The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-09
FROM JOHANNESBURG
q. WillOughby Writes a Letter to
Joseph Laird.
ABOUT THE LATE UPRISING
Cause OF the Trouble-An Account
of Hot ConfIlot-A Water Fam
ine-Death From Dysentery-
Government of the Country.

The story Of the Jameson raid into
the Transvaal country is told in an
interesting letter received by Joseph
Laird from III. Willoughby, formerly of
Butte, who took part in the fruitless
revolt. The letter is dated at Johan-
nesburg, South Africa, Jan. 4.
"Since receiving your letter things
here have undergone a big change"
writes Mr. Willoughby. You have Of
| course read of the uprising in the
Transvaal and DIR. Jamesons esca-
| pade. 1t was a daring undertaking
and would have succeeded had 1t not
been for some traitor who posted the
| government on the scheme. Whistler
Jameson's action was justifiable re-
| mains to be proved by future develop
| ments. At any rate the people here
were determined that something should
| be done In some way or other to have
their wrongs redressed.
THE peoples grievances are taxation
without representation. A manifesto
was issued by the reform committee
and presented to the government for
consideration and was rejected. The
plans of the people were well laid
Arms and ammunition were smuggled
into the country in great quantities
and in every conceivable way. Finally
the people took up arms and marched
to town in a wink. The place was
turned into a military garrison. There
are four large squares in the town,
where the markets are held, all towns
here being laid out on the Oriental
plan, so these squares answered the
purpose beautifully for drilling and
maneuvering the men. Upon the ar
rival of the armed people the police
and government officers left their posts
and cleared.
II never saw better order exercised in
any country; in fact, there is a fine
class of emigrants here. There were
companies organized representing Afri-
ca, England, Scotland, Ireland, THE
United States and Australia, each with
their badges on the left arm. Then
there were the body guards and ambu-
lance companies. / was a member of
the body guard and we numbered 6OO
The guns with which we were armed
were OF the most modern construction.
Jameson and his company did ter
rible execution. The Dutch were all
night burying their dead, but they try
to conceal the fact The British loss
was % killed and from 35 to 40 wound
ed, but the armistice stopped our game
We had to recognize it. / am afraid
the trouble is not over yet and by the
time you get this there may have been
another tragedy, of a fierce and bloody
nature, on the Transvaal, unless the
government accedes to the demands of
the people.
There are about 80 of the most
prominent citizens and mining men of
this place in prison on the charge of
conspiracy and sedition, and until they
are released things will be very fiat in
deed here. / hear that several of the
largest mines will close down by the
end of this month, but one can hardly
believe anything ne hears now, reports
are so conflicting. There has been a.
terrible break in the stock market and
great many people have been ruined
"A great many are dying of typhoid
fever and dysentery. One of the chief
causes, / think, is bad water In fact
there Is a water famine, the result of
corrupt legislation and concessions
granted to monopolies. This is one of
the curses of the government The
people favor a republic but the exist
ing republic is a farce.
IAN amusing incident occurred here |
during the revolt. The National union |
people, known as the reform party, |
hoisted the government flag over their |
quarters, and President Kruger said:
This is a funny people. They raise |
my flag and sing Rule Britannia"
Mr.. Willoughby is conducting a |
boarding and lodging house in johann |
nesburg and he writes that he Is doing |
well and riding on the top wave. IT |
got married just in time to get in out |
of the RAIN" he says.