The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-24
THERE WAS JOY AT MAFEKING.
Details Come at Last From the Re-
Iieved Garrison.

Iieved Garrison.
Mafeking, May 1S--Ihe whole town Is
animated with keen sense of exultation
over yesterdays victory. which was COM
plete decisive and far-reaching. The mil
itary position, shortly after sunrise, was
extraordinary. All the outlying works of
the town were intact; the British had lost
hardly any men, and yet three bodies of
federals, right inside the British lines had
been surrounded cut off and given
an opportunity to surrender, which they
had declined.
Commandant Sarel Eloff did not realize
that his supports had been driven back
and he informed a messenger that the
town was at his mercy. Toward noon
there was a lull in the fighting. Every
body at headquarters went to breakfast
and the commissariat requisitioned for
horse sausage, bread and water for the
men on the lighting line. There was no
thought of half rations. Every one got
all he could eat.
The British in moving from rock to
rock gradually drew in their circle around
the federals, whom they coralled like cat
tie in a compound. Shortly after 4:30
o'clock a white flag was hoisted by the
enemy and then, amid ringing cheers, the
first batch of Beers Has, sdlsarmed and
| sent to the town. f51esfl.A -
The erstwhie besiegers furnished an
| inspiring spectacle to the townsfolk,
themselves so long cooped up. AS the
| hungry, dirty, battestained Beers march
| ed between the cleaning bayonets of the
| British, the British population received
them respectfully. but the Kafflrs gave
full rein to their enthusiasm in boots,
! yells and similar expressions of delight.
ba nrie oil he fnht ac
| over.
| AS the afternoon advanced the crackle
| of musketry began again. continuing unIil
nearly O'clock, when Capt Singleton
| shouted:
Cease fret
A message had come from headquarters
10 the effect that Eloff his officers, and
his men had surrendered and laid down
| their arms Internationally 10 C5l. IIore,
| who, with a handful of men, had been a
prisoner of Elof's during most Of the day
Fired on Deserters.
Shortly before this a fusilade was heard
It Was Eloff and the men who stood by him
firing on their own deserters, eighty Of
! whom fed.
AS the news spread by telephone to the
garrisons of the various forts, cheer upon
cheer resounded. In the town some one
started God Save the Queen" and the
strains of the national anthem mingled Tor
| a few minutes with the hoarse shouting
of the natives.
| Soon Capt. Singleton and Col. Hore ap-
preached, accompanied by Commandant
Eloff and his officers. The meeting be-
| tween Col. Baden-Powell and the Boer
commander was dramatic.
This is Conmandant Eloff, sir,' said
Capt. Singleton.
Good evening, Commandant" said Col.
| Baden-Poweli, welcome, and have some
| dinner"
AS the British had already captured 40
| prisoners, about all they could handle,
| Col. Baden-Powell sent word to Lord
Charles Benteneck to open the way and to
allow the scattered remnants of the fed
erals to be driven from the staat. 4 In half
an hour everything was over. and In the
mess room at headquarters, the three
| Boer officers were dining.
| Nearly every mess in town raked from
| somewhere a hidden store of liquor, a
battle of champagne in one place, a flask
| of whisky In another. The whole town
| Joined in the jubilation, singing God
| Save the Queen" and other patriotic
songs all night long.
The rank and file of the Boer prisoners
were lodged at Masonic Hall. Most of
them are Johannesburgers They seemed
| in excellent spirits, scrambled for the
| blankets issued. wrote letters TO their
| friends and grumbled at Gen. snyman.