davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
LADYSMlTH COULD
HOLD OUT FOR A YEAR

Especial Gable 20 the New York Herald Co,,.-
rEht 1889. by James Gordon Rennett Re
publication Of this dispatch Is prohibited
All rights reserved I'm the United STATES ara
Great Britain.l W
LONDON. Dec. 9.-The Daily Telepranb
publishes these dispatches from It's spe-
cial correspondents:
FRERE CAMP. Thursday. Dec. Very
heavy firing in the direction OF I.advsmitb
began at daybreak and continued 10 IN
o'clock. The weather is hot. Major Chi
chester. provost marshal, with half the
troops Of the Natal Carbineers and six Of
the Natal police. started on Wednesday
morning 10 go thirty miles westward un-
der the Drakensberg Range and capture
four disloyal Dutch colonists. who were
Joining the enemy and looting English
farms. The men were caught making off
with their plunder. Major Chichester re-
covered part OF the loot. consisting of $50
cattle and thirty horses. The Boer patrol
attacked him on returning. but the Eng
lsh shot six Of the enemy. The party re-
turned TO Frere at daybreak.
/ have interviewed Mr.. Harold, a resi-
dent OF Ladysmith. who left that town on
Tuesday night. The Beers continue to
shell the place daily. but are using fewer
guns than since the siege began. The
enemy's shells have not killed twenty per-
sons. and so far as any risk from the
Beers is concerned Ladysmith could hold
out for a year yet. The people and sol
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09

7 ONDON. Dec. 9.-Ceneral Forester
Walker sert the following dispatch
al O'Clock last friday evening 10
the War Office from Cape Town:
telegraph and railway ccmmuni-
cation TO Modder River has been re-
opened. a battery of field artillery and
"a battalion n infantry We're dispatched
from Moddcr River against Commandant
Prinz Loos' force ~ 1000 Beers. with one
gun. who had destroyed the railway. our
losses were fourteen IA wounded.
Belmont has been strengthened by
infantry and two guns. and a cavalry
regiment and troops from Naauwpoort
occupied Arundel Thursday.
''The Cnemy's forces near General Cat
acre are reported as follows: At Dord-
recht. 500; marching from jamestown to
Dordrecht, 200. with six guns: AT Storm
berg. 1900. al Waterfall a large force;
strength under Moiteno about 400.
.Lard Nethuen reports casualties De-
cemher 6. on patrol duty. as follows:
Missing. Lieutenant Triestam and four
mon ~ the Twelfth Lancers: wounded.
f0gr men,"
Some interesting light Is thrown on the
position r. runtrs along the western
frontier by a dispatch issued by a Boer
agency last evening In Berlin. The dis
patch Says:
"Commandant Prinz Loos' force is near
Jacobsdahl. between Modder River and
RI,t River. General Cronje is still on
the north bank of Modder River his rear
being protected hy fortified positions at
SrNfnnteIn. The hins between Modder
River and Srytfortein and those between
lacohsdall aUG Rict River are occupied
lv Beers Commandant nclarey's force
SIS stationed between Graz Pan and Honey
N,st K'cofr
If this Berlin dispatch be cor
rect-and IL is especially significant
when judged in connection with Gen
orol Fcrectier-Walker's sdvices to
the War Cdics-there must be some
$4,000 Bocrs around Lord Methuen,
who is believed 20 have 1900 men.
Kimberley however. possessing an ar
mored train. wtl assist Methuen 10y har-
.seinp The Boers from the rear.
According 20 "A special dispatch from
Iaurenzo Marquee. the Modder River bat
tle is described by ga Boe~ correspondent
with Crcrfc as Zone of the nercest the
Beers ever experienced.
The correspondent goes on 10 say:
General Croule's wing sustained almost
solely the fearful attack Of the British
richt throughout the day. The Transvaal-
CTS tenaciOuely held their positions until
= IN the evening. when the Free State
lurrlers were forced 10 retire by the
heavy British shell Ere. General Cronie
thcl retired under cover OF darkness.
affrr facing the concentrated FIRE OF all
fh. British batteries. The Beers freely
uci,n Wedge thc horculean assaults Of
.he British anu death-dispensing fire Of
Tho attacking infantry. but they held their
position for thirteen hours against the
flower OF the British army replying solely
with their Mausers and maintaining an
uninterrupted rifle fire. The Boer artil-
Jerry was silenced early in the battle
through The overwhelming number Of the
British artillery"
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
METHUEN'S POSITION
is NOT TOO SECURE

