Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-01
PRISONER OF THE BOERs.
How Correspondent Was Captured
and How He Was Treated.

From the London Standafd.
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 clevcrly manipulated
by q party of Beers numbering about fifty
who had been lying in wait for US. The mo-
ment We slowed down the driver was COW
cred by their rifles and we We're called upon
to alight. The passenger train, we learned
afterward, had managed to rush the sta
ton. 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 station,
and ordered the man in charge to set the
signal at stop in order 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 We're treated well
though the field cOrnet in command warned
us that any one attempting to escape
WCuld, if discovered be Immediately shot
down. At the same time, he assured us
that the Beers We're 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
! found them great deal less truculent
In manner than in appearance. They were
all in the highest spirits. For instances. on
the night of our capture the field cornct
was induced to preside over an impromptu
smoking concerts. The Beers are extremely
fond of music. and it amusing to see
Jchannesburgher playing the piano, with
his gun still slung over his shoulder, while
his more rustic comrades stood around him
spclbound. They sang the Transvaal
''Volkslied' with immense fervor and vol
ume of sound. The one subject of their
talk was their resolute determination to
fight to the last for the independence Of
their country.
General de Koch, with a few guns and
1900 men, including a German contingent.
arrived in camp the same night. It was
evident to from the conversation of the
leaders that battle was impending
and my fellow prisoners We're strictly
warned to remain within doors under
guard. During our confinement the pro-
ceedngs Of one or two of the more trucu-
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 We're, on the whole, par
ticularly careful to place us under the
charge Of well disposed and trustworthy
men. On Friday night our field cornet,
although 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 short distance from the railway.
On Saturday morning we were startled
by the sound of the British guns, and began
to hope that there might be prospect Of
rescue or escape. Our desire was soon
realized. The Beers, including our guards,
speedily found enough to occupy their at
tention without troubling about a handful
of civilian prisoners. and in the course Of
the morning we made our way unmolested
to the British lines. There we were en-
abled to follow the whole course of the
battle of Elandslaagte.