Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-19
LONDON GOES CRAZY
Continued from page ~

parties stopped at street corners to
take part in singing God Save the
Queen and Soldiers Of the Queen"
were good feeling and an
roar of human voices.
1t was all brought about by a 90
word telegram from Pretoria thai
had been relieved. Although
the government has not word and al
though nothing confirmatory has been
received from any African source eX-
cept Pretoria, nobody, apparently,
questions the news.
Arthur ]. Balfour, government lead
pr in the House of Commons, speaking
from the government bench, late last
evening, said: 1.-THE only news 1 have
is through the courtesy of the press
We have no information at the war Of
flee. Nor would we have it as soon as it
would arrive through other channels.
Therefore the fact that we have not
received it neither proves nor dis
proves the accuracy of the Informal
ton. / need hardly say that we all
trust and we have good reason to
think that it is probably true"
(Cheers).
George Wyndham. parliamentary
undersecretary for war. replying to
several members of the House who
had privately Intercepted him, said:
Although the government has moth
ing, l am disposed to believe the Boer
bulletin 1t may be tomorrow and per-
haps even Monday before the govern
ment would get dispatches from our
military commanders, even if the siege
was raised some days ago. as the
news would need to be conveyed over
a very long distance by messengers on
horseback. whereas the enemy would
probably be able to avail themselves
of Geographic communication"
Col. Baden-Powell's brother in Lon
don has received telegram from a
Dutch friend in Pretoria saying that
Mafeking has been relieved.
The performers in the London music
halls and theatres, last evening. had
little use for stage business or for the
lines of their pieces. The audiences
which crowded the Alhambra. the En-
pire. the Covent Garden or theatres
had no desire to attend to stage per-
formances. The first sight Of a bio
graph scene in the Transvaal at the
first glimpse Il military or naval cos
tune on the stage was sufficient to
create an uproar. A leading actor in
one of the Strand theatres said: Il
did not attempt to read my lines. last
evening. Not one OF US. The public
had no interest in me beyond the fact
that l wore a military uniform
At Her Majesty's theatre. at the
Garrick where "Seaza" is being play
ed and at the other houses where le-
Ultimate drama holds the boards the
occupants of stage. boxes and gallery
sang in chorus THE Absent minded
Beggar' and Soldiers of the Queen"
between acts in order to give vent to
their enthusiasm. although they after
wards settled down to the program
At the music halls. however. no one
pretended to have interest in any
thing not having military color The
Princess of Wales, the Duke and
Duchess of York and the Portuguese
minister, Senior Pinto de Several. oc-
cupied box at Covent Garden, where
'Lohengrin" was being presented, and
when the relief of Mafeking was an
nounced. they Joined heartily in the
applause.
The London fire insurance laws make
fire works impossible, and the city
lacked the blaze of illumination char
acteristic to other cities during similar
rejoicings. The Britisher. therefore,
relies upon lung power, and from St
PauTs cathedral to Westminster Alb
hey and through Picadlly to Hyde
Park, there was a Niagara-like roar
incessant, rising and falling hour after
hour. as the surging masses poured
oh nr'e hn I,
the professions on the eve of a Presi-
dental election in the United States.
There was lack of pyrotechnic
glare, but every cabby and every bus
man in London had Union Jack
f1uttering from his whip and the Stars
and Stripes We're by no means lacking.
Patrons of four wheelers We're not con-
tent to ride inside the vehicles and the
tops were crowded with flag waving.
cheering, sprawling enthusiasts.
At Carlton Hotel which is filled with
Americans. the bands played March
ing through Georgia. which has been
recently adapted to an English song
entitled Marching to Pretoria"
Dixie" and other American airs were
played.
Ten thousand people stood in front
of Mrs. BadenPowells house in St.
Georges place cheering and singing;
and score of cabs brought congratu-
lations. Miss Baden-Powell, the col
oners sister, said: The same tale has
been brought us many times during the
last anxious months. The war Office
has promised US the earliest informa-
ton. We only hope it is true
Later in the evening, Col. Baden
Powell's mother sent word that she had
retired and that if any kilograms came
she was not to be disturbed until morn
ing.
The boys of the Charter House
school, where Baden-Powell was edu-
Gated, were aroused from sleep by the
news and the institution quickly be-
came vertable pandemonium of
noise and enthusiasm.
As seon as information of the relief
was received. the lord mayor, Mr.. A.
J. Newton, sent the following dispatch
to Col Baden Powell: 1.-THE citizens
of London are relieved. They rejoice
in the good news received. Your gal
liant defense will long live in British
annals. Gable me what money is want
ed for the needs of the garrison and in
habitants after long privations."
In l1nreStrained jubilatiOn the prov