ar o- — a oe om Bellefonte, Pa., Feb. 23, 1900. P. GRAY MEEK, - - . Ebprror. Terms of Susscrrprion.—Until further notice this paper will be furnished to subscribers at the following rates : Paid strictly in advance.................... $1.00 Paid before expiration of year 1.50 Paid after expiration of year........... 2.00 som ELECTIONS RETURNS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY. Continued from Page 1. Howard Boro.—Judge of election, John A. Thoempson; inspectors, H. 8S. Pletcher, John H. Deihl; school director, J. L. DeHass; overseer poor, W. F. Hall; auditor, R. Bower Holter; bur, gess, John J. Loder; town council, Fred Schenck, A. Weber; tax collector, J. L. Holter. Milesburg Boro.—Judge of election, A. G. Rager, inspectors, Grant Dyke, George Noll ; school di- rectors, P. H. Haupt, A. S. Smith ; overseers poor, John Confer; tax collector, W. R. Campbell; auditor, James Gregg ; burgess, Ed. Baird ; town council, James McCullough, A. 8S. Smith. Millheim Boro—Judge of election, A. P. Maize; inspectors, Geo. W. Cummings, R. E. Harter; school directors, E. H. Auman, E. B. MacMullen; overseer poor, W. S. Maize; tax-collector; W. E. Keen; auditor, F. O. Hosterman; burgess, Sam- uel Weiser; town council, J. C. Smith, J. W. Stover; high constable, E. J. Musser. Philipsburg Boro.—School directors, C. T. Frye- berger, John Gowland Dr. Henderson; overseers poor, David Coplin ; tax collector,J. W.Schoonover; auditor, George Herman; burgess, Jesse Luk- ens ; church trustees, Mrs. S. W. Holt, Mrs. J. G. Platt, Mrs. G. S. Lingle. Philipsburg 1st W.—Judge of election, Charles Hudson ; inspectors, Archie Lichtenthaler, R. E. Munson ; town council, Henry Southard, John Hirst. Philipsbibrg 2nd W.—Judge of election, Thomas Deakon ; inspectors, W. M. Russ, H. M. Paul; town council, J. H. Eskridge. Philipsburg, 3rd W.—Judge of election, Benjam- in Crain ; inspectors, Harry Ayres, Blake Keyler; town council, George H. Richards. South Philipsburg Boro—Judge of election, Frank Stover; inspectors, Wm. Guisewhite, Chas. Wilcox; school directors, Thomas Byron: over- seer poor, David Dutcher; tax-collector, Michael Stover; auditor, Thomas Radcliff; burgess, Henry Wilcox; town council, David Moore, Ira Stover- Joe Gates; high constable, Charles Vieard. Unionville Boro.—Judge of election, A. T. Row- an ; inspectors, H, I. Steere, J. F. Hazell; school directors, H. E. Holtzworth, 3 yrs. ; Elwood Fish- er, 2 yrs. ; Daniel Buck, 3 yrs. ; tax r Harris Calhoun ; auditor, Eugene Hall ; burgess, John P. Brugger ; town council, D. Buck, Wm. B. Sensor, L. B. Bathurst ; high constable, Wm. Keatley. ’ Benner—School directors, P. B. Hartman, J. L. Marshall; justice of the peace, George Markle ; overseers poor, John Herman ; tax- collector, H. E. Zimmerman; supervisors, J. P. Seibert, Samuel Waite; auditor, John Ishler, 3yr., A. C. Kelley, 1yr.; clerk, H. E. Huey. Benner S. P.—Judge of election, Andrew Kuhn; inspectors, John F. Sheffler, Henry Noll; Reg. assessor, John Kuhn and Samuel Markle, a tie. Benner N. P.—Judge ot election, G. G. Hastings; inspectors, William Lutz, G. Gray Hastings; Reg. assessor, H. Woomer. Boggs Twp—School directors, D. P. Wensel, Alfred Johnstonbaugh; overseer poor, John Longwell; tax-collector, J. M. Lucas; supervisors, Constance Barger, Thomas Watson; auditor, David Baldridge; clerk, J. E. Rickard. Boggs N. P.—Judge of election, James Coakley; inspectors, William Yarnell, W. A. Confer; Reg. assessor, Orvis Fetzer. Boggs W. P.—Judge of election, Samuel Camp- hell; inspectors, Harry Austin, Ed. Johnson; Reg. assessor, A. C. Iddings. Boggs E P.—Judge of election, Austin Curtin; inspectors, L. G. Bathurst, I. M. Harvey; Reg. assessor, D. E. Shultz. Burnside Twp.—Judge of election, Arthur Gra- ham; inspectors, Bert Beightol, Ed. Craft; school directors, Roland Barger, H. H. Fye; justice of the peace, William Watson; overseer poor, D. G. Stewart, Nicholas Valimont; tax collector, Wm. Zimmerman ; supervisors, John Fye, Benner Walker; auditor, A. V. Daugherty. College Twp..—Judge of election, Ed. Sellers; inspectors, Ed. Armstrong, G. W. Roan; school directors, Joseph Edminston, Jacob Herman; overseers poor, Peter Shultz, JWm. Keller; tax collector; Andrew Lytle; supervisors, Samuel Ralston, Jacob Klinger; auditor, Elmer Ross; clerk, Wm. Thompson ; treasurer, Cornelius Dale, Curtin Twp.