The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-13
BLOWN Up
First Act of the TransVaal War
Drama.
Armored Cars Destroyed by
Dynamite Explosion.
FIFTEEN ARE KILLED.
Beers Shell the Wreck After
the Explosion.
Washington Notified of a State
of War.


Cape Town, Oct 1880 a. ma
dispatch from Vreyburg says that an
armored train has been destroyed. 1t
is feared that much loss of life will re-
suit. The news has been officially con-
irmed.
London, Oct. 13.-The Evening News
publishes the following dispatch from
Cape Town:
AN armored train has been destroyed
south of Mafeking. Fifteen British
troops were killed. The Beers shelIed
the wreckage after the train was de-
rallied"
COMPARED TO THE MAINE.
London, Oct. 13.-The announcement
that the Beers had destroyed an ar
mored train on the western border Of
the TransvaaI is calculated to bring
home to "the man in the street" the
realities of war. Attempts are made to
liken the occurrence to the blowing
up of the United States battleship
Maine in Havana harbor, but that
event occurred in time of peace. The
Beers were doubtless within their
rights as belligerents if they are re-
sponsible for the destruction of the
train.
w Yin NJ 1T LII
Washington, Oct. 13.-The state de-
partment was today notified of the
withdrawal from Pretoria of Conying-
ham Green, the British diplomatic
agent to the South African republic
and the existence of a state of war be-
tween Great Britain and that republic.
Mr.. Macrum, the American consul at
Pretoria, has accordingly been instruct
ed to undertake the care of the Brit
ish interests in that section during the
war.
TEN THOUSAND KAFFIRS.
Lorenzo Marquese, Oct. 13.@Ten
thousand Kaffirs from the Rand have
been brought here by train and are
now encamped about six miles outside
the town Steamers are being char
tered to take them to the Limpopo dis
trict.
NIAssING AT LADYsMITH
London, Oct. 13.-Albertina, which a
dispatch from Durham reported to have
been seized on Thursday by the Beers,
is a station in the Free State on the
Harrismith line Harrismith is equip
ped and differed entirely by Natal
troops.
Durham advices received here say
that the Royal Irish fusileers, have ar
rived there and that military headquar-
ters are being removed to Ladysmith,
whittier Sir George Stewart White,
General Sir Archibald Hunter and Gem
eral SymOns with their staffs, have al
ready gone
Ar FILIhA1N DEfG A8HE1AL.
Pretoria, Oct. 12.-Via Lorenzo Mar
quese, Oct. 13.-An official manifesto
has just been addressed to Afrikanders
throughout South Africa, appealing to
them to resist the unjust demands of
Great Britain" and accusing Lord Sal
isbury, Mr.. Chamberlain and Sir Alfred
Miner, of treachery. 1t blames the
queen for cOndoning what it describes
as Mr.. Chamberlain criminal policy"
and declares that the clear desire and
object of Great Britain are to deprive
the Transvaal of independence on ac-
count of the gold mines of the Rand"
MOVING ON NATAL.
London. Oct 13.-The Boer forces
with artillery according to a dispatch
just received from Standerton broke
camp at Sandspruit yesterday morning
moving in the direction of Natal.
TO ASSAULT MAFEKING.
London, Oct ia dispatch from
Paris late this afternoon says: 1.-The
Beers, with twelve guns, are preparing
to assault Mafeking."
BUTCHERS ADVANCE.
Harrismith. Oct. 19.-Conf1rmation
! has been received here that a force of
| burgherS from the Orange Free State
! is advancing through Tintwa pass. Sew
| enty men of the border mounted rifles
have been sent to support the cavalry
| outpOsts.
MARTIAL LAW.
Bloemfontein, Oct. 13.-Martial law
has been proclaimed, and the courts
are closed.
| A proclamation has been issued warn
/ ing British subjects to leave the Orange
| Free State before O'Clock Saturday
| evening. Permits to remain may be OBJ
| tained from the authorities and the
proclamation calls on the burghers to
! respect those who secure such permits
President Steyn has made a strong
| appeal to the burghers to do their best
| to secure the independence of the re-
| public.
LOADED WITH GUNS.
! London, Oct. 13-An official dispatch
received at the Colonial office says:
| 1.-The armored train was destroyed
| near Kraipan station while on the way
/ to MafelSing with guns"
| This disposes of the fear that many
I women and children were involved in
| the disaster.
| Advices from johannesburg report
| the communicating by the Transvaal
| government of another $4,000 ounces of
| gold.
| CAPE COLONY A HAVEN.
Cape Town. Oct. 13-Premier
! Schreiner, in moving the adjournment
! of the Cape house of assembly, made a
| notable speech in the course of which
/ he alluded to the position in which the
| Cape government was placed. He sal
| he would do the duty imposed u on
| him without favor or fear-the duty of
| sible, from being involved in the vor-
/ tex of war
In his circular to the military com
| manders he had already given his rea-
/ sons for hoping that the people would
/ remain quiet and now he would appeal
! to the members of the legislature to
/ possess their souls in patience. how
Il ID I'll