The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-05-24
BOERS
Surrounded by the British and
Forced 10 Surrender.


intact; the British had lost hardly any
men, and yet three bodies of federals,
right inside the British lines, had been
surrounded, cut off and riy en- an oppor-
tunity to surrender which they had de-
clined.
Commandant sarel Elih did not realize .
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 Every
body at headquarters went to breakfast
and the commssiarat requistioned for
horse sausage, bread and water for the
men on the fighting lines. 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 cir
Gle around the federals, whom they cor
Taled like cattle in a pound. Shortly after
4:3O a white flag was hoisted by the enc
my and then, amid ringing cheers, the
first batch of Beers was disarmed and
sent to the town. The erstwhile besiegers
furnished an inspiring spectacle to the
townsfolk, themselves so long cooped up.
AS the hungry, dirty battle-stained
Beers marched between the cleaning
bayyonets of the British, the population
received them respectfully, but the KAT
frs gave full reign in their enthusiasm,
in boots, yels and similar expressions
of delight. The prisoners seemed glad
the fight was over.
AS the afternoon advanced the crackle
of musketry began again, continuing
until nearly o'clock, when Captain Sin
gleton shouted cease fire" \ message
had come from headquarters to the ef-
feet that Eloff, his officers and men, had
surrendered and had laid down their
arms Internationally to Colonel Hore,
who, with a handful of men. had been
a prisoner of Eloff during most of the
day.
Shortly before this a fusilade was
heard. 1t was Eloff and the men who
stood by him firing on their own desert
ers, eighty of whom fed. AS the news
spread by telephone to the garrisons OF
the various forts, cheer upon cheer re-
sounded In the town some one started
''God Save the Queen" and the strains OF
the national anthem mingled for few
minutes with the hoarse shouting of the
natives.
Soon Captain Singleton and Colonel
Aore approached, accompanied by Com
mandant Eloff and his officers. The meet
ing between Colonel Baden-Pcwell and
the Boer com mander was dramatic.
This is Commandant Elofr, sir" said
Captain Singleton.
Good evening, commandant SAID
Colonel Baden-Powel. welcome, ana
have some dinner"
AS the British had already captured
the 12O prisoners, about all they coulu
handle. Colonel BadenPowell sent WORD
to Lord Chase Benteneck to open the
way and to allow the scattered remnants
of the fedaral to be driven from the
Staat In half an hour everything was
over and in the mess room at headquar-
ters the three Boer officers were dining.
Nearly every mess in town raked up
somewhere a hidden stor of liquor a bot
tie of champagne in one place,a flask
of whisky in another The whole town
Joined in the jubilation, singing ''God
Save the Queen" and other patriotic
songs all night long.
The rank and file of the Boer prison
ers were lodged at Masonic hall. Most
of them are Johannesburgers. They
seemed in excellent spirits, scrambled
for the blankets issued, wrote. letters to
their friends and grumbled at General
Snyman.
BRITISH AT TRANVAAL BORDER
LONDON, MAY 24-3:4O "a. m.-Lord
Roberts is drawing near to the Transvaa
frontier. His infantry masses are 8
miles north of Kroonstad, at the Rhen
oster river. Some thousands of cavalry
are already across the river.
The Beers are retiring toward the
Vaal, with their heavy baggage. They
are reported from Pretoria as already
across the river. Twelve thousand meI
and fourteen guns compose the retreat
ing army. Trains continue to run from
Veronnining. at the Vaal to Pretoria.
Foreign engineers assert that Pretorii
is able to stand a years siege According
to advices from Lorenzo MARQUES, tn
Pretoria fortifcations are described
complete.
One of the curious pieces OF gossi
sent from Lorenzo Mraqunes is that sew
eral women tried to sjambox Presiden
Kruger, who was rescued py his bod
guard He rarely leaves the presidenc
now, but works incessently, holding coun
ellis at daybreak and during the might
II was announced at Pretoria on Sunda
that the government proposed removin
the British prisoners from Pretoria.
Mafeking dispatches continue to pou
into London relating to events preceedin
the relife an dthe entry of the troop
The correspondents agree that the Cana
dian artillery, Major Endons, seven gun
did spelndid work Some Of them assei
that the Canadians did absolutely e'
sential work In the lighting
About seven o'clock in the evening
aAH