The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-03-07
LADYSMITH RELIEVED
After a Siege Of One Hundred and
Eighteen Days.
GREAT REJOICING THROUGHOUT ENG
LAND.

LONDcS. March The War once mas
received the following dispatch from
General Butler:
'.LrrrLETON,s HEADQUARTERS. March
L-9 % A. M.-Genersl DundOuald with
the Natal carbineers and a composite
regiment entered Ladv<smith last night
The country between me and Lsdysmith
is reported clear OF the enemy. 1 am
moving On Neithorpe-
I,oxDoS, March l-When the news OF
The relief of Ladysmith became gener-
ally known London literally went mad
with JOY, and throughout England the
scenes witnessed have no parallel in the
memories CT this generation
The pent up jnbilation at the relief Of
Kim;erley and the defeat OF Cronje could
no longer be controlled, and with to-dsy's
crowning triumphs the National trait of
selfrestraiut was thrown to the winds
The Lord Mayor Of London Immediately
telegraphed his congratulations TO Gen.
erals White and Baller-
When the Q1een received the news at
Windsor the bells on the carfew tower of
the Castle were rnng in honor Of the
event. The storm Of jubilatiOn centered
around the Mansion House. and by noon
thousands of persons blocked the many
approaches TO that grim building Il was
a dense, black mass. composed chiefly OF
business men, the majority of them car
rying little UniOn Jacks.
The only way 20 get past the Mansion
House was by mounting the busses,
which soon began to resemble chariots
in a triumphal pageant Stock brokers,
bankers. clerks, and working men clam
bered on top. and as the busses numbered
past the historic building stood up wav-
ing Gags, hats, and handkerchiefs, and
calling for cheers fer Butler and Roberts.
A mighty shout answered them from
the crowds through which they were
passing. The procession became cOntin-
nous. vet the crowd never tired Of cheer
ing every time the nameof White. Bulier,
or Roberts was mentioned. and off came
hats and up went the little flags.
The strain that for one hundred and
eighteen days had kept the nation in ter
rible anxiety was removed. All thought
of business was forgotten.
II DIRE NEED OF RELIEF.
Col. Rhodes, brother of Cecil Rhodes.
describing the entry into Ladysmith of
Lord Dundonald and 800 men Of the I'm
perial Light Horse and Natal Carbineers
on Wednesday, says:
1T is impossible 10 depict the enthusi-
Char
upon cheer ran from post To Post, and
staff officers. soldiers and civilians fiocked
II greet them. The contrast between the
robust troopers OF a dozen battles snd the
pale. emaeiated defenders of Lsdysmith
was great. General White and his staff
met the troops in the center Of the town.
He wa cheered with heartfelt enthusi
aSm. He addressed the civilians and
thanked them aud the garrison for their
magnificent support through the trials
which we alone can realize. We could
possibly have hung on six weeks longer,
but the privations would have been great
and sickness and the paucity Of our am
nunition would have limited the number
of assaults we would have been able to
resist.
1--WE started the siege with u 900 troops,
1000 civilians and 1900 natives. Between
casualties aud sickness 5000 soldiers
passed through the hospital. 1t IS impos-
s:ble to over-emphasize the privations Of
the sick. Since the middle of January a
man once Gown was practically lost The
reduced rations Of the soldiers just suf
/ iced for their subsistence. Daily % old
horses and mules were slaughtered and
converted into sorp and sausages. From
January Is to now there have been over
30 deaths fiom disease alone. The last
fortnight saw the majority of the field
batteries unhorsed and the guns perma-
nently posted in our defense. The cav
airy and drivers ~ore converted into in
fantry and sent TO the trenches. A line
Of defense had been constructed with the
view Of possible final contingency, il
the outerworks should be carried. Since
the investment the total casualties were;
Killed or died of wounds, p officers and
2sj men; died of disease, officers and
$40 men; wounded, 20 officers and Sc
men, exclusive of white civilians and
natives.n