LONDON. Dec S-Such disqulet as was
caused in London by the news that Cen
eral Methuen's communications had been
cut at Gras Pan was feeting. for infor-
nation reached the War Office at mid
night that the British commander at Mod
der River had again been heard from. It
WAS also learned that General Darlington
had arrived al MOddcr River 10 take com
mand OF the cavalry. presumably taking
up with him the major portion OF a
brigade
Almost simultaneously came a brief dis
patch indicating that tho long expected
advance for the rclfef of Ladysmith had
begun. This important news was con-
talncd in an agency telegram from Pre-
toria. saying that an official report from
The Boer head laager near Ladysmith was
io tho eject that the British were ad-
fanclng on Colenso. From the date OF
ihe dispatch Thursday II would appear
li-aA lnr northWard movement from Frere
began on Wednesday. The Boer positions
on me lugela had not been attacked up
Wednesday night No confirmation OF
1'.,H 1e pr Iofihcomlng. either from the War
'.,' of from newspaper dispatches. but
I' evident, ou reading some Of the lat
l'f. and particularly the special TO the
l'"AS Telegraph from Frere Of Thurs
r@s Gate. that the hand OF the censor
has been al work
Iahen in conjunction with the news
rom Pretoria that nghting had begun ON
Noouer hifer on the morning OF Wednes-
.,g' ."g' III ne~s OF Methuen's communica-
uon haNlng been cut. was looked unon az
rather alarming. IL was inferred ~, q,
had been found impossible 10 keen IN
tact the line OF communication which
stretches along the railroad betu,ao,,
the Orange and Modder rivers mate
OF nifty miles. and that parties OF Boers
h@o managed to maintain themselves.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
LIEUTENANT LEDYARD
KILLED BY NEGROTES

MANILA. Dec. S.-The uprising in the
Island Of NeCros was led by the police o.
La COrlata district. where there Is a small
American garrison. The police inspired
false reports of insurgent victories in Lu-
zon and Panay. There are 80 native pO-
lice I'm Negros who are armed with Spring
field rifles. Lieutenant Ledyard. the
American officer killed. was son Of the
president of the Michigan Central Rail-
road and a popular officer
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-General Otis
to-day cables the War Department In re-
gard 10 the uprising in Negros as follows:
MANILA. Dec. 81 am informed that
the outbreak of natives in the District of
South Negros was the result OF reported
recent great insurgent victories I'm Luzon
and Panay, which the natives believe.
The extent Of the outbreak has not been
ascertained. Lieutenant a G. Ledyard.
Sixth Infantry. was killed and two pri-
Yates were wounded.
"One OF our chief difficulties arises from
the circulation OF falsehoods among the
natives. defamatory newspaper articles OF
the United States and Europe. promptly
published in Spanish in San Francisco.
Madrid, and by the Hongkong Junta. and
circulated in the Philippines. The insur-
gents have based all their hopes upon
false rumors."
a second dispatch from General OTIS.
dated Manila to-day. says:
THE hospital ship Relief just returned
from Vigan. with 30 sick soldiers and 232
Spanish prisoners. reports several hun
dred Spanish prisoners at Vigan. for
whom we will send a transport this even
ing. Colonel Hare of the Thirty-third Ar
tillery took Bangued on the 5th inst. and
is now. with a portion of his regiment
and a battalion of the Thirty-fourth In
fantry, in pursuit Of the insurgents on
roads southeast TO LepantO, thence TO
Bontoco on which Aguinaldo and 800 in
surgeHts are supposed TO be retreating
with American prisoners. The inhabitants
of the Western LuZon coast are friendly
and give assistance"
General Otis also reports the arrival Of
the transport Olympia, with the Thirty
ninth Infantry. one battalion OF the
Forty-fifth Infantry and some recruits
There were no casualties on the voyage.
DETROIT. Mich. Dec. S.-The news Of
the death of Lieutenant Augustus c. Led
yard. who was killed in Negros. was
broken to-day to his father. Henry b.
Ledyard. president of the Michigan Cen
trail Railroad. while the father was en-
route home from New York. II was de-
cided 10 send an intimate friend 10 meet
the presidents car and endeavor to soften
the blow.
The lieutenant was the fathers second
son. He was at Yale at the outbreak Of
the Spanish war. and had outlined for
himself a railroad career. Joining the
patriotic rush of students, he enlisted in
a New York battery and spent most OF his
time as a volunteer in camp life near
Tampa. Afterward, at his own and his
fathers desire. he entered the regular
army as a second lieutenant and was at
tached to General Miles staff during the
Porto Rican campaign. He was a grand
son OF the famous General Lewis Cass and
a nephew of General Ruggles, formerly
adjutant general of the army.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
FOUND HIS FAMILY
AFTER FIFTY YEARS
Remarkable Life History of Nathan
Keith, Who Came Out in the
Early DAYS

