Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-17

Cape Town, May lo.-lne ARGUS, VI
this city, to-day publishes "a dispatch
from Pretoria, capital of the Transvaal,
Or South African republic, saying that
P. w. Reitz, the secretary OF state, at
firms the report that number OF UNI
usual arrests have been made here and
that it is r-mored the prisoners are
British officers
Johannesburg, May ia number
of men have been arrested here on the
charge of high treason.
London, May 1.-THE foregoing dis
patch probably explains the telegram
received by the Argus, of Cape Town,
to-day from Pretoria, saying the Trans
vaal secretary of state confirmed the
report that a. number of unusual ar
rests had been made and that 1T was
rumored that the prisoners were Brit
ish officers.
Pretoria, TransvaaI Republic, May
1.-THE arrest at Johannesburg early
this morning of seven alleged former
British officers named Nichols, Patter-
son, Tremlett, Ellis, Fries, Hooper and
Mitchell, on the charge Of ihign trea,
son, has caused intense excitement
here. The prisoners were brought to
Pretoria by special train. After they
had been lodged in Jail they were Wis
tied by the British diplomatic agen:
here. The arrests were effected by a
detective who joined the movement
which it is asserted was for the pur-
pose of enrolling men in osder to cause
an outbreak of rebellion. Incriminat-
ing documents were found upon the
prisoners and it is expected that fur
Their arrests will be made.
Pretoria, May 1.-THE officers ar
rested, who are eight in number, are
Captain Patterson, formerly of the
Lancers; Col. Il. F. Nichols, Lieut.. j.
Trenlott, C. A. Ellis, lately a private
detective at Johannesburg; Lieut.. John
Allen, formerly of the Horse Artillery;
Quartermaster Mitchell, former SER
geant, ]. Fries, and former sergeant, R.
P. Hooper.
None of them had been in the employ
of the British South Africa Chartered
Company.
1t is said that the commissioner of
police, who had the affair in hand, had
been working up the case four months
Mr.. Beatty, the detective who effected
the arrests, receiyd his Instructions last
week and secured the necessary war
rants yesterday.
The executive of the Transvaal is sit
ting in scret session this evening con-
sidering the arrests.
Cape Town, May 16-According to
advices from Pretoria the charge
against the prisoners is that while stay
ing in the Rand privately they were
really engaged in enlisting men for the
purpose of rebellion when they were
ready to get the signal.
It is said that the enlistment roster
included 1000 men and that number
of discriminating documents were found
at the time the arrests were made.
Johannesburg, May 16.-Further
warrants have been issued.
1t is asserted that the officers already
arrested were also preparing to organ
lie a corps in Natal, the British colony
between the Orange Free State and the
Indian Ocean, to assist the projected
movement at johannesburg.
London, May 16.-The advices from
johannesburg are also probably con-
nected with a mysterious despatch re-
eeived at johannesburg from Pretoria
on May II, saying a special train fully
equipped with Boer artillerymen, guns
and a searchlight apparatus was being
held in readiness at the capital of the
Transvaai. The statement was declar-
ed to be without significance, but now
looks more serious and it is certain
there will be great sensation in Lon
don when the news of the arrests be-
comes generally known. Newspapers
to-day print special dispatches from
Cape Town saying seven men have
been arrested at johannesburg and
have been taken to Pretoria. The gov
eminent Office at Cape Colony, it fur
Their appears, is considering the mat
ter secretly. The news has caused
great excitement throughout South At
RIGA
Cecil Rhodes, the former premier of
Cape Colony, and resident director in
South Africa of the British Chartered
South Africa Company, informs the AS
sociated Press that he has heard 10th
ing regarding the arrests made at Jo-
hannesburg, and that he knows moth
ing about the reason for which they