—Judge of election, J. R. Brickley: inspectors, Charles C. Daley, J. W. Mann; school directors, Wm. C. Miller, J. W. Fye; justice of the peace, J. R. Brickley; overseer poor, J. D. Brickley; supervisors, Jas. R. Fye, George Weaver; auditor, W. I. Quay; clerk, Wm. Robb. Ferguson—School directors, John T. Me- Cormick, J. B. Pifer; overseers poor, Thomas D. Gray, D. Johnson; tax-collector, D. C. Krebs; supervisors, N. E. Hess, Luther Sunday; auditor, G. W. Homan; clerk, A. J. Tate. Ferguson W. P.—Judge of election, William Van Tries; inspectors, R. G. Goheen, J. D. Near- hood; Reg. assessor, Harry McCracken. Ferguson E. P.—Judge of eleciion, J. R. Smith; inspectors, M. E. Heberling, J. W. Fry; Reg. assessor, J. W. Miller. Gregg Twp—School directors, J. P. Heckman, George Rishel; justice of the peace, M. B. Her- ring; overseer poor, C. J. Finkle; tax-collector, H. D. Rossman; supervisors, J. F. Breon, James Foust; auditor, Wm. Goodhart; clerk, H. M. Smith. Gregg W. P.—Judge of election, D. H. Ruhl; inspectors, W. H. Smith, James M. Leitzel; Reg. assessor, C. C. Bartges. Gregg N. P.—Judge of election, George E. Wise; inspectors, Geo. W. Long, C. A. Weaver; Reg. assessor, George F. Waugh. Gregg E. P.—Judge of election, J. C. Condo; in- spectors, A. W. Neese, Wm. Madara; Reg. Asses- sor, Adam Ertle. Haines Twp—School directors, Jacob H. Wyle, I. M. Orndorf; overseers poor, Emanuel Crone- miller; tax-collector, 8. H. Winklebeck; super- visors, Thomas E. Smith, Allen M. Bower; audi- tor, James H. Winklebeck; clerk, George M. Homan. Haines E. P.—Judge of election, E. M. Boone; inspectors, Samuel Kreamer, John Haines; Reg. assessor, Harris Stover. Haines W, P.—Judge of election, Warren Bower; inspectors, C. E. Musser, L.. P. Bower; Reg. assessor, C. H. Stover. Halfmoon.—Judge of election, C. M. Hunter; in- spectors, John L. Burkett, C. A. Gross; school directors, J. C, Stevens, John Thompson; over- seers poor, Robert Way; tax collector, W. T. Wrye; supervisors, Samuel Ellenberger, J. D. Eves; auditor, George Ebbs; clerk, Gray Halack- er. Harris Twp.-Judge of election,Adam Hosterman; inspectors, Adam Zeigler, Frank McFarlane; school directors, J. M. Wieland, D. Thomas; overseer poor, Cyrus Durst; tax collector, Jacob ‘Weber; supervisors, Wm. Brooks, Jos, Hettinger; auditor, A. B. Harrison; clerk, Charles, Corl. Howard Twp.—Judge of election, A.A.Aikey;in- spectors T.B.Sanders, Lloyd Haines;school direct- ors John PF. Leathers, {Harvey Miller; overseer poor, Samuel Bower; supervisors, D. B. Schenck, W. J. Butler; auditor, John Glenn; Glenn; clerk, C. S. Beaty. am a Huston Twp—Judge of election, W. S. Williams; inspectors, Robert Robinson, John Murphy; school directors, Daniel Yathers, W. U., Irvin; justice of the peace, E. R Williams; overseers poor, Charles Wilson; tax-collector, F. B. Way; supervisors, R. D. Ardrey, Philip Straw; auditor, J. R. Williams, clerk, E. H. Williams. Liberty Twp—Judge of election, Albert Kunes; inspectors, Cyrus Bowman, Jerome Confer; school directors, A. C. Bowes, J. A. Quigley; justice of the peace, 8. H. Glossner; overseer poor, J. B. Shaw; tax-collector, T. S. Lingle; supervisors, David Robb, Nathan James; auditor, Albert Shenck; clerk, W. R. Potter. Marion Twp.—Judge of election, Calvin Harter; inspectors, Ira Aley, Daniel Delaney; school di- rectors, S. H. Bennison, Henry Whiteleather; overseers poor, W. H. Johnstonbaugh, G. W. Harter; tax collector, S. W. Butler: supervisors, Wm. Bridge, B. F. Vonada; auditor, W. W. Orn- dorf; clerk, J. S. Condo. Miles.—School director, U. S. Shaffer, 2 yrs.; Cor. Stover and N. O. Weber, a tie, 3 yrs.; justice of the peace, Henry Meyer; overseer of poor, Andrew Guiser; tax collector, C. H. Smull: super- visors, Adam Wolfe, James Miller; auditor, T. A. Auman, J. B. Hazel, 1 yr.: clerk, W. W. Heck- man. Miles, M. P.—Judge of election, James P. Frank ; inspectors, Luther A. Miller, W. M. Bier- ly ; Reg. assessor, Luther B. Frank. Miles, E. P.—Judgelof election Ira Brumgard, inspectors, J. Y. Stover, C. C. Auman; Reg. asses- sor Wm. Sigler. Miles, W. P.—Judge of election, C. H. Crebo; inspectors, W. E. Yearick, G. R. Miller; Reg. assessor, Charles Grimes. Patton Twp.—Judge of election, R. E. Crone- miller ; inspectors, W. E. Hartsock, W. J. Sowers; school directors, Reuben Crust, J. G. Carson; justice of the peace, J. G. Mattern; overseers poor, B. F. Blair, G. F. Stevenson ; tax collector, W. G. Furst ; supervisors, J. W. Hartsock, Wil- liam Glenn; auditor, J. W. Baisor, clerk, J. W. Blair. Penn Twp—Judge of election, T. F. Meyer; in- spectors, T. B. Motz, W. C. Krader; school direc- tors, Henry Snavely, Alf. Krea mer; overseer poor, Daniel Braucht; tax-collector, A. L. Auman; supervisors, John Martin, W. H. Grove; auditor, E. E. Smith; clerk, Daniel Auman. Potter Twp.