Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-02
NOT IN PRETORIA
NO WORD FROM ROBERTS SINCE
WEDNESDAY.
BURGHERS IN STATE OF PANIC.
Another Report That Kruger Has Been
Captured-Fierce Battle at
Fabiospruit.

London, June ., 3:45 a. m.-Lord Rob-
erts continues silent regarding Pretoria,
probably because he cannot Wire of
events from his own personal knowledge.
Lourenzo Marques, where all the news
from the Boer side is %rehandled, cables
tina communication with Pretoria is now
suspended. Some messages by courier
nave reached Lourenzo Marques, but
none of later daet than Wednesday.
There assert that the burghers are in a
state of panic and that Pretoria is being
controlled by a vigilance committee.
Lourenzo Marques again sends the re-
port that President Kruger has been caps
tured.
The news plank gives rise to the sus-
picion that the citizens committee at
Pretoria may not have been able to carry
out their plans for securing the peaceful
entry of Lord Roberts and sparing TIL.
city the horrors of a siege.
A peace party appeared in the aseenl-
ant and as soon as President Kruger
and his cabinet left Pretoria to organize
a new capital, the citizens committee
persuaded the ~commandants of the forts
to withdraw some of the troops from the
defenses, perhaps with the view of keep
ing order in the town. If messengers
were sent to the British or if the British,
being two hours march from Pretoria
on Wednesday, entered it, then or at any
time prior to Friday noon, Lord Roberts
would certainly have telegraphed this
fact. Hence, it looks as though there
was a Boer force between Pretoria and
johannesburg. These soldiers, trekking
backtoward Pretoria, some of then1
fresh from the fight with General Hamil-
ton, would lave brought a new element
into the situation and would probably
override the peace committee, taking
the direction of affairs out of their
hands. If this has happened The Brit
ish may, the Daily Chronicle says. see
some hard fighting before the British
flag flies over Pretoria. for even if the
Beers held On three forts standing close
together on the hill south of the town
they woul be in a position to stand a
siege.
The Beers, according to @ special dis
patch from LourenZo Marques. have res
entered the northeastern territory of the
Free State and are engaged with the
British near Nentersburg and Harris
smith.
1t is reported from Amsterdam that .he
best rooms at Het l~laasje-one Of the
principal hotels there-have been ensag-
ed for President kruger's occupancy
from June 20.
General Butler is moving slowly
against the Boer TANKS.
A dispatch from Vryburg, dated May
80, says:
During the occupation or TINS pace
by the Beers they logged the natives FOR;
slight offenses. A whip and several
cords knotted and sailed were found at
the police station. A boy who brought
a letter to a woman received 25 lasheS
and another who sympathi1ei with him
received Is.
. Cape Town, June General Warren.
with 700 men, occupied a strong defensive
position at Fabiospruit on May y. AT
dawn he found that he was sutsou:etets
and he was fiercely attacked by 1,9oo H',o-
! els. The horses We're stampeded, but the
force concentrated and the Beers Wef:
tinued to fight tenaciously, but eNi'.u-
aetd the position as the charge began
leaving a number Of wounded.
The British lost Is killed, lnclualas
Colonel Spence, and 30