The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-22
johannesburg IL Only Forty Miles
Away, and Women and Children
Are Leaving Pretoria.
MAHoN's RIDE TO MAFEKING
DETAILS OF THE sUCCOR OF COL.
BADEN-POwELL's GARRISON.
Plan Prepared by Gen. Hunter and
Well Executed by His Colonel
Havoc Among Correspondents.

LONDON. May %. BIS a. m.-British
horsemen, according to a dispatch from
Lourenzo Marques, are now close to the
vaal river, within forty miles of johann
nesburg. The migration from Pretoria has
begun. Women and children are being sent
in trains to Machadadorep, on the way to
Lydenburg. Trains are arriving at Louren-
20 Marques filled with passengers, among
whom are many Germans, who are bound
for Europe.
Some details of Colonel Mahon's Mafe-
king relief expedition are now coming
through from wayside points. 1t was one
long rush to Mafeking. c. E. Hands, the
Daily Mail correspondent mentioned in
Lord Roberts's dispatch to the War Of
flee as dangerously wounded in the fight
in the bush May 13, sent his last message
from vryburg. May 9, by runner to Kim
berley May q. He says: 1.-THE flying
mounted columns secretly and swiftly
organized by General Hunter start
ed from Barkly and arrived here
tonight covering 40 miles in five days.
1t Is a grand force of mounted men, I'm
perial Light Horse from Ladysmith the
Kimberley mounted corps, with royal
horse artillery and pompons and a selected
body of infantry from the Fusilier Brigade.
A special equipment of light spring
| mule transport completes this splendid
force. The force so equipped was enabled
to move with such rapidity. that, although
| this is difficult country, requiring vigilant
scouting. the Beers were surprised. The
column moved parallel with the enemy's
positions on the vaal, at Roordam and
Fourteen Streams, actually getting behind
| them without firing a shot. So close were
we Sunday and Monday that General
Hunters balloon was visible and his bonn
| bardment heard. The route taken was be-
tween the Wall and the Hart rivers, then
along the right bank of the Dry Hart to a
point abreast of Taungs, and thence to
Pudimoe. Roedeport and vryburg."
COL. MAHON'S MARCH.
correspondent with General Hunter
telegraphs as follows from Fourteen
| Streams: "Col. Mahon's relieving column
left Barkly West under secret orders May
and reached vryburg May H. The Beers
| marched on the right flank of the Brit
| ish and a strange race followed, Mahon
| pressing toward Mafeking with the utmost
condition, and the Beers hurrying parallel
| in an effort to pass him and to throw
! themselves across his path. The Beers
succeeded. Mahon then turned west during
the night. The Beers followed, overlook
and attacked him in the bush, but were
| beaten off,
Then as Lord Roberts wired. Colonel
Mahon and Colonel Plumer united forces
| May Is. and Mafeking was relieved three
| days later, under conditions not yet known
| here.
correspondent of the Daily Express
says: General Hunter devised and guided
| the relief which was daringly executed by
| Colonel Mahon."
| The last message from Colonel Mahon's
column before the relief was called at
Majanamabili, May H. 1t says: The
| column left Vryburg yesterday, did nine
| teen miles and outspanned at o'clock in
| the morning. No fires were allowed We
/ started at dawn to-day and trekked here.
Colonel Baden-Powells hardest blow to
| the besegers was the capture of Command
] ant Sarel Eloff, President Kruger's grand
! son, and his men. 1t IS thus described in a
| dispatch from Mafeking. May H. via Ootsi,
May IA .Eloff to-day fell into one of the
| various traps that have been left open for
| months. At a. m. the enemy, who had
| been strengthened during the last few days.
/ tented an attack on the eastern side of the
! town, while large force, which during
| the night had crept along the river,
1 guided by native rebels who had chosen
the craftiest detours. managed to enter
| the Baralong location. This they burned
| and the huts of the natives were blazing
| fiercely for a distance of nearly a mile
| Then finding that they were unopposed.
| the Beers yelled come out, you skulkers.
To-day we take Mafeking' Suddenly a
Boer cried Run, here are the Rooineks. -
| Nearly all fed
| THE BOERS TRAPPED.
| Captain Marsh opened fire from the fort
| on each side, cutting off and repulsing the
main body Of the Dutch, but driving the
| vanguard of about $50 into the native loca-
| ton which had been burned. The enemy
broke into two parties. one being penned in
| the stone cattle krall and the other
hemmed in a hollow behind a kopje inside
the outer defenses. They had no water
| and but little food.
Meanwhile strong party. estimated at
| 5OO ran around the native location and
| reached the camp close to the railway.
/ There they surprised and, after sharp
/ fighting captured Lieutenant Colonel Hore,
Captain Singleton and Veterinary Surgeon
| Dunlopsmith. who. for a time. was penned
/ with forty Beers in the offices of the Brit
| ish South African protectorate.
This position was covered by our forts.
The Beers were called on to surrender,
but they refused and the fighting was re-
| sumed for some hours. The Beers lost
| heavily. Finally two parties of the enemy
! surrendered, one party escaping. The cas-
| ualties are not yet fully known. The Beers
| lost about 150, but our casualties were
| under twenty. Angus Hamilton, corre-
| spondent of the London Times. is miss
| ing"
| Lady Sarah Wilson, in a dispatch from
| Mafeking dated l., gives the following de-
cription of the final days Of the siege: "As
| we near the end of the SIEGE conditions
| in this little town perhaps becoming
more cheerful. The rainy season is appar-
| emily over. The weather is splendid and
| consequently the fever epidemic is dimin-
/ ishing. Rations are still small, but it's
| wonderful how little one needs for exist
| ence and the new food. Drawn. from horse
| and OK hides, Is a great success. This food
| and porridge. the inventor of which has
received f5 bonus from the government.
| is the equivalent of six weeks additional
| provisions. The natives prefer 1t 10 any
other. so that the siege has taught them a
/ new food"
ROBERTS DELAYED.
The railway head is expected to be at
Kroonstad to-day (Tuesday). The conges-
| ton of traffic at Smaldeel delays Lord Rob-
erts's advance. but his cavalry continue
active through a wide radius east and
southeast of Kroonstad-
The infantry advance steadily. General
| Folville and General Rumble shift their
| headquarters each second day. The Beers
| are retreating northward from Harrismith
49, T.