The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-23
The GELDERLAND DELAYED IN AR
RIVING AT MARSEILLES
A DAMPER ON THE ENTHUSIASM
Ofthe Boer Delegates and the French
Populace Assembled to Welcome
Hfm-The Cruiser Expected to Ar
rive In the Harbor Last Night-De-
Iayed by Slight Damage to Machin-
ery-Absurd Rumors as to the Cause
ofthe Non-Arrfval-Reception Pre-
paration.

Marseilles, November PA blunder
in the calculations of the time the
Gelderland would require between
Port Said and Marseilles resulted in
the fizzling out today of the intended
demonstration in honor Of President
Kruger and imperiled the success of
the. reception to morrow. The French
reception committee did not take into
account the gale that is sweeping the
Mediterranean and the low speed of the
Gelderland, but allowed all their ar
rangements to stand.
The Gelderland signaled Cape Cepot,
off Toulon, at o'clock p. M, and con-
tinued her voyage to this port She
reported that she was delayed by a
slight accident to her machinery. The
Gelderland cannot arrive here before
iightfall and the former president of
the Transvaal will not land until to-
morrow.
The BOer delegates, victims of the
organizing committee, awaited eXpec-
family at their hotel from early morn
ing until the afternoon the arrival of
the cruiser. For several hours the car
riage Intended for Mr.. Kruger remain
ed at the entrance of the hotel, the
horses, which were decorated with
roSetteS of Boer cOlOrS, paving the
ground impatiently until the equfpage
was dismissed. Various delegations
and societies that had assembled at the
landing stage remained through heavy
showers until they realized in the nom
signaling of the Gelderland, that their
presence was futile. Then they dis
banded. Early in the day DR.. Leyds
and MeSSrs. Fisher and Vessels and
| the other Boer delegates boarded the
! launch of the captain of the port with
the purpose of meeting and boarding
| the Gelderland outside the harbOr.
| The sea proved too rough, however, to
permit of their carrying .out their in
| tention, and they were obliged to re-
| turn.
The scene at the dock was very pie
turesque. Every place of vantage was
I occupied by sight-SeerS The landing
| stage was gaily decorated with the
| Transvaal and Free State Colors, the
| French tri-color and shields bearing
the blue cross of the arms Of Marseilles.
| red carpet covered the ground, form
ing bright splash of color at the
| quayside. Decorations elsewhere in the
city were practically non-eXistent, only
a few flags being visible along the
route which Mr.. Kruger will traverse
in going from the quay to the hotel.
| Senator Paulita, the president and
| other members of the Paris and Mar
| seilles reception committees, assembled
| at the landing stage during the fore
| noon and behind them, drawn up in a
long line were delegations of various
patriotic societies with embroidered
| silk standards
| The French and the Boer delegates
were all intensely disappointed, espe-
| cially as up to late hour no news had
been received of the Gelderlands entry
into the harbOr, although it is fully
| expected that she will anchor there
before day break tomorrow. No i'm
portance is attached to the report OF
an injury to her machinery, the the
ory being that she is merely going
slowly in consequence of the heavy sea
| which is chiefly responsible for the de-
ly.
An amusing statement appeared in
a local paper this afternoon in which
an alleged rumor was published to the
effect that the delay was due to the
capture of the Gelderland on the high
seas by British squadron or to de.
Iiberate damage to her machinery by g
mercenary. Naturally these statements
only provoked laughter of those who
| read them.
The Boer committee has issued ar
| announcement that the programme in
tended for today will be CARED out to.
| morrow.
The attitude of today's concourse
| while unanimously favorable to Mr.
| Kruger and the Beers, was, neverthe
less, quite free from anything often
sive to the British, which tended tt
| enhance the absurdity of a noisy prom
enade along the principal boulevard:
this evening by a score Of anti-Englist
youths, whose efforts led to no disor
der whatever.