The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-18

LONDON. Oct. i7-No further reliable
news from Mafeking has been received.
DR.. Leyds, the plenipotentiary for the
South African Republic to European gov
ernments. IL said to be going TO Berlin
shortly to confer with political person.
ages.
Advices from Durham announce that the
consul Of the Netherlands there has Is
sued warning to all subjects Of tho
Netherlands to remain neutral.
The Hopetown bridge over the Orange
river, which Cape Town advices today
said had been blown up by the British. IL
not the railway bridge. as before report
ed, but a bridge twelve miles west Of the
railway. over which the old coaching road
passes.
A special dispatch from Pretoria says
the Beers destroyed the Bechuanaland
bridge during Friday night from I.obatsi
to Arvogelkop.
The Standards correspondent, teie-
graphing Monday night. says: The
Beers have brought artillery from New
castle and are destroying the railway
at Ingagans In order TO prevent the APP
proach OF our armored train
The correspondent of the Daily Mail at
Glencoe telegraphs that Gen. William
Symons says there arc only $500 mounted
men In the Beer columns Immediately
north Of Ladysmtth. but that there ara
large numbers OF men on foot. The
horses OF the Beers are In wretchedly
poor condition and the men look worn
out The Beers are robbins all tho ma
tives travers.ng the Trnnsvaal"
The Cape Town correspondent of tbs
Daily News says that NJ. p. Schreiner.
the Cape Colony premier. was only In
duced TO sign the decree proclaiming mar
tial law In the northern parts Of Cape
Colony after Sir Alfred Milner gave him
the option OF signing or resigninE. To
save Mr.. schreiner's face the proclama-
ton specifically mentioned the fact that
the colony had been invaded by an enc
my.
Heavy Fighting In Progress.
A special dispatch from Pretoria. dated
October "A. via Delagoa bay. says:
"A cyclfst dispatch was received from
Ot,oshoep near Malmani. at 9 O'Clock this
evening, asserting that heavy nghting had
been in progress all day long north OF
Mafeking. The British troops on board an
armored train acted as a covering force
for the engineers engaged In repairing the
track A Maxim on the train kept up 4
continuous fire.
Conspicuous bravery was displayed on
both sides. but II soon became apparent
that the rifles Of the burghsrs were insf-
fec,iye against an armored train. The latter
however. was only forced 20 retreat before
a particularly strong assault. hut II soon
returned. accompanied by a British mounted
contingent, and the fighting was renewed
.ierceiy.
Dozen Boers Killed or Wounded.
Fighting stili continues. the Beers hold
irg their positions we'll a dozen Beers
were killed or wounded, but the British
casualties cannot ne asceriained.
Heavy firing can be heard south of
Aafeksng where Gen, Cronje's Command In
operating.
"A corps @. experienced continental en-
ginsers. former officers. has left Pretoria
for the south western border. escorted by
command OF picked foers II is probably
intended for large cynamitins operations
"A big engagement Is expected shortly
In the vicinity ~ Tadysmith. The forces
OF Commandsnf Pie'si are sncamped on n
mountain overlooking Dundee. from which
point they wiu be abis 10 observe the move
men. os the British troops"
Battle With Armored Train.
The skirmish near spytfontein. says
special dispatch from Cape Town. was
quite lively.
The armoref train with 4 detachment
81 f.ancash.res passsf unu1olested until
within range and then the Beers opened
FIRE The Naxirns were strongly set ~
work and did good execution among the
hurKh@rs. The latter also used artillery.
bat in~rsctivsiy. The nrnsored train rec
turned TO Kimberley unharmed
The crew Of the aru1ored train say the
f.o~rs fr@f thirteen shells but their aim
was wrefched ard not single shot struck
The train, which then made bold 70 ap-
proach nearer and opened fire with the
Sasirns The hurgfers replied with
heavy rifles. again shooting wildly. only
three or four bullets struck the train.
Subsequently the s-sw learned that flve
Beers ard two poer horses were killed.
while several Eoers and horses wers
wounded Not a member ~ the British
force was so mach as touched
BoeYs' Poor shooting.
CAPE TOWN. Oct. II. noon--Cosn-
r1unscasion with Belmont station. sixty
miles south ~ Kimberley, r. .,ir open
The aFht with she armor.6 train from
men than they lid q, Matuba hill. II held
10 prove that their shooting IN not 90 good
~ II ts rrput~f 10 be.
II IL the general belief here from items
Of Intelligence received that the Boers