Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-09
CRoNJE FiERcEFiGHTER.
BOER LEADER WHO COMMANDED
IN MODDER RIVER BATTLE.

General p. a. CronJe, the Boer COM
mander in the battle of NIoddcr river,
is the ranking officer of all the Beers
except Joubert himself.
Joubert has been directing the burgh-
ers' operations in the east and Cronje
In the west, along the frontiers of the
IranSVaal and the Orange Free State.
Cronje has the reputation of being n
hater OF the English, and this has made
him popular with that element of the
Boers which has believed for years that
it has been Englands purpose to seize
their country. Before the present war
he was best known TO fame as the COM
mnnder OF the Beers in the fight at
KruGcrSdorp. which resulted in the de-
feat OF DIR. Jameson's English raidng
party from Bcchuanaland. This party
1T VIII be remembered, planned to ride
from Mafeking to Johannesburg, where
the English Outlanders were to rise in
revolt and upset the Pretoria govern
ment.
The following description OF the sur
render OF Jamesons surviving raiders
was written by an acquaintance of
Cronjc recently:
The smoke still hung about In n mist
from the recent engagement, and the
burning sun poured down on the small
farmhouse, with the white flag OF sur
render flying from the roof. The low
1Apiic ndiIl lilClOSIHS lle SaTuti1 Dcnlnu
shone white, while all around lay browd
groups Of the men who had done their
best to get through to Johannesburg
and failed
con the slopes above hundreds of
Irregular horsemen, rough and un-
kcmpt, with SLOUGH hats, came circling
round and winding TO the little farm
house on which the small white flag
fluttered in the breeze. Grouped in
front of the building was knot Of
officers. the leaders of the expedition
with surrender writ large on every
face.
AT the head of the advancing horde
rode a burly figure in Il dirty SLOUGH
hat, STOPPING in his saddle, unkcmpt,
everything about him betokening neg
lcct; the wretched looking ungroomcd
horse. the antiquated saddlery, the
rusty stcel--cverything. Yet one could
see that his was the master mind di-
recting the hordes which were gradu-
ally envcloping the unfortunate body
of men lying at their mercy. 1t was
Commandant Cronje.
In arrogant tones he dictated the
terms of surrender. They were at his
mercy. but he dared not SO as far as
he desired.
THE men before him were the ac-
cursed English. whom he hated and
whose portion was to be shot down
like dogs. With keen eye he watch
ed the process OF disarmament, and
there was glut of satisfaction, almost
amounting to n snile--if such n thing
We're possible with HMM the abject
humiliation Of his hatred enemies, as
they fed before him, prisoners of war,
on their way to Pretoria. there to re-
ceive their Judgment"
Cronje's reputation, acquired in the
early days when the Beers trekked
north, lighting their way through
swarms of hostile savages, stu cings
to him. Traditions of his powess and
skill in those bygonc times are to this
day related to the Boer young folk by
their parents as they sit over the even
ing meal; how he withstood the saw
age rush on the laagered wagons at
dayhrealS and brought them safely
through.
Before the present war began Cronjc
was superintendent general OF native
affaifs" under the 'Fransvanl Govern
ment. Ills age is usually given as co
years.