The Penn's Grove record., 1900-03-16
BLOBMFONTEIN TAKEN.
Free State Officials Hand the City
Keys 10 General Roberts.
TROOPS GIVEN WARM WELCOME

General Robert Refers to Steyn as the
"Late P~resident"-The Orange Free
State Government Has Ceased to Exist
Tho Boer Army Hal Withdrawn to
the North-The Surrender of the City.
LONDON (By Cable).-1eneral Roberts en-
tered Bloemfontein on Tuesday, and the
British flag was run up over the Presidency
If the Orange Free State. He announced
that the Orange Free State Government has
ceased to exist. Tie Mayor and other OFF,
,iais met General Roberts outside the town
and presented to him the keys Of the pub
ic Offices. The inhabitants gave the Brit
.sh troops a cordial welcome.
The following is the text Of Lord Rob-
,rts's dispatch to the Wal Office announc-
ing the occupation:
"BL-oEMFoNTEIN, Orange Free Stately
the help OF God and by the bravery OF her
Majesty's soldiers the troops under my
command have taken possession OF Bloem-
~fontein. The British flag now flies over
the Presidency, evacuated last even
ing by Mr.. Steyn, late President OF the
Orange Free State. Mr.. Frazer, member
of the late Executive Government; the
Mayor. the Secretary to the late Govern
ment, the Landrost, and other officials
met me two miles from the town and pre-
sented me with the keys Of the public of
fees.
"The enemy have withdrawn from the
neighborhood, and all seems quiet. The
Inhabitants ofBloemfontein gave the troops
a cordial welcome
A dispatch to the Daily Chronicle from
Bloemfontein. dated Tuesday evening,
says:
"Bloemfontein surrendered at 10 O'Clock
to-day. It was occupied at noon. Presi-
dent Steyn, with a majority OF the fighting
burghers, has fed northward.
General French WAS within i've miles OF
the place at 5 O'Clock Monday afternoon.
He sent a summons into the town, threat
ening to lombard unless it surrendered by
4 a. M. Tuesday. A white flag was hoisted
Tuesday morning, and a deputation Of the
Town Council, with Mayor Kellner, came
ont to meet Lord Roberts at Spitz Kop, five
miles south of the town, making a formal
surrender Of the place.
"Lord Roberts made a state entry at
noon. He received a tremendous ovation.
After visiting the pnblic buildings, he went
to the official residence OF the President,
followed by d cheering crowd, who waved
the British flag and sang the British na-
tional anthem. They were In a condition
OF frenzled excitement.
Monday afternoon, previous to the
surrender. there had been a little sniping
and Smelling, but the enemy then retired.
Lord Roberts has his headquarters ut
the Presidents house, and there are many
OF the British wounded in the building.
The railwayis not injurcd.n
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Bloom
f~onteIn. dated Tuesday evening, at 7
o'clock, says
We surprised and outflanked the enemy
with irresistible force over night. General
French held the railway north ana south
of Bloemfontefn, while Lord Roberts dis
patched a prisoner on parole, threatening ,
to lombard unless the city surrendered.
The townsmen became alarmed. President
Steyn and the chief members OF the Execu-
tive Council fed and proclaimed Kroon-
stadt to be the capital.
"Steyn fled to Winburg. At the last
only 5000 lighting men remained, and In
the morning mi;ny, finding themselves so
weakened, broke their guns. Others fed.
The remnant still shelled General French
at dawn, but the opposition soon col
Eight locomotives and much rolling
stock we're captured. The Boer organiza-
ton is ~coilapsing, and the breach between
the Free Skaters and T~ransvaalers is Wild
ening.
"Major-General Prettyman has been APP
Military Governor of Bloemfon-
tein. Lord Roberts and his staff have rid |
den through the t0wn and been everywhere
The British national anthem Is
enthusiastically eung by the population, |
he shops are gladly opening, and there IL
general rejoicing"