Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-19
YHc DESTROYED TEAM.

a Faint Hope That it Contained Troops.
Instead of Women ana Childrrn.
London, Eng, Oct. IL. The an
bOuncement that tine Beers had de-
suoyed an armored train on the
vpslern border of the Transvaal is
calculated to bring home to the 'man
Iu the street" the realities Of war.
Attempts are made to liken the occur.
renee to the blowing up of the United
States battleship Maine in Havana
hnrbor, but that event occurred in
fines Of peace. The Doors were doubt
hess, within their right as belligerents,
" they are responsible for tho de-
sruction Of the train. The only com
plrison that can be instituted with tho
Blowing up of the battleshir is in
respect Of the loss of life, il, as there
loo good reason to fear, the train in
question was one that had left Mafe-
king with 300 women and children.
Taken in conjunction with the earlier
announcement from Vryhurg that 1900
Doors were holding the line, it can
only be inferred that the train was
either destroyed by artillery, OF blown
W by dynamite, or some other power
h explosive.
There is still faint hope that the
disaster hefell the train not while the
vOmen and children were on board, on
tie way 10 VryburR, but while it was
eurning to Mafeking from Vryburg,
With the detachment of Col. Baden
poWel's force sent to escort refugees to
Vryburg.
The War Office, however, fears that
the worst has happened,
Apart from this obstruction of the
atmored train, the most notable change
1.-THE position OF affairs is the presence
Of the Beers at Marihogo, 40 miles
south of Mafeking, which seems to
Indicate thas they are endeavoring to
Get Col. Baden Powell between two
hres, The gravity of the Boer advance
can better be estimated when it is
ea1cd that they will thereby cut
Hallway and telegraphic communication
10 tile north, isolating several British
Esltions which must be speedily re-
leVed.
british CABINET COUNCIL.
The cabinet met in council at moor
Nday. Public interest in the decisions
vas very Keen. Lord Salisbury and
alr Chamberlain. with other popular
iavorites, were cheered as they arrived.
Although the latest phase Of the situa
llon in South Africa was considered
We principal business was to arrang'
respecting the text of the Queens
speech on the reassembling of Parlia
nent, next Tuesday, and other prelimi
nares, The council adjourned at
O'clock,
The second edition Of the STANDARD
says that dispatch from Ladysmith
laIed yesterday morning, says that j
again reported that the Beers hav,
@cupied Laing's Mex, the younge
gulghers insisting upon the occupation
gTgsNlte tine more prudent counsels
lelegraph wires connecting with tn,
orange Free State have been cut. Al
immediate advance OF the Beers is no
anticipated.
me Boer forces, with artillery, 40
Ugrding to a dispatch Just received fror
SSande,rton, broke camp at Sandsprui
yesterday morning, moving in the di
iection of Natal.
dispatch from Paris, late this al
lefnoon, says: 1.-THE Beers, with l
canN' are preparing to assault MAZE
,V,ryburg, Bechuanaland, Oct. l
uelayed in transmission J. AN armore
uain' which left here today with |
men, two Nordenfelts, unmounted, an
sstepairlne party, was engaged by tn
ss"ehy from II O'clock this morning I
s.ociock this afternoon. The attemr
" repalr the line and communicat
ppila Mafeking was not successful
Tnnlng was very brisk on both side:
curing the opening OF the engage
muht artillery fiSe was heard. Th
psust have been the artillery of til
noers whose numbers are prohabl
exaggerated. The train engaged
AaSOn as tho mosquito train.
smaller armored trains from Maj,
pplaS' with ID men of the Protectora
MM;glment, and a larger armored tail
Sl.h The Lancashires, have. arrive
s,t uctc, all proceeding to Kimberley