VERY LITTLE HOPE FOR MAFEKING COL. PLUMER CHECKED. Efforts to Raise the Siege do Not Look Like Early Success—Gen. French Fighling East of Bloemfontein, The hope of early relief of Mafeking, or that Col. Baden-Powell will not be compelled to surrender before help reaches him from either the north or south, grows dimmer. Gen. Roberts’ main army continues resting at Bloem- fontein, while Gen. Methuen is skir- mishing with the Boers at Warrent 167 miles away. Methuen has not ac vanced in five days in the direction of Mafeking, although his force is appar- sntly strong enough to do pretty muc! as he likes. It is hoped that he has a pleasant surprise in store by raising the siege of Maieking with a large column of cavalry and artillery detouring t Mafeking while Commandant Snyman is drawn off to engage Col. Plumer Bur it is evident that Col. Plumer has been temporarily at least checked on his way down from the north. Gen. French's cavalry and mounted infantry, according to a rumor, are fighting somewhere east of Bloemfon- tein. This suggests Boer bad news, as Commandant Oliver's commando, with 2,000 wagons, is reported on the Basuto- land frontier, toiling northward toward Kroonstad, via Ladybrand. This enor- mous wagon train is supposed to be moving 25 miles a day. Gen. French's cavalry posts stretch from Bloemfon- tein eastward to the mountains. A dispatch from the Boer camp at Kroostad, dated Thursday, says: Af- {airs are being put in proper shape ind the Free Staters who had to leave are returning in crowds. The presi- dent’s proclamation has shown the burghers that the government is stand- ing firm. The commands are mobiliz ing in great numbers and the men are more determined than ever. President Steyn has issued a proclamation in «which he warns the burghers who lay down their arms and help the English that they are liable to the utmost pun- ishment as traitors. A letter from Mr. Poulteney, an in- terpreter in the Free State courts, has been received by his wife at Bloemfon- tein, in which he declares that Gen Joubert is commanding the combined forces at Kroonstad, where there is plenty of men, guns and food stuffs for a determined resistance. A Cape Town correspondent graphing, Tuesday, says have just arrived from Bloemfon- tein, where I learned that no further movement is probable for three weeks, as negotiations are proceeding. I fail- ed to ascertain the nature of the ne gotiations, or whether Sir Alfred Mil- ner’s departure from Cape Town is con- nected with them, but I should not be surprised if the war collapsed qui Several telegrams have passed tween President Kruger and the Bri government, in addition to the bury-Kruger correspondence, published. The a dispatch from Pretoria Monday. The contents of these communications cannot yet be obtained. tele- Salis- alr eady foreign office received o far as the milit s 1 is concerned, there is practically no change. Lord Roberts is quietly mak ing preparations for the next move. As necessary to a beginning, Gens. Gatacre and Brabant are swiftly moving from point to point in the southern districts of the Free State, dispersing or ac cepting the surrender of any remaining Boers, thus insuring the safety of Lord Roberts’ communications before start- ing toward Pretoria: “Gen, Gatacre is the country like a cyclone, with fl columns in all directions. His swift- ness and strategy have proved of ines- timable value to Lord Roberts.” sweeping through A Bold Train Robber. ‘A lone robber wearing a false face with a black mustache painted on the mask held up the southbound Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs train four miles south of H: imburg, Ia., at 1:30 o'clock Friday morning. The train was in charge of Conductor Billy McGee. Flagman Moore was first ac- costed by the robber at the rear end of the train. Using Moore as a shield the robber went through the sleeper and chair car, getting $200 in cash and a gold watch. He pulled the bell cord and when the train slowed down jump- off and escaped in the darkness. The robbery was reported to the Bur- lington general officers from Langdon, the first station south of Hamburg, Chicago Wife Beater Killed. At Chicago Bertie Finch, 15 years old, shot his father, George Finch, through the heart Tuesday night to save his mother from being cut to pieces. When taken into custody the boy wept bitterly and said he expected to be hanged at once, but that he would do | the deed again if necessary to protect his mother. Finch was a laborer, used cocaine, drank heavily and had bern fined numberless times for-beating his wife. At the supper-table he worked himself up renzy over nothing, knocked fe down and was about ~~mee—eX her throat when his son fired the contents of a shotgun chest. Yaquis Caught ina tron. Gen. Torres’ force of Mexican troops as a large body of Yaqui Indians sur- ounded a short distance north of Tor- n, and the early surrender nnihilation of the rebels ertain to take place. The Indians were neatly caught in i trap and have no means of escaping