Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-10-05
VOLUNTEERS OUT
OVER 1909 FROM NATAL ALREAIJ,
GONE TO FRONT.
GREAT ACTIVITY PREVAILS
Boer Command Massing at Border and
Trains Bringing Jut Enormous
Crowds-Fleeing Populace Subject
ed to Much Hardship and Insult
Government Charters Steamers.

London, Oct. ga dispatch from
Durham, Natal, reports all trains from
the Transvaal arriving twenty-four
hours late, having given place to boer
military trains The trains were
packed and the station besieged by
friends of the passengers. The latter
said they had endured great hardships
and been subjected to insults by the
beers. The dispatch adds the excite
ment is increasing at Durham. The
streets are thronged with animated
crowds and the impression prevails
that the beers may commence HOSTILE
ties today. Altogether over 1900 Natal
volunteers have gone to the front.
Trains from Iourenzo, Marquee and
Delagoa Bay are bringing enormous
crowds, principally miners. The bOer
command has arrived at the border
town of Comantipoort. The British
government is chartering large num-
Der of steamers, evidently for the pur-
pose of transporting the army corps.
About forty vessels are to be chartered,
and the steamers Pavonia of the Gun
ard line and Bavarian of ne Allan line
are among those already taken.
British Getting Ready.
London, Oct. 3.-No confirmation is
obtainable from any source Of the re-
port contained in the dispatch that the
| beers have captured Dundee. No eX-
ceptional activity was shown at the
government offices yesterday. Cham
| berlain and the Earl of Selborne were
absent from the colonial office but
Lord Lansdowne, Gen. Lord Revers
Butler, and Sir Gen. Evelyn WOOD
called at the war Office and 6
special board meeting was held. Ma
turally nothing of the discussion was
made public but it is understood Gen
Butler will not proceed for the cape I'M
TIL next week, except in case of unfOTe
seen developments. Many members O.
parliment are returning to town in an
ticipation of the early summoning o
the houses of parliment. 1t is the gen
eral impression that although sOm
speakers may express disapprOval o
the governments policy, few will go t.
the extreme of voting against the re
quired credit 1t is considered NOR
probable that they will abstain from
participating in the division. A lette
from an outlander received in Birming
ham was published yesterday If it re
f1ected the general feeling of the Brit
ish residents in johannesburg the,
nj
writer says: eff it comes to fight,
believe the beers will make massacr
of it, blow Johannesburg to bits an
shoot us on sight. In fact, | have beel
!, told so by one in office" Reports from
various arsenal garrisons in Great Bri
tain testify to active continuance o
military preparations. Command
have received preliminary notice to b
prepared and several regiments hav
been notified to hold themselves i
readiness for active service.
, Kruger Addresses Troops.
London, Oct. ga special from Pre-
toria, says that altogether there will b
nine boer generals in command of col
umns A complete plan of campaig-
has been arranged with the Orang
Free state. A rigorous censorship
l maintained over all press kilograms
President Kruger addressed the troop
which started for the Natal border o.
l Saturday, appealing to their patriotism
| and wishing them godspeed. Fightin
is expected by tomorrow.