San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-01-07
JAMISON'S RAID.
THE CAUSES LEADING UP, TO IT
DETAILED.
Government By the Beers Was Gall
ing to Britishers and They
Sought to Usurp the
Reins of Power.

ing dispatches, delayed in trans
mission from johannesburg and
Cape Town, are gradually reaching
this city. They are dated from
January l onward and being col
lected, show the following synop-
sis OF the invasion of the Trans
vaal by forces OF the British Char
ter company. For long time
past the Nitland, or foreign resi-
dents of Transvaal, have been COM
planning OF the treatment they
have been subjected to by Beers.
The Nitlanders, though far out
mum bering the Beers, have been
compelled to contribute practically
all the revenue of the republic, and
yet have no representation or voice
in its government. That is their
side of the question. On the other
hand the Beers claim that the fact
that the Nitlanders, mainly Eng
lishmen, so far outnumber them
is the main argument against CIV
ing them full representation, for
then they would soon outvote the
Beers and make the republic moth
ing more or less than British col
ony. On this ground ill-feeling
grew until intimations were made
to DIR. Jamison, administrator Of
territory of the British chartered
company, that the British in
Transvaal were ripe for a revolt
and that IL he would take the in
itiative the Nitlanders would rise
and support him. DR.. Jamison
then began preparation for q raid
upon Johannesburg, mastering
about 700 men and plenty of am
munition, with but little food, on
the Transvaal border. When the
right moment arrived a letter was
sent him to go to the assistance Of
his compatriots, who were in dan
ger at the hands OF the aroused
Beers, then riding about the streets
and country in most threatening
manner. On Monday, December
80, DR.. Jamison's force crossed the
Transvaal border without the
knowledge, however, it would seem,
of the Nitlanders of Johannesburg.
He cut telegraph wires behind
him to prevent being ordered back
by the British government, it is
claimed, and pushed on for Krue-
gersdorf, where he expected to
meet reinforcement of 1000 Nit
landers. On the following day there
was intense excitement in johann
nesburg, the people hurrying into
town from mines and suburbs.
The central committee of the Nit.
lander citizens constitute them
selves a provisional government
for the town and announced that
ample provision would be made to
defend it against the Beers. The
so.called "new government" then
sent an ultimatum to the govern
ment president, Kruger, at Pre-
toria, and the latter proposed a
conference at Pretoria. By this
time the news that Jamison had
crossed the border was in Johannes
burg and his arrival at that place
was hourly expected. Crowds of
people surrounded the government
buildings and recruiting for the
Nitlander forces was carried on
with vigor. Meantime, the Beers,
who were fully aware OF Jamison's
proposed raid, met the movement
with a force OF about 5000
we'll armed, we'll mounted and
trained farmer huntsmen, whose
rifles always speak in deadly
earnest. This caused alarm
among the Nitlanders and
large numbers of them left town.
Later a committee of the provis-
ional government sent commu-
nication to Sir Hercules Robinson
which has already been published.
This caused a hurried exchange Of
cable messages with the home gov
eminent and everything possible
was done to call DR.. Jamison back,
but in vain. Eventually the COM
mittee Of the provisional govern
ment went to Pretoria and had an
interview with President Kruger,
who promised to redress their
grievances and give the Nitlanders
representation in the government
of the Transvaal and concluded
three days armistice with
the insurgents. Meanwhile the
provisional government retained
control of Johannesburg but while
President Kruger agreed to grant
the main demand of the commit
TIE of the provisional government,