New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-17
4 SURPRISE TO Reform LEADERS.
VIEWS OF AN AMERICAN IN THE TRANS
VAAI. on JAMESON'S RAID.

Lakewood y. j., March l6.-J. Bryant Lindley
general manager In South Africa Of the Equitable
Life Assurance Society OF New York, is brother OF
DR.. c. l.. Lindey. who has made Lakewood MS
winter home for several years and whose younger
DAYS were spent In Africa. where he participated
In the Boer war DR. I4ndley has just received
communication from his brother which gives some
interesting information the late trouble In the
Transvaal and of the circumstances leading thereto
When Mr. Knight. United States Consul made his
official investigation Mr.. Lindley. Who FOR ten
wears practised law In New-iork CITY, accom-
panied him on his trip to Pretoria. the capital. as
legal adviser. He therefore had ample opportunity
NJ making a thorough search into the motives for
the uprising From his observations he Is strongly
convinced that Jamesons raid was total and I'M
expected surprise TO the reform leaders. as they
had no weapons or ammunition prepared ior such
an emergency. When the news reached them. Mr..
I,ndley SAYS they paid no heed to 1t. treating it
as a canard; and IL on.y when they were thor
oughly assured of it's truth that they hastily
armed themselves with whatever warlike material
they could lay hands on an act that they considered
necessary for their protection from the masses
IN Johannesburg rather than as conclusive evil
dence that they sided with DR.. Jim
Mr. Iindley declares his doubt that the Beers
had any fear OF the citizens OF johannesburg unless
lawless acts over which they had no control com
peeled them to resort desperate methods He is
satisfied that DR. Jameson never thought of cross
ing the border. unless rioting or bloodshed oc-
Cured in Johannesburg Mr. Lndley explains the
allegation that a letter asking for aid IN that city
was sent TO DIR. Jameson by saying that the copy
OF letter which had been prepared for such a
contingency by means fell into the hands Of
Jameson entirely without the consent knowledge
NJ the Reform Committee. He Is also OF the opin-
ION that the statement that the Beers sent such a
e,ter 10 Jameson in order to get him TO cross the
border with his troops Is entirely without founda-
tho camp Of the reformers furnished the Boer
covernment with copies OF letters and resolutions
hat would place the reformers in a treasona bic
ucbt giving as his the simple fact that there
we're no such letters or resolutions to be obtained
Mr. r,ndley thus proceeds: THE Reform Com
,,,a. am satisfied. were simply playing one Of
tho biggest games Of blum on record That is the
snor., n, the whole business. They actually led
Tho Government TO believe that they had 1000
etand OF arms and warke material in like pro-
nortion. whereas they had not more than enough
"a nrotect themselves against an outbreak OF mob
Violence in the city itself Jamesons prec pitate
ACT in crossing the border spoiled everything. Al
that time the Government was peginnihg 10 ciimp
gently down and making concessions; every
thing was in fair way TO happy outcome; NO
wonder the committee could not ana Would not
credit the news OF Jamesons move until twenty
four hours after ne vas In Transvaai territory.
Mr.. I.ndley affirms. In mos; positive lansuage'
ha belief that there was no plot to upset the pres