—School directors, B. B. Jordan, Charles Slack ; justice ofthe peace, W. M. Grove; overseer poor, D. L. Bartges; tax collector, Alfred Hosterman; supervisors John C. Kuhn, Adam Krumrine ; auditor, H. F. Musser; clerk, J. A. Heckman. Potter, S. P.—Judge of election, C. W. Swartz inspectors, J. D. Decker, D. G. Fortney; Reg. assessor, W. W. Royer. Potter, N. P.—JTudge of election, Daniel Keller: inspectors, C. G. Spicher, George W. Condo ; Reg. assessor, Victor A. Auman. Rush Twp.—School directors, James Garland, John Kennedy ; justice of the peace, George Houck ; overseers poor, Robert Lewis; tax col- lector, John Barker ; supervisors, Wm. E. Frank, P. R. German ;auditor, Elmer Laird ; clerk, Frank Irwin. Rush N. P.—Judge of election, John Todd Jr.,; inspectors, E. P. Seigfried, T. R. Dubbs; Reg. assessor, David James. Rush S. P.—Judge of election, John L. Spittler; inspectors, George Phontz, J. W. Heath; Reg. assessor, R. C. Duncan. Spring Twp.—School directors, Reuben Kaup, Wm. Grenoble : overseer poor, Snyder Tate; tax collector, Henry Kline ; supervisors, Albert Smeltzer, Samuel McMurtrie; auditor, Frank Hunter. Spring N. P.—Judge of election, John Tate; in- spectors, Chas. Miller, Austin Bartley; Reg. as- sessor, E. G. Osmer. Spring W. P.—Judge of election, Wm. Ginte r;in spectors, Sam’l Gordon Clayton Rote; Reg. asses- sor, Edgar McMurtrie. Spring S. P.—Judge of election, W. A. Hoover ; inspectors, H. P. Hartsock, Th omas Noll; Reg" assessor, Jeremiah W. Gill. Snow Shoe Twp—Schoo! directors, Elmer Shau- grar, H, P. Kelley; overseers poor, George Fra- vell; tax-collector, E. A. Humpton; supervisors, D. R, Thomas, George Quick: auditor, Thomas Kelley. Snow Shoe E. P.—Judge of election, R. C. Gillt- land; inspectors, Andrew Chambers, Martin Mec- Laughlin; Reg. assessor, John Ertle, Snow Shoe 'W. P.—Judge of election, John Gunsallus; inspectors, Charles Fleming, Daniel Flanagan; Reg. assessor, Simeon Hazard. Taylor Twp.—Judge of election, A. R. Price; inspectors, C. M. Sharer, W. F. Fink ; school di- rectors, Sanford White, John Henderson ; John Nearhoff, John Shively; justice of the peace, John T. Fowler ; overseers poor, P. 8. Richards, supervisors, Sanford White, B. V. Fink ; auditor, J. T. Fowler ; clerk, C. M. Sharer. Union Twp.—Judge of election, J. H. Stover; inspectors, Charles Eckenroth, A. B. Hall ; school directors, J. G. Ingram, Howard}Scholl ; justice of the peace, J. G. Kunes; overseers poor, E. M. Lucas; tax collector, E. E. Erhart, supervisors, Warren Launsberry, J. B. Alexander; auditor, Joseph Davidson ; clerk, 8. Lundy Lucas. Walker Twp.—School directors, J. Dunkle, L. H. Shaffer; justice of the peace I.M.Gerbrick; overseer poor, David Harshberger; tax collector, Lyman Emerick; supervisors, W. M. Miller, A. L. Shaffer; auditor Ed. Peck; elerk, C. S. Hoy. * Walker W. P.—Judge of election, H. A. Brun- gard; inspectors, J. C. Showers, George Hoy, Reg. assessor, Wm. A. Royer. Walker E. P.—Judge of election, M. L. Beck; inspectors, L. E. Rodgers, I. H. Winkleman; Reg. assessor, A. B. Beck. Walker M. P.—Judge of election, William Ful- ton; inspectors, Chas. McClain, Edwin Evers; Reg. assessor, Harry Stover. Worth Twp.—Judge of election, P. B. Spotts; inspectors, G. R." Price, Wm. Young; school di- rectors, H. C. Woodring, G. G. Ammerman, H. H. Osman; justice of the peace, A. S. Williams ; over- seers poor, facob Woodring ; tax collector, S. U. Harshberger; supervisors, Henry Benette, C. Reese ; auditor, A. B. Williams. . Republicans Getting Nervous. Quer Fate of the Porto Ricar Tariff Bill—Philip- pine Discussion in Senate. WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.—Again to-day there were but three speeches in the House upon the Porto Rican tariff bill. Five hours were consumed in their delivery. Mr. Hopkins, of Illinois, spoke in support of the bill and Mr. Newlands, of Nevada, and Mr. Swanson, of Virginia, in opposi- tion to it. The speakers devoted them- selves almost exclusively to the constitu- tional question involved and were listened to with attention. The Republican lead- ers are becoming nervous over the fate of the bill. They have only a majority of fourteen over the opposition, which is solidly opposed to the measure. Eight votes from the Republicdn side would, therefore, defeat it and there are from twelve to fifteen