The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-13
WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

The only comparison that can be in
stituted with the blowing up OF tha.
battleship is in respect to the loss OF
life If, as there is good reason To fear.
the train in question was one that had
left Mafeking with 300 women and
children. Taken in conjunction with
the earlier announcement from Vry-
burg that 1000 Beers were holding the
line. II can only be inferred that the
train was either DESTROYED by artillery
or blown up bv explosives. There is
still a faint hone that the disaster be-
fell the train not while the women and
children were on board on the way to
Vryburg. but while it was returning to
Mafeking from Vryburg with detach-
ment of Col. Baden PowelPs force sent
TO escort refugees to Vryburg, where
the Cape railway assumes responsible
ity for their safety. The war office.
however. fears that the worst has hap
pened.
BOERS AT MARIBOGO.
Apart from this destruction OF the
armored train the most notable change
in the position Of affairs is the presence
Of the Beers at Maribogo forty miles
south OF Mafeking. which seems to in
dicate that thev are endeavoring to get
Col Baden Powell between two fires.
The gravity Of the Boer adIance can
be better estimated when IL Is realized
that they will thereby cut railway and
telegra phic communication to the
north.
MEETING OF THE CABINET.
The cabinet met In council at noon
today. Public interest in the decisions
was very keen. Lord Salisbury and Mr..
Chamberlain. with other popular favor
ties. were cheered as they arrived.
Although the latest phase OF the situ-
"A .a-sI
the principal business was to arrange
respecting the text OF the queens
speech on the reassembing of parlia-
ment next Tuesday. together with 9TH
or preliminaries. The cabinet adjourn.
ed at o'clock.
LAINGS NECK SEIZED.
The second edition OF the Standard
saws that a dispaItch from Ladysmith
yesterday morning says that at is again
reported that the Beers have occupied
Iyaing's Neck. the younger burghers in
sistlng upon the occupation despite the
more prudent counsels. Telegraph
wires connecting with the Free State
have been cut and an immediate adj
vance of the Beers is now anticipated.
ALBERTINA SEIZED.
Albertina. which dispatch from
Thursday by the Beers. is a station in
the Free State on the Harrismith line.
Harrismfth Is equipped and officered
entirely by Natal troops
Durham advices received here say
that the Roval Irish Fusiliers have ar
rived there and that military headquar-
,ers are being removed 10 Ladysmith,
whittier Gen Sir Geo. Stewart White.
Gen. Sir Archibald Hunter and Gen.
Svmonds with their staffs have already
gone.
A dispatch from Paris late this after
noon saws: "The Beers with IL guns
are preparing To- assault Mafeking."
The Boer forces with artillery, ac-
cording TO "A dispatch Just received from
yesterday morning moving in the dt-
rection 81 Natal
fatal COLLISION REPORTED.
II is reported in Cape Town though O.
vet the rumor is unconhrmed that a col.
lison has taken place between trains
bearing refugees near Victoria West
Cape colony. nine passengers being kill
ed and many others injured
SITUATION SERIOUS.
Mafeking. Cape Colony. oct. 13.-As
the Beers I'm strong force threatened
| this place the situation IL so serious
| that all noncombatants have been noti-
/ fed that they will be taken away at the
/ expense OF tfe Imperial government
and housed at Cape Town. A railroad
train carrying three hundred women
and children was escorted by n detach-
ment Of Col Baden Powelfs force as
| far South as Nryburg where the cape
Rairway becomes responsible Tor the
safety Of the passengers.
HAVE ENTERED NATAL
Durham. Natal, Oct. lathe minister