St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-03-13

OU JAM v tuS 'u'l uSpSSu 'N'NN
take up arms, come over, Desiege
the capital, force the president to
resign, and that republic, free to
all, alien, Boer and British, would
be proclaimed. We heard that
scores of men were waiting in depu-
tation on the president.
Suddenly, after the simmerings OF
Sunday, and like thunder bolt,
came all this news. arouslng every
one and putting the whole town in
ferment. Many tried to 60 away,
trains were crowded and packed and
thousands had TO 60 without seats.
On Tuesday came the word that
johannesburg had all the public
streets barricaded; 20OO citizens en-
rolled as a mounted city guard;
100000 subscribed tor food and
provision fund; nursesenrolled; Wig
lance committees appointed; offices
turned into sleeping rooms, and peo-
pie crowding in from all the mines
for protection in the town. The
telegraph and public Offices were
guarded jealousy night and day, all
the batteries had stopped, thousands
and thousands of natives turned
adrift, stores closed, etc., etc.
On New Years day patrols were
put in our streets, and various
houses set apart for women and
children in case OF sudden invasion.
Every man capable and willing to
bear arms had rife handed to him
by the field coruet for home protec
ton, and all through the day troops
Of burghers were seen galloping
through the town in different direc-
tons and scouts were on every hand.
Tuesday night friend came to us
from johannesburg, giving fright
fnl story of the confusion and excite
ment of people on the train and
wonderful story of the marvellous
preparations made in johannesburg.
If the thing had been planned for
twenty years it could not have been
more thoroughly organized. There
are rumors of natives, thousands of
hungry men, who may threaten the
town; rumors that if the presi-
ident does not concede all that
the Johannesburghers ask of
him, that his residence and the mag
ni6cent pile of public buildings will
be surrounded and he will be made
to resign.
We have a set of things ready in
case we have to go into laager, and
| have laid in stores for a month or
more-candles, hour, canned meats,
rice, etc. If we go into laager, they
hope to give US half an hour to get
ready, but it is very unlikely that we
shall leave the house, as we are or
quiet street, so far from the presi
dents that we apprehend no danger
Some of our best friends, of course
are on the side of the Beers, and
early every morning | 60 down tC
get the latest news from the fielC
cornet. Not being British, | car
hear both sides without getting hot
and see right on both sides. Ipity
the poor, old badgered, blind presi
dent from the bottom of my heart
aud it Cecil Rhodes has planned al
this siege and bloodshed, and loss o
money and property, broken VI
stores and mines and families an(
homes to work his own schemes,
he is the "God on the Car" Amin!
to be the modern Napoleon, then
despise him for his cruel aims ant
schemes. Radical changes, even rev
olutions, are needed here, but oh, lie
them be bloodless ones!
At first | had a mental struggl
as to whether I ought to go ava,
for the sake of the children, but o.
Monday night there was a block
and it was six hours before the Ma
tai train started. Then there was
terrible accident near Charlestowr
twenty or thirty killed and fifty III
jured, so now am quite content t
stay here, and the thought of tn
train makes me shudder.
Today there are varied reports
In any case, there has been bi
fight near Krugersdorp, and the an
} bulance wagons have gone out t
bring the wounded to our hospita
Jan. 4.-Things are alittle changed
although there is a more pensiv
expectant attitude, as the high con
missioner, Sir Hurcules Robinson
has come, and tomorrow he and II
president expect to get matters Sc
tied. DR.. Jameson is in Jail, and Il
| FIVE or six hundred prisoners are q