New-York tribune., 1900-09-14
WEBSTER DAVIS ACCUSED.
UNITED STATES OFFICIAL. SAID TO
HAVE VIOLATED NEUTRALITY LAWS
ALLEGED ATTEMPT WHILE IN OFFICE TO
ENLIST MEN FOR BOER CAUsEHIs AC-
COMPLICE MAKES STARTLING
TRANSA ACTIONS PTBLIC.
JBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.

Washington Sept 13.-Soon after the out
break Of the war IN South Africa a ripple Of in
terest was eXclted in Washington by the pub
Acation in the local newspapers Of the follow
ing advertisement
Wanted-AoIebodied men with military ex-
perience 10 20 to the TransvaaI, South Africa
For Information address Gustave Thielkuhl No.
1o1 Sth Street y "
In a statement published in The Evening
Star Of to-day. Mr- Thieikuhl who was former
y employe Of the Interior Department ex-
plains that he inserted the advertisement at
the instance of Webster Davis, who was at that
time Assistant Secretary Of the Interior 81
to whom as. turned over si gfe zegI1eS- -retefved
10 the advertisement. some thirty thousand in
number. Mr.. ThieikuhTs statement continues
in part as follows.
Mr.. Davis prepared the advertisement for the
papers saying that he could fix il that the
law could not reach me. and he also told me
that must not let his name be known in con-
nection with the affair under any circumstances,
for II it became known that he was aiding the
Beers II this manner II would injure him with
the ADMINISTRATION he also SAID II President
Mckinley and his Administration did not pass
a resolution sympa1hizing with the Beers the
next President surely would.
After the advertisement had appeared in the
papers there was d perfect flood Of letters and
applications and 50 many people called upon
me in the Department that IL attracted the at
tention Of the chief clerks in different depart
meuts in the building, whereupOn an tnvestiga-
tary Hitchcock and Assistant Secretary Ryan.
the investigation was taken up by Mr.. Davis.
and II was, of course decided in my favor. But
the throng still continued 10 come, and the let
ters poured in a second investigation was or
dered, and Secretary Hitchcock being at home
al this time l was Instructed by Mr.. Davis 10
resign and procure my passports, as he was
going 10 send me TO South Africa TO represent
the men constituting the expedition as practical
miners.
After resigued my positt-r as instructed by
Mr. Davis I remained at my home in Washing
ton at No. Is Third-st. Southeast. and con-
tinued 10 receive applications daily About
eight hundred men belonging in the District o.
Columbia applied 70 me in person.
On or about December =. 1899. met MI
Davis, and ne Informed me for the nrst tlIIe
that he had concluded to 20 70 SOuth AItlc4
himself, il was necessary for him 10 see Presl-
dent Kruger so as 10 arrange for the pay ulent
and shipment Of men who had applied 70 Us
also to secure payment for his time and eA-
penses. He also told me at that time that ne
think he sailed from New-Ycrk on December
G. 1899. English steamer, for south
Africa
NV understanding with Mr.. Davis was TO see
that 7 and all the men who went 10 Soutn AFRICA
were to be well paid. and that We were 10 nave
shares set aside for in the Kimberley Gld-
rnond fields as we'll as receiving other con9eh-
sation and expenses, but have neN @r received
anv conversation from Mr.. Davis 7r any other
person for nv services and expenses I'D Conte'-
tiou with this matter. which were conSIdeE4oi7'
Mr. Davis having kept none of the promises I4e
made 10 me Nj. Davis expected 10 receive a
large sum OF money from President Kruger IoF
our services in the BOer cause / have 'rltJen
him more than twenty letters since December =.
1Sqa when last saw him in Washington ana
since his return 70 this country, but have not
seen him nor heard from him IN any way -ln'--