STARBUCK. Wash. Dec. S.-After nifty
years OF separation Nathan G. Keith. at
the age of 70. found his wife and daugh-
ter here. Keith was a 'i9-er. who left
his Minnesota home TO join the rush TO
California. leaving his wife and daughter
to wait FOR his return with a fortune
Through slow means OF communication
and the loss Of letters en- route the fam
lily lost track of the husband and finally
believed him dead. At last removing from
the home town they left no cIew by whicn
they could be traced. and when Keith
took up the search i'm earnest he coi:id
not find his loved ones. The family had
moved West and during all the years lived
in various parts Of the Pacific Coast.
Keith. after a long and fruitless search.
took uD he life of miner and pros
pector and he too. lived constantly in the
West. rowing from camp TO camp. always
che-ishing the memory of the Minnesota
home and those left in II. Some time ago
Keith settled on Whisky Creek. near Day
ton. Wash. His wife. who resides here
with her daughter. Mrs. Eaton, saw her
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
MULES AND BEEF.

KANSAS CITY, Dec. ga local conn
mission firm to-day announced the clos
ing or contract for the delivery of 1000
packmules TO agents Of the British Gov
eIhfnent Tor shipment TO Cape Town.
we've hundred more mules sold by the
s1i,.s Ssi,ie urn nave already been shipped to
South Africa from New Orleans
CHICAGO. Dec S-IJbbv McNyaaI g.
Libby have shipped 10000 pounds OF
canned beef 10 the British army in South
africa. Twenty-four cars were required
10 carry l. This is the largest rhipment
of canned beef ever made from this cItv
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09

even on the scene Of General Methuen's
dearly bought victory.
Pessimists regarded the isolation OF
Methuen's none too large force as a seri-
Gus matter. especially as General Gatacre
does not seem able 20 make much head
way from the direction OF Stormberg
Junction.
While the Beers must number quite
l5,eo men. the original force which fought
At Modder River having been reinforced
from Kimberley, Jacobsdahl and Rloam-
tontein II must not be forgotten that
Methuen, too. on his part has been rein
forced. Although many regiments have
lost heavily, he must command now
nearly II 900 men.
On the Natal side there is good reason
10 believe that an action is imminent. The
difficult work OF bridging the T1lgela
River in the face OF the enemy must be
the first step.
The Beers around Ladysmith are re-
ported 10 be preparing strong positions Ia
winch heavy arms are being mounted be-
hind masonry.
On Thursday heavy firing was heard
IRON Frere Camp in the direction of the
DeieaSuered town. This was probably
Boor assault. and IL is 20 be pceecrncd
that II was repulsed.
Little fear. in fact. is felt for the safety
OF a camp where after a prolonged siege
the soldiers hold their athletic sports as
usual and officers indulge their love for
polo. Nor does meat at a shilling or
bread at four pence a pound suggest the
near prospect OF famine.
The persistent shelling Of a hosnit,l
within the British lines is reported. IN
spite OF the Red Cross flag which waves
above IL and the repeated protests of Sir
George White On November 30 a shell
ieli rsht IL the building. killing one man
and wounding nine others. Ii is. N
course. impossible to attribute this TO ac-
cident.
As TO Mafeking all kinds Of reports are
current, some Of which point 10 a possi
raised.
The fact that from the end Of last month
dispatches from Colonel Baden-PowelI and
various correspondents have been com
Ing through from the beleaguered town
very much quicker would appear to bear
out the belief that the siege became
weaker since General Cronje's force was
called south 10 reinforce the Beers ar
Modder River and around Kimberley
colonel '3aden-Powell himself under date
cf November 25. said that all was we'll:
that the bombardment was Intermittent
ana that the besieging force was now
much weaker.
-1'AeS AAoAn -hASalapNe announced
that preparations had been completed for
an advance in force for the purpose Of
repairing the railway lire and restoring
communication with Mafeking dis
patch from Modder River. dated last Mon
day. said that the whole Mafeking com
mardo had Joined the Kimberley forces.
flnally, a telegram from Orange River.
under date Of Tuesday. says that reports
lieved.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
FLEET MANEUVERS FOR
THE BATTLESHIP IOWA
Ordered With the Philadelphia and
the Marblehead to Lower
California

