The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-19
LONDON REJOICING.
News Cheered in Front Of War
Office.

London. Nay Is-9 40 .. m.-Tis dss-
patch OF the Associated. Press announcing
the relief OF Mafekins was posted ont.
side the Mansion Houss and was rapidly
sprsa1. A:large crowd collected and at
this hour all the streets In the neighbor-
hood ara already resoupding with chssrs.
The war office at nine O'Clock an
noucsd that no news had been received but
At O. 40 the Lord Mayor, Mr.. A. ]. New
nouced the joyful news to the crowd out
side. The Lord Mayor was accom panied
by the Lady MAyoress TO the 'front.' Of the
Mansion House where an immense por-
trait Of Col. Baden-Powell was displayed
Bearing the description "Mafsking re-
lisyed.n
While the attendants were waving
Union Jacks, tbs Lc-d Mayor briefly
addressed the assem- blase. saying:
"I wish your cheers could reach MAIZE
king"
Hare the spsech was interrupted by re-
doubled cheering and the singing OF
.Rule Britannia" after which the Lord
Mayor remarkedi
"ws never doubted what the end would
be or that British pluck and courage
would conquer at last"
The masses OF people outside the Man
sion House grew to suoh dimensions
that the police were compelled to divert
all traffic, onnibusses, etc., through the
side streets.
The cheering was inoessant. Later the
special editions Of the newspapers arrived
and the tiokers announced the news In
all the public resorts. In the West End
leading thoroughfArss were eventually
impeded by @ constant stream of the
populnce cheering them selves hoarss and
singing "Hod Save the Queen" and
"Soldiers Of the Queen" The enthusi-
asm as this despatch IL ssnt already
promises to outrival even the scenes
which followed the relief Of Ladysmith.
IA reporter Of the Associated Press
called at the foreign office and the resi-
dent olerk said nothing had yet been re-
ceived there In confirmation OF the news
from Prstoria OF the relief of MAfsking.
The despatch OF the Associated Press
containing the news OF the relief or the
long bssieged place was ssnt to the house
Of parliament where It created great
deal OF excitement In the press CALLER
les and Hobbies and soon began to be cir.
oulated among the members Of the HOUSE
OF Commons. Mir. Thomas q. Hedder-
wick, advanced liberal, amid consider
able excitement said he understood that
news Of the relief of Mafsking had been
received. Was that SO?
No minister made any reply and the
debate was continued. But, the house
no longer took any interest In 1t, and the
members went into the lobbies to dis
cuss the great event
The Lord Mayor then led tbe crowd
in singing "God Save the Queen" and
"Soldlers Of the Queen" and with re-
ueUed cheering and waving Of tiags by
the assembled multitudes and the sing
ing OF "For He's jolly Good Fellow"
the Mayor and his party retired.
From the mention Of the laagsrs In the
Pretoria despatch, 1t is understood hore
that prior to the raising OF the siege of
Mafeking, the Boer laagers around the
that place were vigorously bombarded
by the British relief column and that
the burghsrs were practically compelled
to abandon the siege
"Bobs is q man of his word" says the
man In the street and this sentiment is
no small factor In the rejoicings OF tn
people. Only now Is 1t possible 20 realize
the pent up feelings OF the populaca.
Within an hour after the news was re-
ceiyed. the scenes In the streets OF mer-
camille London. usually quite deserted at
that houF, were almost indescribable.
Bands and banners ahd fiags appeared TO
have sprung suddenly from the earth.
Every other vehicle was decorated with
flags. Brass bands we're parading and
leading crowds who sang patriotic songs.
Oolozsd IRE WAS being burned in every
directions