The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-12
in the Hands of the Beers.

one of the special correspondents of the
London Standard, who was captured by
the Beers. gives the following account
from Ladysmith:
The victory of Gen. French at Glands
laagte today enables me TO forward you
an account Of an exciting and novel ex-
perience that has befslen me. On
Thursday I left LadysmiJh for Dundee
70 join the force under Gen Symons.
hoping to be IN time 20 record me en-
gagement that was then believed 10 be
imminent I found that a passenger
train had just left, but a goods train
Of 1--WE trucks was on the point Of de-
parting conveying cattle and a quantity
OF stores and equipments consigned 70
the camp at Dundee. Together with
Photographic artist. an employee. and the
cattle contractor, I decided 70 proceed o.
this train.
We got through safely as far as Glands
saagte. but at this point the sigma was
dead against US, and the driver pulled
up. The signal had been cleveriy msni2-
ulated by a party Of Beers. numbering
about fifty, who has been lying In wait
for US. The moment We slowed down.
the driver was covered by their rifles.
and We were called upon 20 alight The
passenger train, we learned afterwards.
had managed 10 rush the station. The
Beers had fired upon IL. but the plucky
engine-driver put on fuu steam and Went
safely ahead, though he was compelled
TO leave the guard behind The Beers had
then taken possession Of the station. and
ordered the men In charge 10 set the sig
nal at stop" in order 10 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 com
mand warned up that any one attempt
ing to escape would, II discovered, be
shot down. At the same time he as
sured US that the Beers were not saw
ages. Those under his charge consisted
OF Transvaalers. Free Staters, and Dutch
men from Cape Colony who were Brit
ish subjects. My enforced stay with the
enemy was not without Its amusing fea-
lures. I found them a great deal less
trucuient in manner than in appearance.
At first sight, thanks 10 the infinite va
riety OF their costumes, they might have
been mistaken for a picturesque band or
brigands. The majority OF them were
and blue patterned scarfs, and for
midable SLOUGH hats
Some of them. the day after the cap
ture OF the train, when its contents had
been looted and shared, came out IN the
most fantastic garb. Several appeared IN
military greatcoats and one young fellow
strutted about proudly wearing a stan
officers cap. while another was consider
ably Inconvenience by a huge sabre
clanking at his heels. But unsOldierly
as they might seem TO an eye accustomed
10 the neatness OF Aldershot there was
no mistaking their physical fitness Near
all of them were strong, powerfully built
men. while a few were verItsble giants.
They were all in the highest spirits
For instance, on the night Of our cap
ture. the Field Cornet was induced TO
preside over an impromptu smoking con
cert. The Beers are extremely fond OF
music. and it was amusing to see a Po-
hannesburger playing the piano. with his
gun still slung over his shoulder. while
his more rustic comrades stood around
him spellbound. They sang the Transvaal
''Volkslied" with immense fervor and
volume Of sound. The one subject OF
their talk was their reSoluts determiua-
ton to fight TO the last for the independ-
ence of their country. Gen. de Koch.
with a few guns and 800 men. including
a German contingent, arrived IN camp
the same night. 1t was evident 20 Us.
from the conversation Of the leaders. that
a battle was impending.
I and my fellow-prisoners were strictly
warned to remain within doors under
guard. During our confinement the pro-
ceedngs OF one or two Ct the most tur-
bulent Beers caused US some anxiety.
Two Of them actually came to blows IN
bur room, and had 10 be separated by
force. But the leaders were, on the
whole. particularly careful 70 place Us
under the charge OF well-dispOsed and
trustworthy men. On Friday night our
Field Cornet, although noddlng IN hts
chair for want OF sleep. presided for an
hour over another smoking concert, when
the utmost jolIity and good viii prevail
ed. We prisoners slept on the n0or
while the majority OF the Beers with
drew 70 q short distance from the rail-
way. On Sunday morning we were start
led BY the sound OF the British guns,
and began 10 hope that there might be
sire was soon realized. The Beers. iuclui-
ing our guards. speedily found enough
70 occupy their attention without trou-
bling about a handful Of civilian prison
ers, and IN the course Of the morning We
made our way unnolested 70 the British
lines There we were enabled 70 follow
the whole course Of the battle % Elands-