The age-herald., 1900-05-16
PEACE ENvOYS
 HAVE ARRIVED Great Crowd of Boer Sympa- thisers Greet Them, THEIR PLANS NOT GIVEN OUT The Commissioners Will Attempt to Get an Audience With Presi-
 dent Mckinley and Will
 Visit Many Cities.
THEIR PLANS NOT GIVEN OUT

New York, May 15.-The steamship Maasdam, with the peace envoys from the South African republics, arrived at this port today after a voyage of twelve days from Rotterdam. The envoys, Abraham Fishher, J. M. A. Woolmarans and c. H. Vessels, were met by committee which went down the bay to greet them, and later were welcomed by a larger body of Boer syinpathizers gathered on the pier at Hoboken The mayor of that city extend ed a welcome to them, and the party then took carriages for the Hotel Manhattan, where the enyoys will lodge.
 The ship was sighted off, Fire Island early this morning, and the sub commit tee appointed to go down the bay em- parked in the revenue cutter Hudson and met the Maasdam at Quarantine. On arr rival of the ship, there were introductions all around, and then ex-Judge Van Hoosen recited the address of welcome.
 MT. Fischer responded to Judge Van Hoosen, saying:
 T thank you most heartily for this well come which you have just extended The warmth of q welcome does not lie in the length of words used, but in deeds.
 We believe that the American people will also extend to us a hearty welcome for ours in a cause that is dear to their hearts. We are fighting for our country. As soon as they come to understand our cause they will, believe, echo the welcome you have just given us"
 The Maasdam was saluted by harbor ship ping on her way up, while those on board fraternized in unofficial ways. When the ship arrived at Hoboken the pier was crowded kgith men and women waving the stars and stripes and the colors of the South African republics.
 Boer Natl iJnal Hymn
 After the Maasdam swung in at her dock the three envoys were the first to leave the vessel. As they came down the gang way the band struck up the Boer national hymn, the crowd cheered and vessels near by footed welcome. Mayor Pagan of Ho- boken delivered an address of welcome and rendered the freedom of the city.
 Chairman Fischer of he delegation re- piled on behalf of the envoys.
 The Boers were then introduced to the Hoboken committee and to the committee of fifteen from New York, which was a part of the committee of 100 that was wait ing at the Barclay Street ferry to greet the enyoys. Then the delegates were escorted to carriages at the head of the pier. There a procession was formed, headed by a band of music. The procession proceeded through Washington street, past the city hall to the Barclay Street ferry, where the enyoys were taken charge of by the committee of 100. and the whole party crossed the ferry of New York, where the envoys were es- ccrted to the Hotel Manhattan.
 rowds Gave a Welcome
 Along the route from the Holland Amer ican line dock to the ferry there were crowds, which gave an enthusiastic well come to the envoys. The envoys were ea- ger to hear the latest from the war. When told of the reverses to their arms and the advances made by Lord Roberts, they merely shrugged their shoulders.
 Such news,' said MT. Fischer, docs not disconcert us in the least
 We read these dispatches between the lines; besides, what difference does one or a dozen reverses mean to us? We never propose to stop fighting until we have gained what we are fighting for-our inde- pendence."
 The delegates were reticent concerning their plans.
 We cannot say anything which may hinder our cause. We should like to have the goternment arbitrate with England, and undoubtedly we shall go to Washing ton and try to have an audience with President Mckinley. If we cannot induce the government to do what We like we shall try to arouse the people so that they will compel the government to recognize us in that way'
 . Mr. Fischer said their future plans were still undecided and that they would be largely guided by events they happened. As it is the reception committee has re- ceiyed invitations from the mayors of sixty towns and cities in the United States and ic farn nhahl hot thny xyf1I xricit these places before sailing again for the continent.
 When asked as to the truth of the re- port that some of the Red Cross men were fighting in the Boer army, MT. Fischer said:
 'Of this l know nothing, though some may have joined our forces when they knew the truth. Some attaches who have gone down to see us fight, when they saw us fight and knew the reason for the war, have said to us: Give us guns, for we want to fight with you.' "