Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-29

ers are reported from Tennessee, Kentucky
the upper lake region and the northwest.
The Indications are that fair weather Will
assumed in order that there might be no
mistake as to the actual attitude of the
Transvaal tow2rd Great Britain
The presidents concluding remarks, it is
pointed out ere, distinctly outline the fu
ture policy of the Transvaal. He said:
"CnIer existing circumstances the South
African Republic will not at the present
press a reconsideration of the London con-
vention and substitution for it of
treaty of amity and commerce. but will
rest satisfied with pecuniary compensation
and with the assurance that no violation
OF its territory will be repeated.
Relief ON All Sides.
Later in the day the report that Plesi
dent Kruger had committed the death SEN
fences WIS confirmed, and there still
further relief all sides and rejoicing in
many quarters. The step, it is added, will
have decidedly beneficial effect upon the
relations between the British and the Bo-
ers, even though it was anticipated ard to
a great extent discounted.
But the strain will be resumed when the
question of Great Britain paying an In
demnity to the Transvaal comes up.
1t is intimated here, however, that the
British government will endeavor to shift
the whole responsibility in the matter upon
the shoulders of theBritish Chartered South
Africa Company, and that the latter will
have to foct the Transvaal bill of expenses
when 1t is presented. This seems to be the
only way out of the difficulty, although 1t
Is difficult to see how Great Britain can
furnish the Transvaal with assurance
that no violation of its territory will be re-
peated unless the alleged grievances of the
titlanderS are respected.
Later in the day another dispatch from
Pretoria announced that DR.. w. J. Leyds,
secretary of state for the Transvaal, had
Informed Sir J. A. De Welt, the British
agent at Pretoria that 1t had not yet been
decided what punishment would be impOs-
ed upon the reform committee prisoners in
place Of the death SENTENCE and he also
intimated that the executive council was
reconsidering the sentences imposed upon
all the otter prisoners. This leads to the
belief that the minor sentences win be
lightened.
The Report Confirmed.
LONDON. April 29.--The secretary of
state for the colonies, Mr.. Joseph Cham
berlain, has received the following dis
patch, dated today at Pretoria. from Sir J.
a. De Welt, the British agent there:
"Leyds tDr. w. J. Leyds, secretary of
state for the Transvaal) has just told me
that the sentence of death has been taken
off the four prisoners, Hammond, Rhodes,
Farrar and Phillips. 1t is undecided wha.
punishment will be substituted.
THE executive council is now engaged in
considering the sentences of all the prIs-
onerS."
Indignation In London.
The sensation caused by the sentencing
to death Of the leaders Of the Johannesburg
reform committee, Messrs. Rhodes, Ham
mond, Farrar and Phillips at Pretoria yes
terday increases in spite of the fact that it
is announced that the sentences have been
committed, and little or nothing else is
talked about here today. People generally,
are indignant al the attitude of the Trans
vaal as outlined in President Kruegers
reply to the invitation of the secretary of
state for the colonies. Mr.. Joseph Chamber
lain, and urge that strong measures be
taken. They will not approve of any further
negotiations involving an appeal to Presi-
dent krueger's generosity, and Mr.. Cham
berlain is denounced OF all sides.
The editorials of the afternoon newspa-
pers, written before the news that the sem
tence of death had been committed reached
the editors, clearly state that Great Britain
does not intend to allow President Kruger
to do as he will with the lives of British
subjects.
Mr.. r. P. O'Connor in the Sun, says:
There is little doubt that in quiet way
the Germans are doing their best to egg the
Beers against us. l believe there is no doubt
that within few weeks six or seven hun
dred Germans, well-trained and armed, have
been landed in the Transvaal; perhaps to
provoke such a collision between us and
German s@n timent as may drag into
Il
perilous situation"
The Evening News, during the course of
savage article, remarks: president Kruger
dare not execute the leaders, nor carry out
the sentences Of Imprisonment and Danish
ment passed upon sixty of the foremost in
habitants of the Rand"
The United States embassy has not re-
ceived any dispatches from Washington re-
garding Mr.. Hammond, the American, who
Is among those sentenced. But the News
says that many messages have passed on
the subject between Mr.. Chamberlain and
Mr.. Olney. resulting in a further message,
which will be dispatched to President
Kruger, being agreed upon.
The Condemned.
OF the condemned men, Mr. John Hays
Hammond, manager Of the DeBeers mines,
is an American. He is a son of Richard
Pindell Hammond, who was born at Ha-
gerstown, Md. About ten years ago Ham,
mond was married in Washington county,
Nd, to Miss Natalie Harris, daughter of
Judge Harris of Mississippi
He is a native of California and is about
thirty-eight years old. He was educated
at Sheffield Scientific School for the pro-
fession Of mining engineer, and completed
his education at Freiburg, where he took
high honors.
He was engaged at salary of $4,000 a
year few wears ago to go to South Afri-