WASHINGTON. Dec. S-The cruiser
Brooklyn arrived at Singapore. on her
way TO Manila. yesterday. No word has
been received OF the New Orleans since
she left Colombo. CeylOn, but she must
be close behind.
instructions were sent to-day 70 Rear
Admiral kautz. commander I'm chief OF
the Pacific station. 70 proceed with his
flagship. the Philadelphia. and the battle
ship Iowa 10 the Gulf Of California. pick
ing up the Marblehead en- route. and en-
sage In fleet maneuvers.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09

diers are fairly well, though there is
little illness through using muddy river
water. General White is well. Nearly all
the people have bombproof shelters by
the river side. TO which they retire TO es-
cape the shells. Meat is one shilling
pound and bread is four pence pound
only liquors and delicacies are scarce
there.
A Boer commando with two guns has
taken up "A position on Blays Farm. TO the
west OF Colenso. Another commando has
gone westward TO Remys, their object be-
ing TO dispute seriously the passage Of
the relief column. The British new vol
unteer scouts were fired upon by the
Beers near Colenso.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
PATROLS FIRED UPON.

LONDON. Dec. S.-The following ad-
vices have been received from General
Methuens force at Modder River under
date OF Tuesday, December 3:
"Boers are seen daily passing between
Spytfontein and Jacobsdal laagers. They
frequently fire on patrols. Mounted in
fantry received a severe lire while patroll-
ing six miles toward the north. There
were no casualties. An hours cannon
firing has been heard at Kimberley"
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
LIEUTENANT BRUMBY
LIES CRITICALLY ILL

WASHINGTON. Dec. S-Iieutenant r.
vi. Brumby the flag lieutenant 10 Ad.
miral Dewey at the battle Of Manila. ia
lying critically IN at the Garfield Hos
pltal In this city. lie Is suffering from a
IeNer contracted as result of his long
stay In the tropics. and has been AZ me
hospital about two weeks. The physicians
express the belief that he will recover.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
Cowboy Carnival.

PHOENIX. Dec. S.-The last day Of the
given over TO the cowboys. BronchO rid
given over 10 the cowboys. Bronco rid
ing and steer tying were the chief attrac-
tiOns. Joe Barrett won FIRST money for
bronco riding One-eyed Reilly second
and Doc Goodin third The steer tying
contest resulted as follows: I'D Harrol.
36 seconds: Walter Kline, 5ols seconds:
Doc Coodin. 80 seconds. Fifteen thousand
people witnessed the events Of the-closing
day.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
SIGNIFICANT BRIDGE WORK.

FRERE CAMP, Dec. S-The trestle
bridge is finished and the trains are now
traversinE it.
LONDON. Dec 9-The Times has the
following com Modder River, dated TcLs-
day. December 8: The river is -ow ana
the railway bridge is rapidly approach
ing completion. The first train Will cross
tonight After extraordinary exertions
the pontoon bridge has been completed"
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
MACRUM HEARD FROM.

WASHINGTON. Dec. S-Mr. Macrum
has broken his long silence and in cable
message received at the State Department
to-day. dated Pretoria, he announces that
he will sail on the 18th inst. via Naples
for the United States. This is an indica-
ton that he has received the depart
ment's cablegram granting his application
for leave OF absence. Adelbert Hay, who
is going 10 Pretoria 10 replace Macrum.
viii leave Washington tomorrow to be-
Gin his ionrneV
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
FLOUR FOR TRANsvAAL SEIZED

LONDON. Dec. ga special dispatch
from Cape Town announces that the Brit
ish gunboat Partridge captured the Brit
ish steamer Mashona, Captain Johnstone.
which left New York November 3. via st.
Vincent, November 16, for Algoa Pay,
laden with -four for the Transvaal. The
cargo will be landed at Cape Town and
the ship released
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
Sierra Roads Terminal.

ANGELS CAMP, Dec. s--A. Arnold and
w. II. Newell. Sierra Railway officials.
purchased property here during the week
for a station and railroad yards for the
Sierra road. officials say this will be the
terminus of the road. The route is all
surveyed and construction is going on. 1t
Is pronounced the finest scenic route in
the State along the Stanislaus River.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
ARMING THE NATIVES.