Republican votes in doubt. A movement for a Republican caucus is being agitated and, although no call had been issued up to the time of adjournment to-night, the general understanding was that one would be held to-morrow night. The Republicans reported to be opposed to the bill are Messrs. McCall, of Massachu- setts ; Littlefield, of Maine ; Powers, of Vermont ; Thompkins, of New York; Bromwell, of Ohio; Lorimer, of Illinois ; Heatwole, of Minnesota ; Tongue, of Ore- gon ; Loud, of California ; Jones and Cush- man, of Washington, and Krumpacker, of Indiana. M. J. Henderson ; tax collector, P. S. Richards; | — A Fund to Reimburse a Faihfl Comnty Oficial A CALL TO THE PEOPLE OF CENTRE COUNTY. Let us All be Sharers im the Burden that Has been Placed Upon a Former Sher- iff for Having Done What Sober Men Believe to Have Been His Duty. Unless We Come to His Ald Fermer Sheriff John P. CondejWill Have to Pay $1,400 for Endeavoring to Apprehend an Out Law. The decision which Judge Beeber, of the Superior court of Pennsylvania, has just handed down in the case of H. M. Goodman, Adm’r of etc., of Emma C. Goodman, Dec’d., vs John P. Condo, H. H. Montgomery, William Garis, John L. Dunlap, James Cornelly and Joseph Rightnour, confirms she decree of the common pleas court of Cen- tre county and fastens upon our former sheriff a burden that he has no reasonable cause to bear. It is the sequel of the great Ettlinger tragedy that occurred at Wocdward on March 6th, 1896. The frightful occurrences of that day and the one preceding it are still vivid in the minds of those who were in the usually peaceful little village of Woodward. William R. Ettlinger, either because of imaginary persecutions or petty differences with his neighbors had made himself so obnoxious as to come under the mandates of the law. On the 5th of March a bench warrant was issued for him and while attempting to arrest him he shot constable John Barner, then ripped his throat from ear to ear. This mur- der was committed in the house occupied by Ettlinger, which was the property of Em- ma C. Goodman's estate. The people of that vicinity were horror stricken when they learned of the crime from the constable’s assistant, who fled from the house when his chief fell dead. Many of them ran to the scene with the intention of rescuing the fallen officer, but they were mes by a shower of bullets from Ettlinger, who had barricaded his house and defied arrest. The sheriff of the county was called upon and with a posse of men from this place lett for Woodward on a special train provided by the county commissioners. They ar- rived at the scene that night a$ 9 o'clock and were on dusy all night to keep the mur- derer from escaping. When morning dawned the sheriff, with a party of deputies, ad- vanced toward the house $0 make the arrest, bus they had no sooner gotten within range than a load of buok-shot was sent into them; one of the missiles having passed through the hat of one of the officers. Every subsequent attempt to approach she place was met by the same shower leaden notices to keep off. How many lives might have been sacrificed no one can tell. Finally, when all their ingenuity had failed to accomplish its purpose it was de- cided $0 burn him ous. The building was fired and shortly afterwards Ettlinger’s little children were cass from is. Then his shackled wife escaped, but he remained; firing into the officers until he realized that he must either die like a rat in a trap or give himself up %o the law. Just what his purpose really was no one will ever know, for with the flames eating their way closer and closer to him he jumped from his cellar way, immediately the sheriff and a few others rushed toward him, but before they reached his side he threw his left hand to his head and sent a pistol ball crashing into his brain. It was such an intensely dramatic scene that all stood appalled for a moment, then there was a rush to rescue the dead body of constable Barner from the burning building. And scarcely had the last of those who entered stepped from the door when a terrific explosion sent the whole end of the structure, wrecked in thousands of fire- brands. It was the result of another of Estlinger’s hellish designs. He had mined his house with dynamite so blow up any party that might have forced its way in, This is a brief story of the tragedy. The entire county felt relieved and there was universal approval of sheriff Condo’s course in' having accomplished what he did with- out