The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-19
FIRST EBULLITION OF JOY.
Scenes when the News Of Mafeking's
Relief Was First Announced.


LONDON. May 1S.-The dispatch of the
Associated Press. announcing the relief OF
Mafeking, was posted outside the Mansion
House at $40 o'clock p. m, and the news
was rapidly spread. A large crowd col
lected and soon all the streets In the neigh
borhood were resounding with cheers. The
War Office, at o'clock, announced that no
news had been received. but at $40 the lord
mayor A. j. Newton, in his official robes
of office. announced the Joyful news to the
crowd outside. The masses Of people out
side the Mansion House soon grew to such
dimensions that the police were compelled
to divert all traffic, omnibuses, ETC.,
through the side streets. The cheering was
incessant
The lord mayor was accompanied by the
lady mayoress TO the front OF the Mansion
House, where immense portrait of Col
Baden-Powel was displayed, bearing the
inscriptions: "Mafeldng relieved" While
the attendants were waving union jacks.
the lord mayor briefly addressed the as
semblage saying: 81 wish your cheers
could reach Mafeking-"
Here the speech was interrupted by re-
doubled cheering and the singing Of Rule
marked: eve never doubted what the-end
would be or that British pluck and courage
would conquer at last"
The lord mayor then led the crowd in
singing "God Save the Queen and SOL
diers of the Queen" and with renewed
cheering and the waving of flags by the as
sembled multitude and the singing of For
He's Jolly Good Fellow" the mayor and
his party retired
Special editions of the newspapers ap-
peared and tickers announced the news in
all the public resorts. In the West End
leading thoroughfares were eventually i'm
peded by a constant stream of the popu-
lace cheering themselves hoarse and sing
ing God Save the Queen and Soldiers Of
the Queen" The enthusiasm as this dis
patch is sent Go o'cIock already promises
to ortrVaY even tife -scenp.-w -wiffc}r followed
the relief of Ladysmith.
reporter of the Associated Press in
quired at the Foreign Office and the resi-
dent clerk said nothing had yet been re-
ceived there in confirmation of the news
from Pretoria of the relief of Mafeking.
The dispatch of the Associated Press con-
tanning the news of the relief of the long
besieged place was sent to the houses Of
Parliament, where 1t created a great deal
of excitement in the press gallery and lob
bies and soon began to be circulated among
the members of the House of Commons.
Mr.. Thomas c. Hedderwick, advanced Lib
eral. member for the Wick district, amid
considerable excitement, said he under
stood that news of the relief of Mafeking
had been received. Was that so? No min
lister made any reply and the debate was
continued. But the House no longer took
any interest In it and the members went
into the Hobbies to discuss the great event
1920 d. m.-" 'Bobs' Is a man of his
word," says the man in the street, and
this sentiment is no small factor in the re-
joicings of the people. Only now 1t is pos
sible to realize the pent-up feelings of the
populace. 1t Is only one short hour since
the news was received, but the scenes in
the streets of mercantile London. usually
quite deserted at this hour. are almost in
descrtbable. Bands. banners and flags ap-
pear to have sprung suddenly from the
earth. Every other vehicle is decorated
with flags. Brass bands are parading and
leading crowds who sing songs Colored
fire Is being burned in every direction.
Along Fleet street, the Strand and Pail
Mali the public buildings are illuminated,
and the whole of the West End is alive
with enthusiasm. AT the War Office i'm
mense crowds quickly gathered for, al
though no doubt was thrown on the ac-
curacy of the news, there is the greatest
anxiety felt to get official confirmation
from Lord Roberts.
The Associated Press dispatch announc-
fx,or he - A.
Queen at Windsor Castle, where Lord
Salisbury was dining with her Majesty
and also to the Prince of Wales at Marl-
borough House.
BY 1880 p m the news had spread to all
the suburbs of London, where similar
scenes of rejoicing occurred.