The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-05-23
GOES WILD WITH JOY.
-ondon in a Frenzy Of Excitement
Over the Reported Relief
of Mafeking.

frenzy of excitement and jubila ton over
the reported relief of Mafeking. Mr..
Balfour, the government leader in the
House of Commons, and Secretary
Wyndham of the war Office had no news
beyond which had been furnished by the
press, yet the report is everywhere ac-
cepted as correct.
The news was first published at the
Mansion house, where the lord mayor
made a speech TO the wildly-enthusiastio
multitude. Great crowds gathered -.
the war office clamoring for conhrma-
ton from British sources, but they were
disappointed. Several official dispatches
were received but none contained any
reference to Mafeking
Mad ReveIry in London Streets.
By midnight the thoroughfares of the
metropolis were overrun with jostling,
bowling crowds, and drum and fife corps
paraded the streets, followed by vast,
struggling professions of men, women
and children, madly waving flags and
yelling without intermission. The remind
ars of more conservative persons that the
report might possibly be untrustworthy
had no effect ON the celebraters, who
noisily rejoined: 'Bobs said he'd relieve
Mafeking today, and he's done it, And
SO the outpouring of popular ecstasy con-
tlnued and grew in volume until all Lon
don was little else than maelstrom Of
unreasOnlng reveierS.
All England Joins in Demonstration.
Provincial England also received the
reports as true and plunged into a tn
multuous demonstration. Bells We're
rung and whistles blown and bonfres
built all over the island, and at | o'clock
tho m tho
still Ill full swing.
Under Siege Seven Months.
Mafeking has been in State of siege
since October 8. Col. Baden Powell had
under his command about 800 irregulars
At the first intimation that there might
be war the colonel began preparing for
an attack on Mafeking by the Beers He
constructed a thorough system of in
trenchments and shelter trenches and
completely surrounded the town with u
strong Wire petting.
Immediately upon the declaration of
war Gen. CrOnje. with 1000 Beers. ap-
peared in the vicinity of Mafeking and
began to throw up earthworks around
the city. On October IA the first battle
took place. An armored train was sent
out of Mafeking for the purpose of re-
pairing the railroad which had been torn
up by the Beers. The burghers attacked
the train, and Col. Baden-Powell imme-
diately sent Teinforcements. The Beers
were prevented from capturing the train,
but the British were driven back into
Matching. Z
Paden-Powe11 Uses Dynamite.
The following day Col Baden Powell
loaded up two railway trucks with dyna-
mite and had it pulled out Of the town
with locomotive. He was afraid that
when tho ROprS Oot tbo;r 1arUa or,1nS in
position they might explode the. stuff if
it was kept in Mafeking. He also hoped
that the Beers would make Il close at
tack on the train and during it explode
the dynamite The attack was made,
and the British claimed that the Beers
suffered casualties to the number of 800.
No such reports have ever been made by
the Beers.
Col. Plumer's Efforts at Relief.
On October 20 Col. Plumer made a de-
termined attempt to relieve Mafeking
The Beers drove him back. He contin-
ued these attempts until late III Deem
Der. when he returned to Fort Tuli
On October "A the Beers seized the wa
terworks after sharp fight with the
British, who had made a sortie. The
next day the Beers tried to follow up
their advantage, but were again repulsed.
Garrison Put on Short Rations.
With the defeat Of Gen. Methuen, Col
Baden-Powell gave up hope of being re-
lieved for many months. The soldiers
and the residents were placed on short
rations. On November % the British
made another sortie and there was sharp
fighting. but the Beers drove them back
into the town. After that the fighting
around Mafeklng became routine. The
Beers had about 1000 men stationed
there Each day Mafeking was bonn
barded and almost every day the men TN
der Col Baden-powell made q diversion
in the hope of catching the Beers nap
ping.
Sickness and Death in the Garrison.
March 8 news reached the outside
world TO the effect that fever was riffs
left Mafeking February 10. The sick
ness was caused by the absence of vege-
table food The women as well as tho
men were stricken, and in addition there
were many deaths among the children.
The hospitals We're crowded to overflow
ing. The natives were in the worst
plight, hunger and want being plainly
discernible in their gaunt faces. At this
time there had been 292 deaths from
Poer bullets or disease. The garrison
was still determined to resist the siege
until relief came.
After receiving reinforccments from
Rhodesia Col. Plumer resumed his
march, but definite advices as to his
progress have been very meager. He
was within days march Of the town
for a long time, but the Beers prevented
his further advance by concentrating
forces beyond the line of siege There
has been recently almost daily Smelling
of the town, and the imprisoned people
have been reduced to horse sausage and
food UpnaroIlv HacIrpG nv 10lica To
palates. With hope almost abandoned
of Col. Plumer reaching Mafeking from
the north, Gen. Hunter was sent from
Kimberley. and while one part of his
army hurried toward the besiegcd town
another diverted the attention of the
Beers by crossing into the Transvaal
1t was this force that raised the British
flag at Christiana
A Valuable Gas Strike.