the loss of a life. No one, for a moment thought that he would have to pay for the building destroyed. He fired it upon the advice of hundreds of sober men, after mature deliberation and when no other plan seemed possible. No one supposed that the Goodman heirs would be compelled to suffer the loss, either, but it was generally believed that the county would pay it without question. And this was the evident intention of the commissioners, but when the Goodmans pre- sented their bill the value of the house was so over-estimated that the commissioners de- clined to settle on such a basis. This resulted in three suits being instituted. One, against John P. Condo and his deputies; the others, against Condo and his bondsmen and the county. They were entered for the August term, 1897, and reached trial at the November sessions, 1898. At that time the case against Condo and his deputies was taken up first and went to the jury; the court-having first propounded four questions for it toanswer. The members of the jury were under: the impression that they were merely fixing the value of the building and returned with a verdict of $865.00. That they had no idea that sheriff Condo was to be made pay it was clearly demonstrated by several of the jurors who called at this office to protest against the assertions ma de in an editorial published in the WATCHMAN of Deg. 16th, 1898, under the caption *‘Mulot- ing a Sheriff for Doing His Duty.” Probably not one of the twelve men who passed upon it at that time thought that the sheriff ought to pay it. In fact, those who spoke to us declared, emphatically, that such would be an injustice. The court had reserved points of law, however, upon which it decreed that sheriff Condo and his deputies were responsible. This decree was handed down on August 28th, 1899, and a new trial refused. Im- mediately Messrs John G. Johnson, J. C. Meyer aud Jno. M. Dale, attorneys for the sheriff, carried an appeal to the Superior court, with the result that judge Beeber has just handed down. It is not with any intention of questioning the equity of the case or reflecting upon, the courts that have passed upon it that this fund has been started. It is common sense, however, that will point out to most men that a great injustice is being done an official who was in faithful pursuit of his duty. Centre county never knew a better sheriff than was John P. Condo. He left Bellefonte in January, 1897, with the contidence and es- cem of all who had business or social relations with him. On Saturday, Jan. 2nd, ’97 former judge Furst arose, voluntarily, in she court room and spoke such words of praise as are seldom heard of any man. His honor, judge Love, followed judge Furst with ecomiums of equal warmth and sheriff Condo retired from official life. It is such a man who musi{now pay the $865.00 for the Goodman house, in addition to the costs that run the bill up to nearly $1,400.00, And is is for this man thas the WATCHMAN calls upon the public for re-imbursement. He makes no appeal, but Cen- tre county cannot afford to have a faithful officer thus mulcted. He saved the lives of many—in all probability —and now muss pay dearly for it. He restored order and quiet to a terror stricken community and muss suffer the consequences of a law defying des- perado’s murderous act for doing it, unless we rally to share the burden. Confident shat the people of Centre county will not be willing to permit such an outrage we make this call upon your generosity. Subscribe whatever you feel you are able to give towards the fund, which is to be known as the People of Centre County’s Re-imbursement so a Faithful Sheriff. Money or subscriptions can be forwarded to this office or to he Jackson, Hastings & Co. bank, which will be make the depository of all funds and she list of contributors will be pub- lished from week to week. : The work has started off enthusiastically already and we call upon every person in Centre county to take it up for the honor of the county. Any sum will be acceptable, because it will record the substantial sympathy of the donor. Don’t stand back is this laudable work. Those who had witness fees or other costs that have not been drawn, who care to contribute all or a pars of them to the fund can 2 so. It will be the same as a cash contribution. Send along a relinquishmens of the claim. The mere announcement of the WATCHMAN’S intention to start such a fund was enough to bring forth the following generous offers : THE