Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-17
Mr.. FISCHER DENIES RUMOR
BOER ENVOY CONTRADICTS REPORT
ED INDIsCREET ADMISSIONS.
Man Named O'ConnOr Says He Over
heard the Delegates Discussing
Transvaal Affairs.

one of the Bocr envoyS, was shown today
the published statement in which the en-
voys were reported as having made indls-
Greet admissions the steamship to an
employe of a London newspaper. Mr.
Fischer said the story was false in every
material particular.
Il met an Irish American on the
steamer said Mr.. Fischer, land his name
was O'Connor. He introduced himself to
me and expressed great sympathy for our
people. Whatever l said to him have no
hesitation in repeating to the American
people 1 don't think the fellow ever talked
with Mr. Vessels or Mr.. Wolmarans. AS
for him talking to us together it is utterly
false. l never expressed the sentiments at
tributed to NE. nor did my colleagues, nor
do we hold them
Regarding the appeal from the Americans
in Cape Town. asking the people mere to
ignore the envoys. Mr.. Fischer said: Il
have read their appeal, and II is OBVIOUSLY
a very fiimsy one. Not name Is gwen :
not even the name of the chairman of their
alleged mass meeting. There are very few
Americans in Cape Town in the first place,
and they are largely in sympathy with us.
Patrick O'Connor's story.
LONDON. May 1.-THE Daily Express
publishes this morning a three-column New
York special. signed by Patrick OConnor,
who crossed the Atlantic with the Boer del
esates on the Maasdam, under pretense Of
being an Irish-American and a Boer sym
p&thizer AS a matter of fact. Mr.. O'Con-
nor understands the Dutch language. and
he claims to have overheard much private
conversation. in the course of which Mr..
Wolmarans is reported as sa-ing to Mr..
Fischer:
Il think We should be careful of what
we say to this man, as he may be a spy.
Are you sure he is an Amcrican?"
Mr.. F'ischer-"There is no doubt of it. !
can tell by his accent"
Mr.. WesselS-'.It would never, do, of
course ror the British to know that We
are really in the last extremity, or for hlm
to know that we are thinking of staying in
America.
Then. resuming the English language Mr..
Fischer began by blaming Cecil Rhodes for
bringing on the war. He said:
II HAVEN'T a shadow of doubt that Sir
Alfred Miner was sent TO South Africa
to prepare for the spolation of the Boer
republics by force, if necessary. The fran
chise ruse was all humbug. President kru
gel ceded so much at the Bioemfontein con-
ference that Milner was in mortal fear lest
all his requests should be granted and lest
he should thereby lose the chance of annex
ing the TranSvaal."
Mr. WoImarans said to Mr.. Fischer III
Dutch: do you think we had better tell
him how Kruger broke off the confercnce?'
Mr.. Fischer-No.
Mr.. Wolmarans Gin Dutchl-Our position
just now is precisely that of jameson at
the time of the raid He expected Iohan-
nesburg to rise to his assistance. We ex
pected the same of Cape colony and Natal
We are bitterly disappointed Tell him how
Schreiner deceived us.
Mr.. Fischer-He knows well, as well as
do, that Schreiner is loyal to Great
Britain.
Resuming English, Mr. Fischer said: eve
are going to win The war if il takes years
Addressing Mr. Vessels. and using Dutch
Mr.. Fischer then said: I'VE had better rot
say too much. We are getting badly beaten
now. We are going to America il. the hope
of obtaining the friendly help of the United
States in the cause Of peace. That is what
we Will say to the public. AS matter of
fact, we have no hope whatever. We have
no cut and dried program
Mr.. Fischer then went on tC say that the
brother of Mr.. Vessels, who happened to
be in the United States. and who vas act
ing in conjunction with Montagu White
believed that some sort of peace preiIai-
Earies would be arranged, but. if the dele
gates failed in the Tinted States. the Beers
Mr.. Fischer declared, would still not give
in.
Mr.. OCornor says:
THE delegates were much astoniShed at
the reception on their arrival in New To~k
When land was sighted, Mr. Wolmarans
exclaimed: What shall we do when we get
there