The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-01-19
A GLOOMY OUTLOOK.
A Close Line of Investment Drawn
Around Ladysmith by Beers.
rhis Gives a superior Force 60 On
pose the Approach of Gen. HUI
ier's Relief Expedition
Latest Prom Front.

Latest From Front.
London, Jan. i6.-Gen. Buffers lat
est authentic word as 10 what he and
his $4,000 men are doing was wired
from Springfield after his first for
ward step. Striving 10 think out the
unknown, London Is confused by sur
mise and rumor and disquicted by sus-
pcnse. Spenscr Wilkinson, the lucid
military expert of the Morning Post.
asserts that the Bocr force in north
srn Natal is larger than Gen. Buffers
aud Sir George Whites together, so
that the lioers are able 10 leave a
force around Ladysmith larger than
that within the town. and set 20 OPP
pose Gen. Butler with a force superior
90 his own
Reports from the lioer camps affirm
that the circle of investment has been
drawn closer by the occupation OF
some hills nearer the town. thus iib-
Grating rc-cnforccments 20 oppose
Gen. Butler.
The ycomnnry recruiters are dis
turbed hy the fact that they are able
10 get ohiT7' Gle and onc-half compa-
aics out Of upward Of 1000 applicants
In the metropolitan district Al the
other applicants fan short 81 the re-
quircmcnis. One thousand would be
regarded as a very small number. even
were all accepted.
The provinces are doing better. al
though 10 raise 10000 appears far
from the easy matter II did a fort
night ago.
Among the minor perpleNitics Of
the ,s4g a'.i,r l. a strike among the
military tailors. which causes delay in
unifurming the recruits.
IA interesting item Of news h that
100 Beers. cscoriing a party OF reap
err aaye successfully garnercd all
the crops within two miles Of the
colonial camp az Birds river. the
rntsh force being too weak 20 inter
ferc
London. Jan. i0.-The Standard
gives prominence to'thc following dis
patch. dated saturday. January -.
from Durham
"A man who has Just arrived here
from Springfield says that a British
column proceeding 20 the relief OF
Tadysmith. has crossed the Little Tu-
gcla When-hc left II was facing the
Boer position ON the Big Tugcia and
Howitzer was Smelling the BOer
trenches.
"Ilc SAYS also that go wagons laden
with comnissiriat store for Lady
n IL
p-ctcd that the column would Join
hands with Gen. White Monday even
ing. The traction engines have been
doing excellent work Ia hauling heavy
wagons out Of holes and swamps
This they accomplish with the great
est ease.
British patrols have discovered par
ties OF Beers In the direction of En-
ncrsdale. between Frcre aud Est
court"
London. Jan. i0.-rhe correspond
cnt Of The Isily Telegraph AZ PETER
raritzburg. telegraphing Thursday.
January n. says. The gallantry Of
the Ladssmith garrison last saturday
appears Co have depressed II not ac-
tually den,oraliscd the Beers general
IN. II l. believed that they lost at
least two II NOS three killed a. against
our one.
MANY Beers are believed 20 be
trckking northward The magistrate
al Nautu. Lululand. telegraphs that
scouts report having seen many Bocr
families with wagons proceeding
north via Zululand. while a European
who formerly resided az Dundee de-
clarcs that after tho repulse AT Lady
smith q number Of Doer women load
cd with dead and wounded passed
through that mining township. and
that the Beers burned some Of the
public buildings as they departed.
Five days have passed since then
Boer Headquarters, Outside Lady
smith. Jan. p The Beers occupying
the southern edges of Hester's kop
were driven out by the British Satur-
DAY. Commandment Mel. ON the west
of the town. and the Pretoria COM
mando. on the north. have taken the
kopie commanding Caesars Camp,
from which they maintain coniinu-
Gus sniping of the British. The Pre-
toria commando lost six men killed
and six wounded in attempting TO
storm the fort.
Cape Town. Jan. i5.-Therc Is good
reason 20 believe that the statement
that Sir Charles Warren with 1000
men has gone toward Wcencn Is cor
rect. and we may expect important
news shortly.
Reports have been received here
that dvscntery is very rife in Lady
smith.
London. Jan. i6.-Thc correspond
ent of the Times at Lourcnzo Mar
cues. tclcgraphing last saturday,
saws. "rhc Free State has now called
out every available man. including the
leading merchants. who had expected
10 enjoy immunity
FLOODS In washington.
Tacoma. Wash. Jan. ia down
..,g., f,f. three 1nNg. tOuet npr