The times., 1899-11-19
A PRISONER WITH THE BoERs.
How 81 Correspondent Was Captured
and How He Was Treated

We got through safely as far as Glands
laagte but at this point the signal was
dead against us and the driver pulled up.
The signal had been cleverly manipulated
by a party Of Beers numbering about fifty
who had been lying in wait for us. The mo-
ment we slowed down the driver was cover
ed by their rifles and we were called upon to
alight, The passenger train, we learned
afterward, had managed to rush" the
station. The Beers had fired upon it. but
the plucky engine driver put on full steam
and went safely ahead, though he was com
PEELED to leave the guard behind. The
Beers had then taken possession of the sta
ton and ordered the man in charge to set
the signal at stop" in Oreder to check our
train. Our driver ran right into the trap,
and we found ourselves prisoners before
we well knew what had occurred
Directly they had secured the train, the
Beers cut the telegraph line and tore up
the track. We ourselves were treated well,
though the field cornet in command warned
us that anyone attempting to escape
would. If discovered, be Immediately shot
down. At the same time, he assured us,
that the Beers were not savages. Those
under his charge consisted of Transvaalers,
Free Staters, and Dutchmen from Cape
Colony who were British subjects. My en-
forced stay with the enemy was not with
out its amusing features.
l found them a great deal less truculent
in manner than in appearance. They were
all in the highest spirits. For instance, on
the night of our capture the field cornet
was induced TO preside over an impromptu
smoking concert The Beers are extremely
fond of music, and it was amusing to see a
Johannesburger playing the piano, with his
gun still slung over his shoulder while
his more rustic comrades stood around him
spellbOund. They sang the Transvaal
'Vokslied" with immense fervor and vol
ume of sound. The one subject of their
talk was their resolute determination to
fight 10 the last for the independence OF
their country
General De Koch with few guns and
1,500 men, including a German contingent.
arrived in camp the same night It was
evident to us from the conversation of the
leaders that a battle was impending
and my fellow prisoners were strictly
warned to remain within doors under
guard. During our confinement the pro-
ceedings of one or two of the more turbu-
lent Beers caused us some anxiety Two
Of them actually came to blows in our
room, and had to be separated by force
But the leaders were on the whole par
ticulaTly careful to place us under the
charge of we'll disposed and trustworthy
men. On Friday night our field cornet al
though nodding in his chair for want of
sleep, presided for an hour over another
smoking concert, when the utmost jollity
prevailed. We prisoners slept on the floor,
while the majority of the Beers withdrew
to a short distance from the railway
On Saturday morning We were startled
by the sound Of the British guns and be-
gan to hope that there might be q pros
pect of rescue or. escape. Our desire was
soon realized. The Beers including our
guards, speedily found enough to occupy
their attention without troubling about
handful of civilian prisoners. and in the
course of the morning we made our way
unmoIested TO the British lines. There we
were enabled to follow the whole course
of the battle of Elandsldagte.