The Worthington advance., 1899-10-20
THE B OEHS AID b ANCE.
Town Of Kimberley Besieged and
in Danger Of Capture.
CecilRhodesin In Great Peril-Durghers
Oner Big Reward for His Capture,
Dead or Aliye-News Of War
Hard to Obtain.

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London, Oct. 16.-The Daily Nails
Cape Town correspondent, telegraph
ing Sunday evening, says: Kimberley
is besieged and the Beers are massing
in force. No, details, however, are OBJ
tainable. The Beers have cut the rail-
way at Belmont, have seized the Spy
fontein railway station and constructed
fortified earthworks.t There are strong
defending forces at Modder bridge and
the Orange river bridge.
= Are After Rhodes.
The object of these energetic opera
ions is believed to be the capture of
Cecil Rhodes. Kimberley is now iso-
lated,' both railway and telegraphic
communication being cut.
Dispatches from Cape Colony say that
the burghers have offered reward of
6 5000 for Cecil Rhodes, dead or alive.
The Modder river stationmaster re-
ports that firing has been heard in the
direction of Kimberley, and the station
master at Belmont telegraphs that a
force of Beers is advancing southwark.
Boer tents have been discovered eight
miles southeast of Kimberley. Great
clouds OF dust seen ten miles to the
eastward of Kimberley Sunday morn
ing seem to indicate the movement of
large body: of troops with wagons.
Two imperial officers at midday also
discovered a column of 400 Beers go
ing in the direction of Modder river
bridge from johannesburg. Small par
ties of Beers, evidently on comman-
deering expedition. have passed Kaffir
river. There are large commandos on
either side of the railway. The burgh-
ers say they will have 1900 men.
Fighting Reported.
London, Oct. 16.-The Cape Town cor
respondent of the Morning Leader, tel
egraphing Sunday night, says: It is
reported that fighting began at Kimber-
ley this morning. The railway has been
cut at Belmont.
Attack on Capt. Nesbitt's Train.
Cape Town, Oct. 16.-Flowerdew, the
engine driver of Capt. Nesbitt's train,
which was derailed and bombarded by
the Beers, states that if the train had
returned when warning was received
that the Beers held the line it could
easily have made its way back to Mari
oogo, but Capt. Nesbitt insisted upon
an endeavor being made to reach MAIZE
king. Flowerdew says:
when the pilot engine was derailed, we
spent half hour trying t. replace it on the
| track. Then the Beers commenced firing
and several men were wounded. The firing
was kept up all night, but without effect
The Beers were careful to concentrate
their fire upon the engines, so as to save
the armOred carriage and ammunition
! trucks. At dawn they commenced to bonn
| bard the cars. I escaped by crawling III
miles on my belly in the sand When both
engines were destroyed Capt. Nesbitt ex-
hibited flags of truce, but the Beers con-
tinued their firing for another quarter of an
hour. There is no doubt that all the others
on the train are prisoners and that the car
| riage and the ammunition intact fell into
| the hands Of the Boers.'
No News Of Fighting.
London, Oct. 16.-At nine o'clock Sat-
ucday evening the government had re-
ceived no news of fighting in South At
rica and did not expect any; that nc
battle is probable except at Mafeking,
communication with which place has
been cut, and for which considerable
anxiety is felt. Elsewhere, however, it
is believed the British will remain on
the defensive.
News Greatly Delayed.
Durham, Oct. 16.-Owing to the rig.