Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-04-26
ARSENAL EXPLOSION
Ten Workmen Killed And Two
Wounded At a Pretoria
Gun Factory.
The B0ERS IN FULL RETREAT
General Rumble Is Pressing Them Hard In
the Orange Free State General French
Marches Through Dewetsdorp-
shelling the Beers.

Pretoria, April 25.-A serious explo
sion occurred at the Begbie works, uset
by the government as an arsenal, las
night. The walls of the building were
destroyed, and the structures in the
neighborhood are in flames. Ten work
men were killed and thirty-two wound.
ed, including Herr Grunberg, manager
chinery was saved. The cause of the ex.
plosion is unknown. The works en-
ployed 200 persons
SHELLING THE BOERS.
Dewetsdorp, April rs, p. m.-General
French entered this town to-day with
two cavalry brigades. He left camp at
daylight, and found the Beers holding
the hills. These were shelled and the
Beers retreated. The cavalry pushed
around the position of the Beers above
town, where they were holding General
Rumble in check. 1t is reported that
5000 Beers passed through town last
night to avoid General French's attack
on their rear. General Rumble is pursu-
A RUNNING FIGHT.
London, April 26.-All interest in the
South African war is now centered in
the running fight in progress between
the burghers retreating from the SOUTH
ern portion of the Orange Free State
and General French's horsemen and the
infantry of Gems. Pole-Carew, Cherm-
side and Rumble. The Beers clung to
their positions as long as it was safe to
do so and have now slipped off to hold
the next commanding ridge through
broken country admirably situated for
rear-guard defense. Dispatches from
Aliwal North under date of April rs say
that the Beers left Wepener so hurried
ly that many dead were left in the
trenches. Commandant Cronje is re-
ported to have been killed. According
to advices from Bloemfontein an at
tempt of the Beers at Brandfort to get
in touch with the command at Thaba
N'Chu was frustrated by a force dis
patched by General Tucker from Glen.
A BOER OUTRAGE.
London, April 26.-The war office re-
ceived the following from Lord Roberts:
"Bloemfontein, April 26.-Good news
from Baden-Powell up to April 10. Mac
laren is much better. All the wounded
are doing we'll fhe Beers captured sew
eral native women trying to escape from
Mafeking but these were turned back
after being stripped
ARTILLERY DUEL.
: Warrenton, April 26.-Colonel Paget
placed several guns on the banks of the
river under cover of darkness, and only
1000 yards from the Boer trenches
across the river. The horses and car
riages were drawn beyond range, and
at daybreak the British opened heavy
bombardment with shrapnel and lyd-
dite. The Beers, although they were
completely taken by surprise, answered
with five guns, and a heavy rifle fire
was opened at the same time. The
Beers finally evacuated their position
after heavy loss. On the British side
there were no casualties. The Boer laa-
ger was removed far to the eastward.
add senate
REOCCUPTED BOsDORF.
Pietermaritzburg,A April 26.-The Beers
have reoccupied Boshof, compelling the
British to retire.
OPERATIONS AT DEWETSDORP.
Pretoria, April 26.-Generals Cronje,
Olivier and Vessel on the goth inter-
cepted General Kelly Kenny's and Gen
erals Rundles' columns near Dewets-
burg and forced back General Kelly
Kenny's left and right. The Beers oc-
cupied grassy hill at Talyard's farm
and at Dewet, those Immediately south
west of Dewetsdorp facing the British.
Cronje delayed in occupying an impor-
tant hill. which the British took at
noon. At 9 O'clock the next morning RI
f1e fire commenced. The British had
made trenches and thrown up breast
works. Two hours afterward the Free
State cannon and Maxim guns opened
fire, and the former constantly dropped
shells into the British camp. Darkness
stopped the fighting, when the Bethle-
hem men on the extreme right heard
some British In their immediate vicini-
ty and opened fire. Their commandant
stepped out into the darkness and dis
covered a wounded man and fifteen
British, who declared they had lost
their way while searching for water. AT
daybreak thirteen more British strayed
into camp.