killed but the number of the latter is still
IN doubt. The patrol. however, made a
gallant stand against overwhelming odds
and had the best of the skrmisli.
Three indunas who have arrived at Bulu-
wayo from the scene of MacFarlane's
fight with the natives report that the young
Matabeles fought the troopers against the
advice of the chiefe, and that the younger
warriors could not he controlled.
Another fight has taken place near IN.
yata. A number of white settlers who
were seeking refuge in the town were sur
rounded by hostile natives. The whites
made determined resistance, but all of
them we're killed except one man, who
brought the news to Buluwayo The ma
tives captured thirty rifles and about 5000
rounds of ammunition.
Se!ous, the hunter and explorer, at the
head of thirty mounted volunteers, when
these advices left Buluwayo, had gone to
Mangwe to escort the mail coach from that
place to the former place. Dawson's patrol
reports that the Matabeles are massing at
Shanghai, Umzengwana, Matoppo and In
yata.
Captain Dawson cautions the authorities
against being thrown off their guard by the
apparent calm and seeming inaction of the
natives. he points out the fact that only
pure-blooded Matabeles are allowed to
join the forces being massed for attack,
and adds that this shows the enemy must
be numerous and confident. The pure
blooded Matabeles fight separately and
with great skill. Consequently Captain
Dawson insists that they will not be driven
out of the Matorpo hills except by large
and we'll organized force.
There was a bad scare at Buluwayo early
in the week, owing to the report brought to
that town by some scouts that 1000 Mata-
beles we're within twelve miles of Bulll-
place. But it now appears they went in.
stead towards the Mattoppo hills. The
big lager at Buluwayo has been consider
ably strengthened by entertainments of
earth and obstructions of every kind, and
that town is now believed to be impreg-
nable. The chief uimo or god who
first melted the revolt of the Mata-
beles has proclaimed himself king of Mata-
beeland in succession to the late King Lo-
bengula. The son of the last named mon
arch, who is understood to be on his way
to the MatOppo hills, in order to head the
when he does, there is likely to be trouble
, between his warriors and those of the
newly-proclaimed king. Mr.. Cecil Rhodes
bad not reached Buluwayo when the fore
going dispatches were sent, but he was ex-
pected hourly. and was understood to be
bringing with him large force of volun.
teers escorting a wagon loaded with arms,
ammunition and supplies.
Nobody here puts any faith in the report
that the Beers have offered to assist the
British in queiling the rebellion in Mata-
beleland. When the rumor is mentioned,
people shrug their shoulders and say that
ii such an offer was made, it was surely
done in spirit of sarcasm. The Beers
have important matters of their own to at
tend to just now, and are very unlikely to
take any steps which may strengthen the
hands of the British administrators. Be-
sides, it is believed MIR. Rhodes is about
the last man in South Africa the Beers
would help out of a hole.
A MASSACRE REPORTED
LONDON, April 2.--Sir Hercules Robinson,
governor of Cape Colony, has cabled to the
government the details of the massacre of
white men in Inyanti, in Matabeleland, in
Guiding Messrs. Handley, Cass and Buford.
Assistant Commissioner Graham was muir
dered by the Matabeles at Inyani on March
27. A general attack upon the whites fol.
lowed and they were entirely outnumbered
and almost overwhelmed. being unable to
make any effective stand against the rush
of the native warriors.
They magaged to get hold of wagon
and with this they effected a retreat of
three miles. Their flight was perceived and
they we're closely followed the whole of the
three miles. Some three thousand Matabeles
then surrounded the wagon and put a stop
to its progress. and the hard-pressed
whites were brought to their last stand
with nothing left for them but to sell their
lives as dearly as they could. They kept
the forces as long as possible and when
the blacks closed upon them fierce and
desperate hand to hand conflict ended it.
Overborne by superior numbers, six of the
whites we're killed. Donovan, the only
survivor of the massacre, managed to es.
cape by hiding in the long grass and
creeping away undiscovered. Donovan es-
Inmates that fully fifty of the Matabeles
were killed before the party of white men
were overpowered.
Very Moderate Damages
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