Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-19

CUPIES NEW CASTLE.
PRETORIA, October 1S.-(Delayed
in transmission Gen. Cronie, after
warning the women and children to
leave Mafeking, opened fire upon the
town with cannon this afternoon. No
response was made.
1t is reported here that dysentery
and desertion are prevalent in Gen.
Cronje's commando.
The Beers continue to close In up
on Mofeking and to destroy the railway
north and south of the town.
Among the prisoners captured at Lo-
batsi was the Rev. Adrain Hofmeyr.
He has since been released.
The Volkssten, the Boer official or
gan, gives the following account of the
occupation of the British camp at
Ramathlabama, just north of MAIZE
king:
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 Volkssten adds that success
has thus far everywhere attended the
Burghers," although it admits that in
the various skirmishes near Mafeking
and at other points the Boer casual
ties number some 60 of 70 killed and
wounded.
The Transvaal officials at Komati
Poort assert that large quantities of
explosives were found on the railway
there. The culprits who placed the
stuff where it was found were fred up
on, but escaped.
Commandant General Joubert has ar
rived at New Castle, Natal. He found
only 100 men. there when he entered
the town.
The report current at Delagoa Bay
that 5000 Beers have been repulsed at
New Castle is false.
Gen. Jan H. NJ. Kock, second in COM
mand of the Boer forces, is still at In
gogo. He has cannon commanding Bo-
thas and Linnet passes and has cut the
railway between Dundee and De Jaag-
ers Drift. Several Transvaal comman-
does are movings toward the Biggars-
berg mountains, to the south Of Glen
coe.
The telegraph superintendent at Hell
delburg, Transvaal reports that on Sun
day night balloon passed over Nigel
in the direction of the Standerton.
In spite of the severe strain the
health of Presiden Kruger continues
good.
The first batch of military prisoners
is expected here this evening.
LONDON, October 1S.-Up to noon
to-day no confirmation had been receiv-
ed Of the report of serious Boer losses
at Mafeking; but stories are arriving
from various points so persistently and
circumstantially that it appears prob
able the burghers have met with some
measure of reverse. Accounts of the
action at Mafeking are beginning to ar
rive from Pretoria. Therefore if the
Beers had any success it is bound soon
! to be known. AS foreshadowed yester-
day they have succeeded in cutting off
the water supply at Mafeking; but it is
said that there are sufficient wells in
town to supply the inhabitants.
Advices from Pretoria, summarizing
the reports to the Transvaal govern
ment from Gen. Cronje in command at
the chief lager on the west side, an
nounce that the Marico and Rustenburg
commandos, with field telegraph, occu-
pied Burmanns Drift. near the out
skirts Of Mafeking on Monday and took
possession Of a fountain in the neigh
borhood, thus cutting off the water sup
/ ply of the town. The Boer artillery
then began Smelling, but the British did
! not reply.
A Boer account Of the skirmish with
! the British armored train south OF Kim
berley says:
"The train came upon the BurgheFs
while they were destroying the railway.
The Burghers fired upon the train
with mausers and subsequently with
artillery. The third shot hit truck
and the train then steamed OF. after
which the Burghers continued the
work OF destroying the line"
Another dispatch from Pretoria says
the Burghers have occupied Taungs,
south Of Mafeking. and Lobari (LoDas-
u?) to the northward without oppos.-
lion.
With regard to Norvals Point 1t au-
pears that the Cape railway officials de-
stroyed the bridge onIheir line on the
Orange Free State side and then aban-
doned the station. The Orange Free
State troops have destroyed the Mod
der river bridge without opposition.
A dispatch from Durham. Natal, says
that refugees who arrived there yester-
%rr~.,