The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-20

free state Boers rs compared WIN tnnt hc-
corded to them by the Transvaal Beers. lie
also noticed that the bridge cutting had been
better done by the British engineers than by
the Beers. The formers work was clean cut.
After separating a section OF bridge they Mt
tached an engine to II and drew 1t to the bank.
thus enabling them to replace 1t when neces-
sary to allow troops to cross The Beers wero
very clumsy In their bridge. destroying opera
tons They blew them up. sometimes using
twenty charges OF dynamite before they sue
ceeded in wrcoking them. The bridges were
then equally useless to themselves and the
British.
Mr.. Penrose showed diary in which werc
entries setting forth that the Beers entered
vryburg on Oct. Fl md hoisted the flag OF
the Transvaal. Gen. Delarraye appointed
civil service officials to Nil the places Of the
British. whom he removed. and took possession
OF the keys OF the various Offices. On Oct. %
he addressed tho townsfolk and asked for vol
unteers for the Boer forces lie said that the
country would be theirs, and that they
had nothing to fear. He added that II would
DO best. however. for Thorn TO Join the Beers.
About 200 men who had been British subjects
Joined the enemy. They got arms from tho
seized equipments OF the disbanded volun-
tecrs. but the latter had. happily, taken tho
bolts from their recently furnished Enfield
rifles. thus rendering them useless.
The civil service officials started their
trek on Oct. ~. after Gen. Delarrayc
had furnished them with pass asking
the other Boer commandants to see that
they were not interfered with. On the
Sunday prior TO their departure there was
considerable looting in Vryburg. The Beers
eeiEed a largo number OF very valuable books
on engineering and forestry Being unable TO
read them as they were printed in English.
they tore them up and scattered them on the
ycit.
The party arrived at Taungs. forty-thrce
miles south OF Nryburg. on Oct. ~. They
found that the bridge over the Hart River had
been destroyed aud the railway station torn
down. The veldt was strewn with telegraph
tape and the station books. The next night
they reached point seventy miles from KIM
berloy and then saw tho searchlghts that were
being used by the garrison at the latter place
On Oct ~ they arrived at Fourteen Streams
on the vaal River They found that Gen
Delarraye's commando on the north side Of the
river had destroyed the bridge. dropping a
span into the river ford was finally found
and tho party crossed the river. and on Oct. 30
laagered neared a portion OF Gen. Dclarraye's
commando From this point two OF the party
rode ten miles to transfer Gen. Delarraye's
pass to tho next commando. The riders
we're surprised to ind when they reached
the Boer camp that no sentries we're rosted.
They proceeded straight to the Generals tent
aroused him and handed him the pass.
On Oct n they trekked into the Orange Free
State and outspannej. Tho next commando
was that In charge OF Gen Duplessis Here
mark cd difference was found in the treatment
accorded to the British. the Free State Beers
being much more civil than those OF the Trans
vaal. Throughout the trek thus far the British
L.t -loI a.. T., a., "a, n.tar
rave. These Tags caused much Jeering among
the Beers at Fourteen Streams. but the Free
State Beers assured the mem bsrs OF the party
that the flags were useless. as nobody would
harm them in the Free State. The party mr.
rived at Jakobsdal on Nov. 3. Here they
received the best OF treatment, Lnndrost Van
hseFdsn Nth innn,s trouble, se tS ,b shs
Daton's Pont was In working order. On Nov q
they arrived at Luckh?n. where Justice Of the
Peace Nakolst secured room for the ladies' and
children in the party md gave the men tho run
o. the court house While the party we're near
there eps them Within range Of their search.
lights, helping them considerably The trek
towns and camps, which added much to the
distance they traveIIed The Officials say they
G Sssn ZIP fT %s Seg n%
that Il was very hard to have 70 ncht agains,
in Gen, Msthuen's advance 70 the relief OF
Kimberley. which Is regarded as practically
accomplished bv English commentators.
Aliwal North. Coesborg. Burzhersdorp
and Storm berg are, now beyond doubt
occupied by considerable Bosr forces.
Six hundred Beers, with two Krupp
and two Sordenfedt guns and one
Maxim entered ColesberR on Nov. 10 and
annexed NaAuw Poort. Dispatches OF that
date say that the British were ordered
to leave the place within seven days. Those
who remain must take the oath OF allegiance.
The Boer; were very inotrensiye. but n the
were slready threatening the British, $500
tina. tho Beers had been reinforced by 1000
well armed and equipped men. Ill the horses
had been comm ndeered. One command was
ff esss On. to obie ss'n; n B9ef. .AaE
Bethulis, Norval's Pont and Colesbsrg.
with the view 70 isoating Do Aar.
Commandant Grobelaar made nm impas-
stoned speech at n mass n,eeiin OF the towns
folks. calling upon the Afrikanders to throw
on the British yoke. The Loyalists listened In
4 third despatch. dated Nov. II. evening.
says that the residents OF COlesberg are being
Communicated right and left. An exodus has
LosDov Nov; 2o.--A despatch to the Daily
ss%:S the DnpAT SSr B,tr Se' part ps2,
OF the. Orange Free State. He
ordered tho British to lenye within fourteen
days or become burghers. He announced that
a commando would proceed to East London,