The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-04-14
THE Beers.
How They Came to Possess the Land
Over Which Great Britain Now
Claims Jurisdiction.
From the Cleveland Leader.l


Over Which Great Britain Now
Claims Jurisdiction.
From the Cleveland Leader
The history of the Beers is interest
ing. It tells Of triumph over obstacles
almost insurmountable, and of simple
religious faith founded on an unostenta-
hous Bible.
About 200 years ago four ships sailed
from Holland, carrying to Cape Colony,
the most southern point in Africa, on
the Mediterranean, then settled by
Dutch. certain French Huguenots, ex-
lied by the revocation of the edict of
Nantes. These vessels contained about
$50 men, women and children. Among
them were names which had figured
conspicuously in France. These people
took to the colony no ambitious designs,
and within fifty years the French Ian
guage had died away, the second and
third generations had intermarried with
the Dutch, and the all-conuuering
mother tongue had had it's triumph.
The descendants of these people became
known as Beers. The war cloud con-
stantly hung over them, and, though not
innately belligerent, yet when aroused
they fought with a determination that
hurled death and destruction into the
ranks OF the enemy.
In the years 1856 there began a
movement among the inhabitants of the
Cape Colony that has produced great re-
suits. It was the emigration of a large
number of Dutch farmers over the then
recognized boundary Of British domin-
ion into that vast tract of land spreading
north from the Orange river into regions
unexplored. With numbering wagons
they marched toward their land of
Canaan. Two years passed and found
them still moving. Hardships had
reduced the number of people and
cattle, but the attack of lions
and fierce tribes did not for a
moment waver the determination of
the emiggrants. On they moved, ever
buoyed by the hope Of reward. Finally,
from the crest of a hill, they saw
stretched out before them the beautiful
land, their agricultural goal. On the
hill top the SHOWS Of winter lay, and the
chill blast swept with fierce breath, but
below in the valley birds sang, green
leaves waved and green grass carpeted
the soil. Imagine that band of suffer-
ing people that had travelled for years
in search OF a home. See them stand
and with swelling breasts offer up silent
prayers for the bounteous kindness of
Him in whom they had never failed to
trust. But the emigrants were not to
obtain this fair land without a
desperate struggle. Their leader,
Pieter> Retief, and seventy of his
best men were treacherously slain at
the Kings Krail, in Zululand, whittier
they had gone to arrange the cession of
the country. Months of conflict fol-
lowed. Zulus swept upon the Beers,
and the Beers, in turn, went into Zulu
land. Finally the Dutch, bya mighty
effort, broke the Zulu power. Three
years passed and the republic of Natalia
was established The country, became
prosperous. The homesteads were nu-
merous. But the clouds gathered, and
the storm burst. In the year 1912 a
body of regular troops appeared at Port
Natal and took possession in the Queens
name. The Beers arose, flew to arms,
and besieged the troops. More troops
came, and the Beers, finding themselves
beaten, turned took their focks, and
set their faces toward the wilderness
again. The misery of their second ex-
odus was indescribable. But even here
they were not to be left alone. In 184S
another proclamation appeared, declar-
ing the land to be British territory.
Then the Beers became desperate. They
had fled from the old home to Natal,
and from Natal to the wilderness. In
1849 they rose in instruction. It was a
wild, hopeless attempt. And now, to-
day, these poor people are being OPP
pressed. Not satisfied with the hard
ships and privations of years and years,
the British lion still pursues, and with
his monstrous paw strikes death and
devastation.