The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-18

following from its correspondent at
Cape Town: The TransVaai sympa-
thizer who was mobbed at the railway
station on saturday turned out to be
no less a person that Mr. Hofmyer, who
was recently the envoy of the Afrikan-
der party to President Kruger. He and
two prominent Cape Town Bund men
were hO0ted and hustled and forced to
take refuge at a hotel. At late hour
they were escorted here by the police.
Nearly 5000 pounds has been collected
on behalf of the refugee relief fund.
There is certain to be a severe strain
upon the resources of the committee.
At present most of the men possess lit
tie means and a month hence even that
little Will be gone.
The crowd includes notorious char
acters from the Rand and the police are
preparing to deal with an epidemic of
crime when the money is exhausted.
SEVERE FIGHTING.
Lorenzo MARQUEE, Oct 1S.-The VolIz-
stem, the Boer official organ at Pretoria,
gives the following account of the Occu-
patton of the British camp at Rama
thIabama just north of Mafeking:
THE British camp at Ramathlabama
has been captured and sacked by Gen.
CronJe after severe fighting.
Many burghers were killed or
wounded. The British loss is not
known
The Volksten adds that success has
thus far everywhere attended the burg
hers, although it admits that at the
various skirmishes near Mafeking and
at other points the Boer casualties
number some so or 20 killed and wound
ed.
AMMUNITION FROM GERMANY,
Port Said. October 1S.-The German
steamer Kaiser from Hamburg, is dis
embarking at the entrance of the Suez
canal 1900 pieces of ammunition con-
signed to the TranvaaL This step is
taken in order to avoid seizure in the
Red Sea by British cruisers. The am
munition will probably be re-emb barked
for Hamburg on board the steamer
Herzsog, which is shortly expected
here.
The Kaiser was shadowed by the
British second class cruiser Thetis
through the Mediterranean. The ThetiS
passed into the canal this morning. 1t
is reported that several German officers
are on board the Kaiser bound for the
Transvaal.
ARMING WITH ASSEGAIS.
London. Oct. 18.-According to a spec
ial dispatch from Durham, Natal, the
Zulus are arming with assegais. Chief
Dinisulu says he is unable to restrain
them. 1t is expected they will be join
ed by the Swaizeis.
WHITE FLAG AT MAFEKING.
London, Oct. 18.-A special dispatch
from Pretoria reports that a white flag
has been hOisted at Mafeking. The cor
respondent does not know whether the
town intends to surrender.
The Beers according to a special dis
patch from Pretoria, yesterday, repuls-
ed a small force of Cape mounted police
near Berkley, West Cape Colony, cap
turing two.
OFFICIAL WAR BULLETIN.
London, Oct 18.-The war office has
issued the following statements: News
has been received from Gen. Sir Geo.
Stewart White, the general command
ing in Natal that the anticipated
movement of BOer forces across the
Drakensberg already reported from
several quarters was likely to be con-
tinued on October II in which case
some of them might be expected to ar
rive at Boaan Bank that night and pro-
bably to come into contact with our
cavalry between Ladysmith and the
passes of the DrakenSburg.
'On the north the Boer forces from
Ingagane are advancing accompanied
by a few batteries of artillery.
''On the Buffalo river the Beers from
Vryheld are moving towards Wants and
ROrkesdrifts.
Our cavalry remain in observation
and report movements in the Orange
Free State. The BasutOs are said to
manifest an attitude hostile to the
Beers; and they may neutraHze a GER
tain number of the Boer forces
BOER GUNS COVER THE TOWN.
London, Oct. 18.-A special dispatch
dated at Pretoria at noon yesterday
says: After a few shots were fired at
Mafeking the white flag was hoisted.
A BOer party bearing a flag of truce
was sent to inquire whether the town
surrendered. No definite reply was re-
ceived. The BOer messenger was de-
tanned for six hours and then released. y
Another special dispatch from Pre-
toria says: The Boer Krupp batteries
are now covering the town. Military
engineers can be observed laying a tenn
porary railroad which will probably be
used in armOred train defense by the
garrison.