Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-27
Indications Of a Serious Uprising in
Matabeleland.
DEFEAT OF TIE MOUNTED POLICE
Volunteer Troops Forced to Come
to a Halt.
GOVERNMENT UNPREPARED
Copyright, 1895, ~ the Associated Press)


ceived from Buluwayo, Matabeland. today
indicate that the uprising in that part Of
the colony Is much more serious than the
authorities will admit.
The kilograms from the front yesterday
merely outlined a revolt Of few natives
in the Inseza and Filubusi districts. the
massacre of some white settlers, including
Commissary Bentley and the dispatch OF
small force of volunteers to the scene of
the disturbance. The dispatches Of today
show that the disturbance is widespread,
and becoming more alarming as time
passes. An extensive uprising of the ma
tives. 1t Is now understood, has taken place,
and the revolt is likely to spread to other
parts Of South Africa.
The settlers in Matabeleland are f1ockins
into the towns, which are being placed In
q condition for defense. Volunteers are be-
ing enrolled everywhere, provisions are be-
ing collected and, in short, all the steps
necessary are being taken to meet most
serious developments.
Reinforcements of mounted police have
already been sent to Buluwayo, 1nseZa and
Gambia, and the Cape Rifles have received
orders to prepare for active service. Sup
plies of ammunition for the Maxim guns
are being hurried to Buluwayo. and all the
horses of the disturbed territory have been
impressed by Col. Napier who Is in charge
of the government forces.
The natives are raiding farms and killing
white settlers in the Matapo hills district.
and rumor has 1t that over fifty people
have been slain.
Explorer SeIous Driven Away.
Frederick C. Selous. the well-known fight
Ing explorer, who distinguished himself dur
ing the Matabele war, has been driven from
his farm and has sought safety at Bulu-
wayo. He brought in with him. however.
three Indunas whom he had arrested as a
matter of precaution. and he asks that they
be held prisoners until the cattle from the
Selous estate raided by the natives are re-
stored
In the meanwhile Selous is enrolling vol
unteers, and will shortly start for the front
at the head of a strong force of South
African troops. In an interview. Selous is
quoted as saying that the authorities must
act quickly and effectively, otherwise the
revolt will spread in all directions and the
government will experience great difficulty
in restoring order
sent out from Buluwayo yesterday, had a
sharp engagement with the natives. and
although the official report says that the
troopers retired in good order" unofficial
adviceS have 1T that the police patrol lost
several men killed. had number of wound
ed and beat a hasty retreat, closely pur-
sued by the Matabeles.
Volunteers Compelled to Halt.
A small detachment Of volunteers which
also pushed forward yesterday to protect
the endangered settlers, mas been compelled
to halt. and is now occupying fortified
position about twenty-five miles from Built
wayo while awaiting the reinforcements
under Selous, which may be able to leave
EuluEayo today.
There are plenty of volunteers but all
the horses necessary to mount them and
the arms, ammunition and supplies neces-
sary to equip them are not Forthcoming as
promptly as desired.
The fact is that the authorities have
been caught unprerared fori the outbreak,
and while the usual attachments of mount
ed police had been drawn upon to provide
troopers for service elsewhere.
The opinion. is expressed here that the
outbreak in Matabeleland is one of the
outcoines of the Jameson raid, and the de-
feat inflicted by the Beers upon the British.
The news has spread far and wide in
greatly exaggerated form, and. coupled
Transvaal and of the Orange Free State
and the exodus of Beers from other parts
of South Africa into the two republics, has
excited the natives. who are being led to
believe that the British are TO be driven
out of South Africa.
OficiaI -Adviccs.
LONDON, March 21.-The governor of
Cape Colony, Sir Hercules Robinson tele-
graphs under yesterdays date, saying that
courier from the Shanghai district has
arrived at Buluwayo and reports that
seven whites in that part of the country
have been killed or wounded and that four
more are missing.
The remaining whites of the Shanghai
district, the courier reported have fled from
their farms and are encamped in two la
gers. twenty miles apart.
The natives of Shangani, the governor
also wired, left their kraal and had a pow
WOW at Jingen yesterday 1t is said that
a prominent witch doctor is the instigator
of the rising, and that great excitement
prevails at Buluwayo.
In official circles here it is believed that
the uprising in Matabeleland will be
promptly quelled and that the disturbance
will not spread to any extent.