CAPE TOWN. "Wednesday Dec. g. 1t
is announced that Major Elliott, CO n
manding in the native territories Of Girl
qualand East. is arming the natives by
imperial authority with a view OF assist
Ing the defensive forces.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09

PRETORIA, Thursday. Dec. THE follow
IDg dispatch, dated today, has been received
from he bead IOoger near Lo0ysmith:
The British are 0dvoDcing oD ColeDsO, but
last DiGht passed without oD attack. There Wus
q desu.tory connonode tbis morning, the naval
guns in L1dysmith replying vigorously to our
fire"
LADYSM!TH, Thursday, December Z, Vic
WeeDoD.-Tbe totQ BRITISH casualties here since
November are officers and 26 men killed Cpd
I5 officers and 80 men wounded, with miss
ing. The Boer force is still orouDd US in large
DuDbers, but oil WithiD the town well ond
cheerful.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09

husbands name in a newspaper and wrote
TO him. He came at once and the reunion
after fifty years separation was most af-
keeping, and as both are rugged and
healthy may yet enjoy many years Of hap
piness.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
BELIEVE AGUlNAlD0
WILL SOON BE TAKEN

WASHINGTON. Dec. s-The town OF
Bontoc, toward which Aguinaldo with his
bodyguard Is said to be retreating, lies
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
FIGHTING RENEWED BETWEEN THE
RIVAL FORCES ON MODDER RIVER
Minor Engagement Of Advance
ing BritOnS and Beers Pre-
cedes What Is Expected to
Be a Most Important Battle.

General Methuen's Force of Eleven Thou
sand Men Surrounded by Fifteen Thou
sand BOers-Advance TO Relief Of Lady
smith Commenced.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
ing has been received from Orange River

station
"A railroad culvert was blown up near
GraS Pan this morning The telegram
was also cut. The guides report heavy
firing Of guns toward the north 4"
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
CULVERT BLOWN UP.

LONDON, Dec. S.-A statement issued
by the War Office to-day says the follow
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-07-28

F. c. Rhymer, an accountant, com
mitted suicide ut Seattle, on the 2ls,
inst, by shooting himself. He was
respondent from illness. He was q
single man. "a years old, and lived
formerly in Chicago.
Fire broke out in the engine-room
of the steamer Lakme, at Seattle
Wednesday night, and did damage to
the extent of $4,000. The Lakme
was on the Alaska run and had arrived
from st. Michael the same day.
Ezra Meeker, the former hop king
OF Puyallup, is reported to have met
with reverses in the Klondike, and t.
be we'll nigh stranded now at Dawson
He made some money last year, TAX
ing vegetables and fruit into tina I
country, but put it in mining and
lost it.
In replacing pile of overturned
lumber in Chamberlain's yard at
Walla Walla, the other day, the body
of man was found, his head smashed
by fallen lumber. He had evidently
gotten under it to sleep. He had
a little coin and was laborer. The
body was identified as that of William
Woody, of Milton. He left family.
War broke out the other night at
Fairhaven between so Japanese on the
one side and $50 Chinese on the other.
The fight ragged internationally all
night, knives, rocks and iron bars be-
ing the weapons used. The total list
of casualties was 10 Cinnamon and
one Japanese wounded. The COM
batants are employees of the Fairhaven
salmon cannery, and the fight is the
result OF drunken debauch.
Hogan Hansen and Mrs. Emma
Holbrook, of Hoquiam, were taken to
the county Jail the other day, in de-
fault of $3.50 bail each. The pair. are
brother and sister, and are charged
with living together as man and wife,
and, although they pleaded not guilty
at the examination before the Ho-
quiam Justice OF the Peace, the evil
dence was considered sufficiently con-
elusive to justify their being held for
trial in the Superior Court.
There was a shooting scrape at a
ranch east of Spokane Tuesday night,
that resulted in putting a bullet
through the arm and breast of Peter
Porrier, He is not fatally injured.
10 Lafieur and his contract wife, a
woman known in Spokane rs Bertha
Heemes, had quarrel and fight. La
fleur was drunk and wanted to get rid
of the woman. She refused to leave
the ranch and Porrier volunteered to
assist Lafleur and started to kick in the
door, when she fred rifle, hitting
Porrier. After spending night in Jail
and getting sober, Lafleur relented, and
Porrier will not prosecute, and all
parties are satisfied.