Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-05-24
BRITISH CAPITAL IS A PANDEMO-
MUM OF JOY.
AT NEWS FROM MAFEKING
Tremendous Demonstrations on the
Streets - Flags Fly Everywhere,
and Everybody Sings God Save the
Queen-Telegrams Announce That
All the Empire Is Rejoicing.

/
and cheering, and there were crowds
in front Of the mansion house MARI
borough house. and the clubs on Pail
Mall and the war office and in parlia-
ment square, waving flags and Joining
in the national airs. This sustained
believing and uproar of hundreds of
thousands amaZes the Englishman,
who ceases for moment TO be an ac-
tor, and becomes merely an observer.
Sober, phlegmatic London is beside its
self with emotion. Gusts of patriot
ism set the town quivering two
or three times before during the war,
but nothing quite equalled last night
hundred square miles almost furious
with demonstrations. 1t was a curious
thing fer an OnlOOker to see solemn,
grey-haired men toss their opera hats
into the air and join in the hurricane
Of cheers when the wreath-crowned
banner with the portrait of Col. Baden
Powell on it, was borne along PiccaGil-
ly. Smart women in brOughams waved
union jacks out of the windows; con-
ventiopal families and parties stopped
as the street corners to take part in
singing God Save the Queen, and Sol
diers of the Queen, and everywhere
were abandon, good feeling and an
astonishing roar of human voices.
1t was all brought about by a twenty
word telegram from Pretoria that
Mofo1-incr bo
the government has not word, and al
though nothing confrmatory has been
received from any African source ex-
cept Pretoria, nobody apparently ques-
lions the news.
AS soon as the information of relief
was received Lord Mayor A. J. New
ton sent the following dispatch to
Baden-POwell: THE citizens of Lon
don are relieved. They rejoice in the
good news received. Your gallant de-
Tense will long live in British annals.
Cable me what money is wanted for
the needs Of the garrison and inhabi-
tants after their long privations. " In
unrestrained jubilations the provinces
w u hOI DC1II11u IilS IuSIl OpOilS. AL
though London had the start by a few
minutes, the great surrounding towns
soon burst into patriotic demonstra-
tons. Bells clashed in their steeples;
village bands turned out, and people
gathered in the squares to chant
fervidly God Save the Queen.
From all parts of the empire
comes the same story. Bombay, Col
ombia and Australian cities are re-
joicing. Continental cities, as the
press kilograms abundantly testify,
received the news sadly. Jos. Cham
berlain called at the war Office after
midnight and received a tremendous
ovation The relief of Mafeking had
the effect of suspending for moment
the interest in operations elsewhere
in the field of war. Nevertheless yes
terday brought important official an
nouncements. Methuen entered Hoop
stad Thursday. He is now 70 miles
from Kroonstad ard so from BOtha-
Vile. Butler entered New Castle
Thursday evening Roberts, while
waiting for stores at KroOnstad, is
dsing his mounted men to search a
wide tract of country. Broadwood oc-
cupied Lindley Thursday. Rumble on
Thursday encamped at ClocOlan.
every point from which news came
yesterday.
Butler, in a dispatch to the war Of
dce, dated New Castle, says: New
Castle was occupied last night and to-
day the whole second division and the
third cavalry brigade will be concen-
trated there. l have sent a mounted
force through NQutu to eXpel a small
force of the enemy and to reassure the
natives. The enemy have burned q
| chapel, broken much glass, plunderec
many houses and taken cash from the
| banks, but otherwise have not done
much harm. The railway is badly
| damaged; the Ingagane and Nkadel
| bridges are destroyed; also many cul
verts, pumping stations and water
works. Of 1000 men flying before us
about 1000 seem to have gone tt
| Wakkerstroom, and some by Miller!
pass to the Free State. The remainder
who are described as a disOrganiZe(
rabble, have gone north and say the.
intend to make a stand at LANG
Mex"
How London Received News.
London, May 19.-The dispatch an
nouncing the relief of Mafeking wa
posted outside the mansion house an
the news rapidly spread, A larg
crowd collected soon and streets re
sounded with cheers. The lord mayo
accompanied by the lady mayores
went to the front of the mansion nous
where an immense portrait Of Co
Baden-PowelI was displayed, bearin
the inscription: Mafeking Relieved
While attendants were waving unto
jacks, the lord mayor briefly addresse
the assemblage, saying: Il wish you
cheers could reach Mafeking We ney
er doubted what the end would be c
that British pluck and courage Woul
/ conquer at last" He then led tn
: crowd in singing God Save the Queer
and Soldiers Of the Queen. The masst
I of people outside the mansion hous
: soon grew to such dimensions that II
police were compelled to divert all ira
i fc, omnibusses, ETC., through the otht
!, streets In the west end the leadir
q taoroughfa-es were eventually impe
ed by the constant stream of the pop
lace cheering themselves hoarse ar