The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-02
LIFE IN BESIEGED MAFEKING.
Lady Sarah Wilson Tells of the Beer
Bonn la rel meut

LONDON, March 2t.-Most dramatic of
all the features OF the war-the siege of
Mafeking continues to occupy the first
place in the attention of the British peo-
/ pie, and every scrap of Information that
comes from the beleaguered little garrison
is welcomed. There are strong expecta-
tions in official, as well as general, circles
that news Of relief by Plumer's or some
other force will come soon. 1t is certain
that no disaster in South Africa would
cause such deep and widespread disap-
point and grief as failure to save Bsden-
I Powell's brave band. A budget of inter
esting details of the siege, which some
how has found its way through the Gordon
of Beers around the town. and then
through Rhodesia and overland to the sea,
has at length reached London. 1t brings
down the story OF the siege to January 20.
two months ago. Later news has come
by cable, but it is the bald. scrappy intelli-
gence, The writer's of these communica-
tions are Lady Sarah Wilson and the cor
respondent of the Times" Lady Sarah's
letter appears in the Mail of yesterday,
and from it the following paragraphs are
taken:
"A feature of the town at presenNis lis
bombproofs or shelters from shell fire.
From rough holes. hastily dug and COW
cred over with deal boards and earth which
were at first constructed. with the arrival
of monster Creusot Boer guns which fire
a projectile of ninety-four pounds, these
refugees have been improved upon till they
are now luxurious chambers. rooted over
, with best steel rails and sandbags. yenti-
tod nd lirrht h.. \
large drain pipes.
Scarcely day passes without some
white man or native being added to the
already sadly long list OF those in this
tiny community who have been martyrs
to this one-sided bombardment. Women
and children have not escaped scot free
only this morning a shell exploded in the
women's lager, the locality of which the
Beers know perfectly well, killing,
curious enough little Dutch girl of
twelve years of age. holding a baby tthe
latter was uninjured). besides fatally in
juring a Kaffir girl.
And thus it is most days. Apart from
our losses among the soldiers. civilians
and innocent individuals are struck down
and terribly mutilated, suddenly and al
most without warning | say almost. for
when the big gun is loaded the lookout at
headquarters from whence all her move
ments can be accurately watched. gives
the alarm by sounding a deep toned bell
and when the gunners go to fire her this
is supplemented by the shrilI tinkle of a
smaller bell, but which can be distinctly
heard in this clear atmosphere. After
this second warming about three seconds
elapse before the explosion.
What are even more to be feared than
the monster guns projeetiles are the shells
- i'll,
which no warning can be given. as the
flash and explosion are practically stimuli
taneous and the poisonous little one
FOUNDER Maxim shells. which seem to come
from everywhere and are generally fired
in threes or tours. At least 700 of the
?i-pounder shells have been fired into this
undaunted little town, and it is computed
in all certainty 5.Cc0 missiles of different
kinds of destructive power from the Boer
artillery have found their billets here
There is something very cowardly in the
fairly regular evening shell of the big
gun, which is usually loaded and aimed at
shutdown and fired off between S and p
m, or even later. over partially sleeping
town, very early hours being kept here
when the Beers must know men and
women may be killed indiscriminately.
For this last shot wearied women and
children generally wait before leaving their
shelters and seeking their beds in their
various houses; but sometimes as refine
ment of cruelty 1t is not fired at all, and
these evenings the poor things creep to
bed at last with many forebodings.
"A curious phase of the Boer character
is the much vaunted observance OF the
Sabbath. and on this day. by a sort of
mutual agreement. neither side fires d
shot Pale women and children emerge
from the lager. dressed in their Sunday
best and shops are open and do a lively
trade: services go on in the little English
church. still almost uninjured. and every
one is safe 10 ride and walk about the town
and outside on the veldt within our lines. -