Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-02
PEACE DECLARED.
Continued from page -

however. is quite unlikely.
The news which Great Britain was 50
anXiousiy awaiting came on Il peaceful
and uninteresting Sunday afternoon.
when London presents 4 particularly
dead and deserted appearances. Very
late Saturday night. dispatch was re
ceived from Lord Kitchener, in which
ne said the Boer delegates We're COM
ing to Pretoria. that they had accepted
Great Biitain's terms and that they
We're prepared to sign terms of sur
render.
Mr.. Erodrick. the war secretary per
Sonally communicated this message to
King Edward. who was at Buckingham
palace. Hut the government declined
to take any chances, and nothing con-
corning the receipt Of this message was
allowed to leak out.
At about | o'clock Sunday afternoon,
the war office received the following
dispatch from Lord Kitchener, dated
Pretoria. Saturday May 81, lis p. M:
"A document concerning terms Of
surrender was signed here, this
evening at half past 10 o'clock, by
al the Boer representatives. as well
10 ny l4OIu MIl1ltI anu iiySti.
The clerk on duty ut the war office
transmitted this message to Buciling-
nam place, where King Edward was
lunching. At about o'clock, word was
received permitting the publication of
this message. and the small notice
which was stuck W outside the war
office consisted of a copy of Lord
kitchener's "ablegialn. A similar no
tice was put up outside Of the colonial
Office.
Beyond these TIVE skinny bits of pa
per, London knew nothing of the great
event. In the clubs. the hotels and the
newspaper offices he momentous news
licked out on The tape. Then like wild
fire, at about O'Clock ana without any
visible means for the transmission of
the news, London awakened to the fact
that the South African war was over
srne inhabitants Of the East End
hockcd to the Mansion House, that
Mecca of the boi&ter0usly patriotic, just
in time to see the lord mayor of Lon
don, Sir Joseph &. Dims lale, come TO
4 balcony of the front Of the municipal
headquarters. ana announce that terms
Of surrender had been signed in South
Africa.
Amid many cheers the lord mayor
made a speech in which he expressed
the hope that London would show its
Appreciation of the good news by be-
having itself in an orderly manner.
Let us, said the lord mayor in con-
clusion, now pray for a Ions and hap
by peace"
At this statement the crowd. which
"a, r.,
Justify and ut the instance of the lord
mayor gave hearty cheers for King
Edward followed by others for the men
who had died in South Africa since the
war commenced.
By o'clock last night. the news hal
become generally known. A few belat-
cd editions Of newspa pers were peddled
about the streets, but before their APP
pearance the enterpriSing hawkers who
for long time past had kept Union
Jacks, feathers and horns stored up in
anticipation of the present event. We're
much in evidence. with the result that
until long after midnight the national
flags We're waved Unfortunately by
roysterers. There was
scarcely an omnibus or cab which was
not adorned with the national emblem
Improvised professions marched IN
and down the Strand and Picadily.
Sporadic cheering and much horn blow
ing atoned for the slimness of the
crowds which, had their volume been
greater, would doubtless have rivalled
Mafeking night
As it was, the demonstrations of the
night resulted in genial and harmless
sort of iubilatiOn which continued long
after midnight
While the general public celebrated
the news of peace in the streets, So
ciety was equally joyous. although not
quite quite SO demonstrativ Many
references were made to the coinci-