FUND IS GROWING. a The Condo Re-imbursement fund is growing nicely but we are waiting to hear from hundreds of people yet. Consider it, thorughly and contribute what you can. A Friend - - - - - $50.00 Another Friend, - - - - - 50.00 The Democratic Watchman - - - 25.00 M. Fauble & Son - - - - - 10.00 Montgomery & Co. - - - - - 10.00 Dr. 8S. C. Musser, Aaronsburg, - - -- 10.00 Geo. H, Smull, - - - - - 5.00 James Schofield, - - -— - - 5.00 W. C. Lingle, Patton, - - - - 5.00 Thos. Harter - - - - - - 5.00 $175.00 Cronje Retreats ! No Truth In the Rumor That He Was Captured. Lord Roberts Moves Fast. His Subordinates Car- ry Out Plans With Great Rapidity. Burghers Were Surprised. LoNDON, February 19.—4.50 P. M. It is now fully confirmed thats General Cronje escaped. Every detail received however, proves how admirably Lord Ropert’s plan were conceived and were succeeding. But for the unexpected delay at Lekiel’s Drift, which was almost impassable for wagons, the whole Boer force would have been sur- rounded. The delay of one day there gave them their chance for a hasty retreat. All the other movements of Lord Rob- erts were executed exaotly to time. Ap- parently General Cronje is retreating with the main army, and even if he escapes al- together he will probably lose all his bag- gage. : There is still sométhing doubtful about the capture of the British convoy. Accord- ing toa Daily Mail correspondent with the convoy—which consisted of 200 wagons each loaded with six thousand pounds of rations and of forage and drawn by sixteen oxen—it was quite unexpectedly attacked by a commando supposed to come from Colesberg, The escort, consisting of eighty of the Gordon Highlanders, forty men of the army service corps and a few of Kitch- ener’s horse maintained a defence until the arrival of reinforcements, sustaining insig- nificant casualties. The Standard’s correspondent at Jacohs- dal, telegraphing Thursday, February 15, says : ‘*An attack was made yesterday upon the rear guard of our main body by a force of 1,400 Boers, who were up from Colesburg. They succeeded in capturing some of our wagons, bus Lord Roberts did not delay his march to retake shese. There were few casualties on our side. Specials from Ladysmish report an ap- parent movement on the pars of the Boers toward the Free State, presumably with the object of assisting General Cronje. The Daily News publishes the follow- ing dispatch, dated Sunday morning, Feb- ruary 18, from Modder River. ‘Our sudden appearance seems $0 have astounded the enemy and thrown them in- to a panic. All their positions were hur- riedly evacuated, and she big guns at Ma- geersfonsein and Kimberley were left be- hind. ‘General Cronje moved his transport, consisting of many hundred wagons, along a bank of kopjes north of she Modder, to- ward Koffyfontein. It got past our mounted infantry but owing to weariness had to stop. Thereupon our artillery opened upon it. The main body of the Boer foree kept up a ruuning fight the whole day, vainly trying to escape. ‘‘Each time their advance guards sought to move off our mounted infantry gallop- ed round and checked them. We never attempted to stop their main movement, contenting ourselves with trying to check them. ‘‘Their position at Koflyfontein is said to be very strong. They entertain a wholesome dread of 10,000 cavalry mov- ingmore quickly than they do themselves. We hope to be in Bloemfontein shortly.” Boer Line of Fortresses Broken. CHIEVLY, Monday a. m., Feb. 19.— The Boers’ line of fortresses is broken. The British have achieved a decided success in capturing the enemy’s position on Monte Christo. The Boers, however, effectively executed a retreat, removing their guns and convoy wagons. The British had com- paratively few casualties. Er ———— General Cronje is Surrounded. The Boers Are Now Trekking Eastward Towards Bloemfontein. With Slow Mouing Baggage Trains. Buller Gets a Success. In Capturing the Range of Hills South of the Tugela—it Makes Feasible An- ' other Attempt to Relieve Ladysmith. The Queen Has Sent a Direct Message to Lord: Roberts, Con- gratvlating Him and His Troops. LoNDON, Feb. 20—3:45 a. m.