Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-24

were intact; the British had lost hardly
any men and yet three bodies Of the
| federalS, right inside the British lines
| had been surrounded, cut off and giver
an opportunity to surrender, which
they declined.
Comandant Sarel EIoff did not real
lie that his supports had been driven
back; and he informed a messenger
that the town was at his mercy
Toward noon there was a lull in the
fighting. Everybody at headquarters
went to breakfast and the commissar-
lat reQuisitioned for horse sausage,
bread and water for the men on the
| fighting line. There was no thought
| of half rations. Everyone got all he
could eat.
The British in the staat, moving
| from rock to rock, gradually drew in
| their circle around the federals, whom
they corraled like cattle in a compound.
Shortly after 4.30 p. NJ, a white flag
was hOisted by the enemy, and then.
amid ringing cheers, the first batch Of
Beers We're dsarmed and sent to the
towns. The erstwhile besiegers fur
nished an inspiring spectacle to the
townsfolk, themselves 50 long cooped
up. AS the hungry. dirty, battle
stained Beers marched between the
cleaning bayonets of the British the
British population received them re-
spectfully. but the Kaffirs gave full
rein to their enthusiasm in boots, yells
and similar expressions of delight.
The prisoners seemed glad that the
fight was over.
&c No n advanced the
crackle of musketry began again. CON
tinuing until nearly o'clock, when
Captain Singleton shouted: Cease
fire" A message had come from head
quarters to the effect that Eloff his Of
ficers and men. had surrendered and
had laid down their arms uncondition-
ally to Col. Hore. who. with a handful
OF men. had been prisoner Of Elon
during the most Of the day.
Shortly before this "A fusilade was
heard II was Elon and the men who
stood by him firing on their own desert
crs. 50 of whom fled.
As the news spread by telephone to the
garrisons of the various forts, cheer upon
cheer resoundcd. In tho town some on"
started God Save the Queen ana the
strains Of the national anthem mingled
for few minutes with the hoarse shout
ing Of the natives.
Soon capt. Singleton ana COL Hore APP
proachrd nccnmranIed uy Communicate
tween Col Eaden-Pnwcll ana the Enrr
commander Wa dramatic This II Com
mandpnt ElOff. sir, said capt. singleton.
Good evening. command ANU. said tnl.
Eadcn-POw-ll. "WCnt you come ana nave
some dinner
AZ thc BRITISH, had already captured l20
prisoners ahnI an they could handle.
Col. Baden Powell sent Work ~ Lord
Charles BcntinCk t. open the way ana To
allow the scattered remnants ~ the rel
erals 40 Lee driven from The street Ia
half An hour everything was over, and IN
the mess room AT HEADQUARTERS the three
Buyr officers were dining.
Nearly every mess In town THktd up
spmcw here a hidden store Of liquor IN"
whole town Joined in tho jubilatiou. sing
ing patriotic songs all night long. The
rank ana iii" IF ihc Eu-r prisoners wtr"
are JuhauneshurEcrs. They seemed ~
excellent spirits. scrambled for the blan-
krts issued. wrote letters tu their friends
ana grumblcd Ut Cen. shy
Hebron. Tuesday. May -2-TiEhtin-
mas been iu progress since sunday WHth
three British divisions started m sweep
the country IS tar a- HtJHichein. ta-
trrGay. thu EoyrS attacked tine British
rear but were driven on Today after
Slight rear guard action. COL BrnadWhnd
arrived WIN t1NtllN III luis wa Ail' VIZ y '-
having attacked the commando Whlrh
ruld III, railway ana driven it h'allna-.
capturing Is wagons and taking mum
her of prisoners The hurGhtrS arc h'i.-
tcniug 1, surrender their arms.
London. May 23-Thr war If. Dc. late
this evening. published the f'H'Wi2@
from Lord Roberts: south Harl "i
the Rhenostcr River. May 2&.-i."e i.
M.-We found on arrival here. this
morning. that the enemy had hci dur
ing the night. They had occupied
strong position On the north hank e
the river. which had bccn carefully
cntrerched. but they dill not tAink III
advisable To defend it when they
heard that Ian Hamilton's force was
ut Hebron and that our cavalry.
which had crossed the river some miles
lower down the stream. were threaten
ing their right and rear. Tho bridge
over the Rhcnostcr. several culvrrts
and some miles of railway were DC
str yed.
Ian Hamilton's force drove the
Beers under De Wet before them from
Lindlcy to Hebron. The passage of
the Rhenoster was stoutly dispute d.
our loss might have been heavy but
LOT Il NtIl tpitCtl ANb iihAi " A''' a
brought Smith Dorrience's brigade on
the enemy's flank just at the right
moment.
The officer commanding at Boshof
reports that upwards Of $50 Free Stat
crs have surrendered during the last
few days and that they have given up
$50 rifles, 100 horses and a large
amount Of ammunition.
"killy- Kenny reports that three
companies of yeomanry. who We're sent
to repair the telegraph line and to clear
the country between Bloemfontein and
Boshof. have returned to Bloemfon-
TEN. having performed the duty ex-
ccedingly we'll"
London, May 23.-11.50 A. M.-The
war office issues n dispatch from Lord
Roberts. under date of Honing's Spruit
May %. announcing the receipt by him
of the following message from Major
Gen. Baden Powell:
"Mafeking. May III am happy to
inform you that Mafeking was success
fully relieved. today. The northern
and southern columns joined hands on
May -. and attacked the enemy. yes
terday, and. after small engagement,
entirely defeated them with loss The