xcepting to cut their way through the anks of the government troops. This ody of Yaquis is said to number fully 00 braves. is considered CABLE FLASHES. Two fresh ses of bubonic plague | have been officially reported at Sydney, Australia. There were 4,725 deaths from bubonic | plague in the province of 3engal, In- Hy last week, and the disease is spread- | ng f: Sydney, capital of New Sc and Adelaide, capital of South tralia, have been declared infected the bubonic plague. The Argentine Sarmiento is Aus- vith ruiser Presidente ding ports o ored by the Castilians. The Duke of Orleans was by a bear during a hunt in southern | Spain, but killed the animal after re- celving a slight wonnd. | Eight ladies and gentlemen belonging | to the best Paris society were found in! an opium joint, raided by the police, in a state of intoxication. The French government fied the agreement d fication of the reciproci the United States to The French Chamber of Deputies passed the finance bill after the Right- ists had refused to vote on the ground that the government is wrong in all is policies. rati- | rati- with 1001. has ying the ty treaty March 24, Swiss watch makers are combining to protect themselves from Americar competition. Prizes are being offered to develop improvements in the Swiss watch which will tend to maintain its reputation. In the palace of justice, Paris, Bar- din, a disappointed litigant, fired three shots at the judge, whose head the bul- lets grazed. While the police were re- moving Bardin, the judge coolly told thy pet lawyer (0 continug his cas led by s into his | or complete | ith Wales, | Spain | and her officers are being signally hon- | i attacked | James Dunlap, a noted safe blower and bank robber, was captured at Chi- cago. Admiral and Mrs. Dewey were greet- ed by crowds of admirers in Macon, Ga., Friday. Thirty ied American colonists Cuba. arrived in New The United and training Naples States auxiliary cruiser ship Dixie has left Al- giers for More than 4,500 red in Cleveland in order vr of schools The S State bank of Hardy, Neb., was robbed of $6,000, the safe being blown with dynamite. ‘ee mines at Boonville, Ind., oper- n-union men, have been clos- women have regis- to vote for open TI fated 1 by fugitive, Quartermaster-General White, of Niels in, has been heard o 1 from in South / a. 2 At Scranton, ig the grand jury is investigating allegations of corruption against city officials. | | Old bonds were Wednesday present- | 1 ed to the treasury department for ex- change amounting to $18,830. Lon- Society women are going from don to Cape Town in great numbers, believing the war as good as over. A flock of sheep on W. C. Burch- field's farm, near Steubenville, O., went mad from a dog's bite and had to be shot. Paul Reno, a farmer near Detroit, was burned to death when alone in his home and murder and robbery are sus- pected, The war department has given orders to have the transport Hancock prepared for the use of the Philippine commis- sion, C “anonsburg, Pa., mechanics are talk- ing of organizing a general building trades union to enforce a demand for a nine-hour day. The charter granted the new $1306,- 000,000 Carnegie Company empowers it to do almost any kind of business in any part of the world. Leaders of the recent riots on the Isle of Martinique have been sentenced to imprisonmnt for terms varying from six to twelve months each. Mrs. Charles Smith, wife of a Chi- cago saloonkeeper, Tuesday shot and Republicans stood firmly behind Chairman C annon in his demand that the House insist upon its original provision to appropriate not only the money collected on Puerto Rican goods up to January 1, but all subsequent monies collected or are to be Plleeet: SIXTY-SECOND DA The conferees on the on Rican appropriation bill have agreed up- on a compron measure. The Sen- ate conferees receded from the Senate amendment limiting the appropriation to the revenues collected on Puerto Rican importations up to Jan, 1, 1900, and restored the clause in the House bill Anlying fo future revenues. OHIO Sx TY-THIRD. DAY. The Senate passed the conference re- port on the Puerto Rican appropriation bill, which returns to the island the $2,- 000,000 co :d on customs duties up to Jan. I, 1000, and also all future reve- nue raised in the island. The vote, 35 to 15, was on party lines, except that Mr. Stewart, Silverite, Nevada, voted with the Republican majority. ; The element in the Republican ranks in the Senate woring {ree trade with Puerto Rico decided at a conference to Obpose any action looking to an early vote and to ask for further time in case the Question should come up The lord mayor of onion wears a badge of office which contains diamonds valued at £100 000. The plum known as the * ‘Abundance’ a cross between a Japanese plum and is the American wild plum. 2 skull. and Crossbones is the some- y 1at grim emblem adopted by Captain Montmorency’s scouts in South Africa 1 se a Hoc eure and that ing tha kep ‘did ask Iplie for tion We voi ‘the the onl AO POR eC