—A mem- ber of the cabinet told H. W. Lucy tonight that the war office had received a telegram announcing that General Cronje was hope- lessly surrounded. Mr. Wyndham was beset by anxious members of the house, but would only reply that the government’s news was ex- tremely satisfactory. The sole explanation of the government withholding good news is that confirmation and more details are awaited. The situation as disclosed by correspond- ents over the Free State border is tantaliz- ing to the public expectation. The ele- mentary facts are that the Boers are trek- king eastward toward Bloemfontein, with slow moving baggage trains, and that they are pursued by Lord Kitchener: with Gen- eral Kelly-Kenny’s division. General Mac Donald; with the Highlanders, made a forced marched to Koodoos Rand ford, and on Sunday pushed twenty miles eastward. General French left Kimberley Saturday, going east along the Modder river. - Lord Kitohper is trying to out march and out- flank the Boers, thus checking their retreat if possible, and driving $hem back into the hands of MacDonald and French. The war message communicated to Mr. Lucy seems to indicate that Lord Kitchener has either got ahead of the Boers or is about to realize his plan and that the war office awaits to announce a decisive result. "Meanwhile Commandant Delaney, with the Boers from Colesberg, is hanging on to the right flank of the British pursuing col- umns, seeking to delay their’ movement and so to assist the Boer wagon train: $0 es- cape. ; Eiudents of topography think the Boers will hardly risk a fight until they ges into the rough country north of Bloemfontein. A Daily Mail correspondent, who was with the British convoy attacked by the Boers at Ries river ford, wired : ‘Immediately the British abandoned the convoy in order not to check the ad- vance. Thus 200 wagons and 600 tons of stores fell into the hands of the Boers, though it is doubtful if they will be able to carry them away.’’ General Buller has achieved a real suc- cess, seemingly, in capturing the range of hills south of the Tugela. It makes more feasible another attempt to relieve Lady- smith. The Queen has sent a direct message to Lord Roberts, congratulating him and his troops. General French and Colonel Keke- wich have been acquainted with their pro- motions. Dr. Leyds, at Brussels, says the Free State troops that were besieging Lady- smith have withdrawn in order to defend their homes. In this way he accounts for General Buller’s success against the weak- ened forces. He will forego his projected trip to Rome, he says, because of ‘‘decisive events now taking place in the theatre of war.”’ Lord Roberts’ generalship was conduot- ed with such secrecy, says a telegram from Modder river, that even the senior officers, who took the Sixth division through the preliminaries of the operation, did not know what they would finally have to do. Where is Gen. Cremje t English War Office is Not @iving Any Fresh News. The Boer Commander a Puzzle. London Hopes He Is In Tight Place, but ls Not Sure of 1t—Burghers Are Getting Out of British Territory. LoNDON, Feb. 21—4:15 a. m.— The Boers are leaving all she positions held by them on British territory and are concen- trating for the defense of their own. Sir Redvers Buller thinks they are about to raise the seige of Ladysmith, and this is the large news of the day. General Clements reports that she force confronting him has been greatly diminisi- ed. Ten thousand men are estimated to have gone from the Colosberg district alose. The Boers are also retracing their steps from Zululand. Thus they are relaxing their hold on all sides in order to assemble toop- pose Lord Roberts. He is pressing on steadily toward Bloemfontein. This is shown by his inconsequential telegram from Paardeberg, fifty or sixty miles sway. Doubtless he is miles behind the ecdumn that is pursuing the Boers, and the next important news may be the occupasion of Bloemfontein. 7 Nothing has been heard from the chase of Cronje for two days. Although the last words of the war office tonight were that there was no news for publication, there is a strong disposition to believe that favor- able information has been received, but is being withheld until the operations culmi- nate in something more conclusire. There is also an equally strong disposition to think thas General Cronje has got away. Owing to the lack of sransport, the Brit- ish are not likely to invade Boer territory except where Lord Roberts is operating. General Buller will have $o stop at the Drakensberg mountains. Prebably a part of his 40,000 men will ultimately join the legions of Lord Roberts. If, as General Buller avers, the Boers are retreating from him, then the news on every side is favor- able to the British. Nevertheless troops continue to go up. The war office thinks that the call