The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-15
RELIEF OF LADYSMITH.
Report Is Again Made to Serve
Stock Spectators.

London. Dec. 15.-There was a renewal
this morning on the stock exchange Of
the persistent rumors of the relief of
Ladysmith. but the war office and other
officials utterly discredited it. which is
generally believed may have been started
with the object of unloading Kaffir shares
Although the quotations were lower at
Lhe opening conseql lenC upon Iach o. CON
nrmaUion of yesterdays favorable reports
the reiteratiOn of the statement that sew
eral firms had received private conhrma-
tion of the reported relief Of Ladysmith
led to rapid improvement IN Rand
Mines, which opened at S51s and jumped
1-16 ana Chartereds from s ZIG to as
There We're slight relapses later.
THE BOER SIDE
Pretoria. Dec. 12.-The following Of
Acial announcenent has been made:
General Cronje reports that Yesterday
there was deSultOry fighting till when
heavy cannon hre was resumed The
Scandinavians stormed difficult position
but it became untenable and they suffered
severely 1 was unable to send help. The
British were in overwhelming force but
must have had at least 1000 men put out
Of action. either in killed or wounded.
Another OFFICIAL report from Capt Finn
Hart says: There were no signs of sur
render, the Burghers fighting with con-
spicuous bravery and maintaining their
position under heavy British fire. Our
A KIRAIISH.
London, Dec. 15.-The war office has re-
ceived the following dispatch:
From the officer commanding at
Orange River, Thursday, December a:
Yesterday part Of the mounted infan-
try under Capt. Bradshaw and the York
shires and Lancashires guides under
Lieut. NIcFarlane .patroned in the direc-
tion of Ramah and Zoutspan Drift, about
ten miles east of the Orange river, to
recOnnoitre and re1ort the strength Of
drift The mounted Infantry found a
drift and sharp engagement ensued-
The enemy retreated to johannesburg.
Capt Bradshaw and three men We're kill
ed. Lieut.. Gregson of the East Kents
and seven men We're wounded The BOers
had five men killed and several men
THEIR BUSY DAY.
from Arundel, Cape Colony saws: With
two expeditions-onet to seize Naa1 Kop and
the other to punish Lieut.. Coils assa1l-
ants-matters have been pretty brisk for
this column The latter force which was
under the command OF Major Sprot OF
the Sixth Dragon guards and the Car
bineers comprised the Inniskilling Drag
Royal Horse artillery with mounted in
fantry as escort. They were ordered to
enemy's position which was occupied by
Beers who had frequently fired on our
patrols from II NoIhng nkely 70 orlng
on a general engagement however, was
The force proceeded within two miles
of the farm. The artillery went forward
and shelled the building. After shellinG
LOT some time the carb1neers surrounded
the house and found the body of Sergeant
make prisoners OF nlne Beers when from
the BOer main position a Long Tom
troops WltnoreW steadily under a heavy
shell fire the carbineers sticking closely
TO the guns
The Vaal Kop. expedition found that the
Boer position had been evacuated and
the laager destroyed by the shelling.
THE UNEXPECTED.
New York, Dec. ia Herald dispatch
from Chievely Camp via Frere says:
pens The Beers have not fired shot
today (Tuesday) but have kept dead 81
lenCe along their strong lines the hills
north Of the Tugela river, including GrOb-
lers KlOof
We could see bodies of mounted men
riding about and wagons trekk1ng over
the hills to their camps. Yet the Beers
must and clearly did see our forces.
An attempt was made to draw them by
sending men close to the river but it fail
their battery until our infantry begins to
move.
Firing still continues from Bulwana
against Ladysmith-
CoL0NIsTS WAvERING.
London, Dec. 15.-"Lord Methuen's
pulse" says the Cape Town correspond
eut of the Daily News, ''has had a most
depressing effect upon the lOyalists who
are by no means a growing body They
are filled with dark fOrebodings. Dutch
disaffeCtiOn is rapidly growing. A large
section is restless and would need but lit
tie purSuaSiOn to join the Beers
There are disturbing reports from the
eastern districts OF Cape Colony, where
many secret meetings have been held.
the loyal farmers in the Stutterheim and
keirOad districts
DID NOT COME OFF.
F'rere Camp, Wednesday. Dec. 13.-
(NOOn)-The expected artillery duel be-
tween the British and the Boer forces did
ed positions around Colenso but the Beers
did not reply.