Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-06
KEPT UP FOR DAYS
Demonstrations in London When
Mafeking Was Relieved.
DOING HONOR TO BADEN-POWELL
81 Oh Enthusiasm Had Never Been
Seen in England.
THRONGS IN THE STREETS

IdRONdS LIN LIE Oh hGG1 -
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LONDON. May o, 1900.
Raptures over Ladysmith have been COM
pletely thrown in the shade by the wild
excitement over the relief of Mafeking. 1t
was thought that British enthusiasm had
reached it's height when the Beers aban-
doned the siege of Ladysmith and Butler
quietly walked in, but BPS exploits and
relief have carried our cousins to such a
pitch that the phrase British stolidity'
must forever pass into the language as a
memory.
On Friday the streets of the metropolis
at midnight and for two hours previously
were a scene of wild excitement, growing
every moment in intensity, and there was
little prospect of the excitement materially
abating until well into the morning. The
manner in which the glad news was made
known is remarkable. At $3.50 an excited
person ran cheering down Fleet street
He was followed by another and another,
and then people on the tops Of omnibuseS
coming from the city began to cheer, and
the street became almost crowded with
persons running-literally running-west-
ward
mayor had posted a huge portrait of Col.
Baden-Powell, with the single announce
ment in red letters foot long, "Mafeking
is relieved Had the news come in any
with incredulity. AS it was. there were
doubters. The war office knew nothing of
it. A question ELECTED no answer. But
your Londoner has unbounded faith In the
lord mayor.
The thousands-probably scores of thou
sands would be well within the truth-who
during the next hour or two wended their
way past the Mansion House entertained
not the slightest doubt as soon as they saw
there the announcement with the authority
of the lord mayor. Inside the Mansion
House only one answer could be obtained
1.-The source" the courteous officials de-
clared, 'is not to be revealed, but it is Off
cial,'' and with this the public had to be
content.
Flags and PrOcessiOns.
1t was indeed quite sufficient. Within a
few minutes thousands of little hand flags
had sprung from no one knows where, and
were displayed on every side. Professions
of young and old, the top-hatted city man
and the daily laborer in company, were
parading the streets. Portraits of Baden
Powell came to light in an equally mysteri-
Gus manner. Every greeted his neigh
Dor as though they were old friends, street
pianos and cornet players filled the air
with their noise, and the city, usually de-
serted by 10 o'clock at night, became t,!-
multuous with excitement.
Every omnibus top was crowded and the
hanson cabs all displayed miniature union
Jacks Outside the Mansion House there
Were loud calls for the lord mayor, who at
last had to appear on the balcony and give
a short speech. pithy and appropriate. He
spoke of the music and the cheers, and of
the pluck and valor which had been dis
played at Mafeking. When he added that
the conscience of the immense crowd before
him assured him that England has been
fighting in righteous cause. he was inter
rupted by mighty cheer, which lasted for
some minutes.
Then Rule Britannia was sung, after
which the lord mayor called for three
cheers for Colonel Baden-Powell and Lord
Roberts. and remarked that the people of
"God Save the Queen" and he asked the
crowd to do the same. Let no one say in
future that the Engiishman cannot sing.
With a wonderful unanimity the great
crowd sang the national anthem, and after
another cheer the lord mayor withdrew.
Meanwhile the crowd had grown until not
only the great space in front of the Man
sion House had filed up, but Cheapside as
far as Queen street, Cornhiil, Threadneedle
street and Queen Victoria street were
blocked. All vehicular was stopped The
bells of some of the city churches were
pealing, and from all quarters new arrivals
OF cheering persons were continually join
ing the crowd. The anxiety now was to
discover if any confirmation of the news
had been published at the war office. A
great crowd assembled there before IL
O'Clock, but no news awaited it. The
curious point was that the news had come
through Pretoria with the permission of
the Boer censor and the war office knew
nothing and had confirmation of the
joyful tidings that got the whole empire
wild with joy for three days.
Two Anxious Women.
The thoughts of many persons in London
turned 20 the patient women in St. Georges
place, Hyde Park, where the mother and
sister of the gallant defender of Mafeking
have for six months been racked by anx-
iety as TO the fate of one of the most he
roic men that even the English army has
ever known. In answer to an inquiry
earlier in the day, Miss Baden-Powell said
the anxiety with which the family We're
waiting for authentic news could scarcely
be described. They had not received any
communication direct from the colonel
since January.
The rejoicing was kept up all Friday
night. l went home on Saturday morning
after o'clock, and my cab had to pick its
way through the crowds all through the
Strand. On Saturday and Sunday there
was no diminution Of the excitement, such
as has never before been seen in England.
Before o o'clock on Saturday morning 1t
was obvious that little business would be
transacted in that part of the city nearest
the Mansion House. and at some of the
the shutters. Even the visitors to the
Bank of England had to go by circuitous
routes. By 10 o'clock 1t was estimated
that over 10000 people were assembled
round the lord mayors residence cheering
singing patriotic songs and throwing their
own or other peoples hats far into the air.
Long before noon the great majority of of
fees in the city had realized that no work
could be done. and had relieved the clerks
to swell the merrymakers.
From the Mansion House to Piccadilly
the main thorOughfares were packed by a
cheering populace. Buildings had been
hastily decorated all along the route, and
nearly every man, woman and child carried
a flag. Such was the scene all day. the
crowds increasing toward night
In the House of Commons.
The house Of commons, which had main
tanned stolid silence until the war office
was able to officially announce the relief OF
Mafeking on Monday night. presented an
unwonted scene and got as excited as a
British house of commons is ever likely to.
The King of Sweden was over the clock;
the chamber was wedged with long rows of
silk-hatted men chattering and crumping
order papers; a horde of strangers were
elbowing one another up above; the lady
visitors up in their dark cupboard of a gal
law CSYuUn 1fy,cr