Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-13
WAS A FALSE ALARM
Report That Beers Wrecked a Train
Bearing 300 Women and Children
Leaving South Africa.
NO BATTLE YET FOUGHT
But the Burghers Are Aggressive in Their
Movements and Already Hold Sew
eral Points of Vantage on the
Railway Line.

cape Town, Oct. l3.-A dispatch iron
Vryburg says an armored train has beel
destroyed. 1t is feared much loss o
life is the result. The news has beel
officially confirmed.
There is reason to fear the train il
+ question was one that left Mafekinl
with 300 women and children. Taker
in conjunction with an earlier announce
ment from Vryburg that 1000 Boer
were holding the line it can only be in
ferred the train was destroyed by ar
tillery or blown up by dynamite or some
other powerful explosive. There is still
a faint hope that the disaster befell the
train while the women and children
were not on board on the way to Vry
burg, but while returning from Mafe
king from Vryburg with a detachment
of Colonel Baden Powell's force sent to
escort the refugees. The war Office,
however, fears the worst has happened.
Apart from this destruction of the
armored train, the most notable change
in the position of affairs, is the presence
of the Beers at Mariboge, 40 miles south
of Mafeking, which seems to indicate
that they are endeavoring to get Colonel
Baden-Powell between two fires. The
gravity of the Boer advance can be bet
ter estimated when it is realized they
can thereby cut railway and telegraphic
communication north.
London, Oct. 13.-The Evening News
publishes the following from Cape Town:
''An armored train has been destroyed
south of Mafeking. Fifteen British
troops were killed. The Beers shelled
the wreckage after the train was de-
stroyed."
Vrysburg, Oct. 13.-The train from
Mafeking with 300 women and children
passed Vryburg on the way to Kimberly.
All on board are well.
London, Oct. ia official dispatch
received at the colonial Office says: can
armored train was destroyed near Krai
pan station while on the way to MAIZE
king with guns. This disposes of the
fear that many women and children
were involved in the disaster"
London, Oct. 13.-The cabinet met in
council today. Public interest in the
decisions was very keen. Lord Sails
bury and Mr.. Chamberlain were cheered
as they arrived. Although the latest
phase of the situation in south Africa
was considered, the principal business
was the arrangement for assembling
parliament next Tuesday and other pre-
liminaries.
Washington, Oct 13.-The State de-
partment was today notified of the with
drawal from Pretoria of Conyngham
Greene, British diplomatic agent to the
South African republic, and the exist.
ence of state of war between Great
Britain and that republic. Macrum,
the American consul at Pretoria, has
accordingly been instructed to under
take to care for British interests during
the war.
London, Oct. 13.-The Pail Mall Ga
zette publishes the following dispatch
from Mafeking dated Wednesday: "It
is reported that the younger burghers
dissatisfied with Commander Cronje for
not attacking the British position yester-
day sent him to the rear and appointed
another to command
London, Oct. 13.-It is reported at
Cape Town that collision has taken
place between trains bearing refugees
near Victoria, in west Cape Colony, nine
persons being killed and manv others
injured.
Despite optimistic reports of the
ability of Mafeking to repel an attack,
the greatest anxiety prevails here re-
garding the situation there, as it is
known the redoubtable commandant,
Cronie, who captured the Jameson raid
ers, has the strongest force yet put into
the field with the exception OF Com
mandant General Joubert's force.
Cronie's troops number between 5000
and 10000.
London, Oct. IA dispatch from
Paris SAYS: "The Beers with IL guns
are preparing to assault Mafeking."
Pretoria, Oct. 13.-An official mani
festo has been addressed to the Afri-
kanders throughout South Africa ap-
pealing to them to resist "the unjust de-
mands OF Great Britain" and accusing
Lord Salisbury, Mr.. Chamberlain and
Sir Alfred Miner of treachery. 1t
blames the queen for condoning what
it describes as "Chamberlain's criminal
policy" and declares the "clear desire
and object OF Great Britain Is to deprive
the Transvall Of independence on &C.
count Of The gold mines Of the Rand"
The Boer forces, with artillery, &C.
cording to dispatch from Standerton,
broke camp at Sandspruit yesterday
morning and are moving in the direc-
tion of Natal.
The position In Natal has not been
materially altered. The reported In
road Of 1900 Beers by way of Tintwa
Pass is probably Identical with the in
road Of the force reported yesterday as
having crossed the Van Rehan Pass.
The Tintwa column, according to last
- ~r,Sk Voi1oc 0f