Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-16
Will Have to Undergo a Long
and Dreary Siege by the
TranSvaal Forces.
ENTHUSIASM IN ENGLAND
Crowds Surround the Stock Exchange
Where Merchants Pledge Their
Confidence in the Government
Telegraph Wires Are All Cut.

London, Oct. 16-The gradual cutting
on OF outlying points at the scene OF
hostilities in South Africa telegraphie
communication has reduced accurate
news obtalnable to minimum Thus far
however. no reliable Information has
been received of any actual fighting ex-
| cept at kraaiDan and occasional ex.
changes of shots at various outposts.
Tfere is no lack of circumstantial stor-
! les regarding lighting at various points,
! but these are scarcely published before
tnoy are denied
The only salient facts in this mornings $
teiegrams are that the Beers have ad-
/ vanced beyond Newcastle and formed a
laager near Danhausser, about twelve
miles north of Dundee and that Kimber-
ly is isolated and probably invested.
Kimberly has thus become the imme-
diate center of interest. The last mes
sage from Kimberly prior to the cutting
of the telegraph and railway by the Beers
said:
'All troops at Kimberly are we'll"
Many stories of brush fighting at that
point are in circulation, but although the
forces are likely to have come in con-
tact all alleged details must be regarded
as premature and speculative, especi-
ally II the report be true that the Orange
Free State troops are now in complete
possession of the railway from Kimberly
to Orange river 20 miles away.
The alleged virulence of the Boer at
tacks upon Mafeking and Kimberly can
re; dily be understood when it is reaiz-
ed that Bechuanaland is to the Beers
What Alsace Lorraine is to France It
is therefore probable that both towns
will be forced to undergo long and
dreary investment before the British
are in position to send a relieving col
umn.
On the other side of the country the
beers are closing around the British out
posts and have already come into touch
with them and exchanged shots. There
fore more stirring news is expected
Adviees from Capetown relate that ex-
element is kept up there by ceaseless
reports of battles, but that little uneasi-
ness is visible in official circles where the
opinion prevails that Mafeking and kim
berly are safe.
1t is assumed that refusal Of the Beers
to accept battle in Natal last week. when
General Sir Geor re White advanced and
eide avored to draw them through Van
Reenans pass, indicates their unwilling
ness to commence hostilities ON the
other hand the Beers are probably too
astute to play the British game at a risk
OF engagement on ground where artillery
could be brought into play and cavalry
moved rapidly.
The narrow city streets adjoining Guild
hall and the stock exchange were crowd
ed to-day. The immediate occasion was
the meeting convened by the Lord Mayor
of London, Sir John Vocemoore, to de-
clare the confidence of business men in
the city proper in the South African pol
icy of the government. Hundreds of
the members of the stock and wool ex-
change and of the great banking and
firms formed a procession
md marched to Guildhall singing the ma
tional airs and waving flags, accumulat-
Ing masses OF troops at every town. The
Guildhall was packed with people, The
lord mayor and staff were loudly cheer
ed on arriving and the name of Presi- !
dent Kruger provoked storm of
"poohs.'
resolution extoiing the Premier, +
Lord Salisbury, and the Secretary of
State foia the Colonies. Mr.. Chamberlain. I
was proposed by the lord mayor and en-
tiiusias licaly adopted.
Fatri, ic demonstrations tool, plac,
TO- DAY at Birmingham. Crewe and @ hey
towns.
The Snuth, Att ,ntic Transport com
lsa..s, which gave the Fnitsi States a /
transport ship for hospital purposes dur
ing the war with Spain has now given