The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-19
BOERS' LAAGERS SHELLED
They Abandon the Siege and the Brit
ish Enter Mafeking.
PRESIDENT STEYN GOES TO PRETORIA
He is Now in Close Conference With the Trans
vaal Government Butler Wires the
War Office That He Has Ac-
cupied Newcastle.

IuP'ou NCWIdou0'
London, May 1S.-(9:16 p. III. -
Mafeking has been relieved.
The dispatch of the Associated
Press announcing the relief of Mafe-
king was posted outside the Mansion
House and the news rapidly spread.
"A large crowd collected and at this
hour all the streets in the neighbor-
hood are already resounding with
cheers.
The War Office at o'clock had
announced that no news had been re-
ceivcd, but at $50 the Lord Mayor,
Mr.. A. j. Newton, in his official
robes of office. announced the joyful
news to the crowd outside. The Lord
Mayor was accompanied by the Lady
Mayoress to the front of the Man
sion House, where an immense por-
trait of Colonel Baden-Powell was
displayed, bearing the inscription:
.Mafeking Relieved"
While the attendants were waving
Union Jacks the Lord Mayor briefly
addressed the assemblaoc. saying:
Il wish your cheers could reach
Mafeking.''
Here the speech was interrupted
by redoubled cheering and the sing
ing of Rule Britannia. after which
the Lord Mayor remarled:
I'VE never doubted what the end
would be or that British pluck and
courage would conquer at last
The Lord Mayor then led the
crowd in cinoipU s'(,o1 Save tho
Queen" and 'Soldiers of the Queen"
and with renewed cheering and the
waving of flags by the assembled
multitude. and the singing of For
He's Jolly Good Fellow the Mayor
and his party retired.
Masses of people outside the Man
sion House soon grew to such dimen-
sions that the police were compelled
to divert all traffic, omnibuses, etc,
through the side streets.
The cheering is now incessant.
The news was also announced in
special newspaper editions and the
tickers in all of the resorts.
In the West End leading thorough
fares were eventually impeded by Il
constant stream of the populace
cheering themselves hoarse and sing
diers of the Queen
The enthusiasm as this dispatch is
sent already promises to outrival
even the scenes which followed the
relief of Ladysmith.
The dispatch of the Associated
Press containing the news of the re-
lief of the long besieged place was
sent to the houses of Parliament,
IL, f.I Il 1.,n1 Of
citement in the press gallery and
lobhics and soon began to be circu-
lated among the members of the
House of Commons.
a Lorenzo Marques correspondent
telegraphing yesterday says:
New peace proposals will probably
be put forward by the Boer Govern
ment. The recent reverses are caus-
ing despondency. There was Il pro-
longed meeting of the Transvaal ex-
ecutives at Pretoria Thursday, and
the destruction of the mines was
again considered 1t is understood
that the government does not intend
to destroy the mines.
According to other advces from the
same point. President Kruger and
the other high officials purpose leav-
ing almost lUllneuldteIA IOl~ LNUen-
burg.
The British prisoners will be con
veyed there and the foreign consuls
at Pretoria are leaving for Lyden-
burg.
In kroonstad it is said that Pres
ident Kruger will surrender when
Lord Roberts crosses the Transvaal
frontier.
Lord Roberts is accumulating inn
mems quantities of supplies: and the
preparations for another movement
are well advanced. There are $4,000
Beers at Rhenoster Spruit Recon
noitering parties are sighted daily by |
the British patrols.
Comnandant Mel. with the Jo-
hannesburg "Zarps" is actively com
Wandering fifteen miles northwest |
of Kroonstad All exemptions have |
been cancelled. The civil administra-
tion is reduced to the lowest limits.
The Beers have dynamited Laing's |
Mex tunnel and the railway is com
pletelM wrecked. The work Of repairs
will odcupy many weeks. The Beers |
now hold the best positions for de- !
Tending themselves.
PRETORIA GETS THE NEWS. |
Pretoria. May 1s-It was off |
cially announced today that when the |
laagers and forts around Mafeking
had been severely bombarded the