to veterans to rejoin the colors together with the bounty, will bring 45,000 men to the home defense. The urgency with which the home defense is pressed ex- cites some wonder. The casualties among General Buller’s forces in the fighting at Hussar hill, Monte Christo hill and other places, from Feb. 15th to Feb. 18th, were : Killed, Captain T. H. Burney, and thirteen men, wounded six officers and 154 men. With the casual- ties just reported, the British losses in kill- 1) Joined and captured now aggregate ,102. A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Mafe- king, dated Friday, Feb. 9th, says: ‘‘All business here is being conducted under ground. The resident commissioner has sumptuous apartments in a subterranean bomb proof.” The Cape police have a large, hall with a piano. The Mafeking hotel dining room seats forty. All these have been dug out and are impervious toshells.’. A despatch to the Standard from Modder river dated Monday, Feb. 19th, and describ- ing the relief of Kimberley, says that the maker of the gun christened ‘Long Cecil”’ at the De Beers workshop was an American named George Labram. He was afterward killed by a Boer shell, which fell in his room at the Grand hotel. The correspondent confirms the report that the escort with the British convoy at the Riet river was re-inforced and made an unsuccessful attempt to attack the Boers in the rear. He says that Lord Roberts then ordered the wagons to be abandoned. Buruwayo, Monday, Feb. 12.—Colonel Plumer sent Major Bird, with 200 colonials, to attempt the capture of the Boer 12- pounder on a kopje near Crocodile Pools. Major Bird met with such a terrific rifle and shell fire that he considered the posi- tion too strong and ordered a retirement. Colonel Hon. H. F. White was slightly wounded. Major Straker was severely wounded, nineteen privates were wounded and Captain Sansom French and nine men are missing. : Ladysmith and Cronje. The City and the General Form Topics for Specula- tion. CAPE TowN, Feb. 21.—A special cor- respondent of the Cape Argus, says : General Cronje is surrounded at Paar- deberg Drift, but is offering a stubborn resistance. The British are shelling the Boers vigorously and expect to capture the whole force. RELIEF OF LADYSMITH. LONDON, Feb. 21.—At a meeting to-day of the Windsor town council it was an- nounced that Queen Victoria had received news of the relief of Ladysmith. The announcement is probably prema- ture as the town councillors are scarcely in the royal confidence. At 3 o’clock the war office officials said there had been no furth- er news from General Buller. Judges in the London courts interrupted proceedings and read the Windsor report. The jurors, lawyers, witnesses and spectators joined in the cheering that followed. BULLER DOES NOT CONFIRM IT. LoNDON, Feb. 21.—Gen. Buller tele- graphed the war office this afternoon re- garding his operations as the Tugela. He reports progress, but makes no mention of having as yet relieved Ladysmith, though the prospects appear bright. The dispatch is dated Chieveley, Feb. 21st, 4:27 p. m., and reads as follows : ; ‘“The Fifth division orossed the Tugela to-day by pontoon bridge and drove back the enemy’s rear guard, she naval 12-pound- ers silencing all his guns.” BOERS EVACUATING NATAL. _ BERLIN, Feb. 21.—The Tageblatt pub- lishes special dispatches from Brussels which says the Transvaal legation there announces that all the Boers are evacuating Natal, their positions in that colony being no longer tenable. General Joubert, it is added, has ordered the concentration of all the available forces to oppose Lord Roberts. The seige of Ladysmith, it is further an- nounced, will be raised, and it is expected General Buller will enter the town at the end of the week. : Saved By Amn Advertisement it Was Evidence That Acquitted Defendant of Dog Stealing. Henry Stipp, of Scranton, saved himself from jail recently for dog stealing by the use of a newspaper advertisement. He was arraigned in Court for the crime and the evidence presented strongly connected him with the missing dog. He was called in his own behalf and his testimony was simply the reading a local paper of an advertisement he had inserted when he found the dog describing the animal and where it could be had. Judge Edwards directed a verdict of not guilty. A few moments previous he sentenced a man to three months in jail for stealing a dog, ———Subsecribe for the WATCHMAN.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers