The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-04-09
WEBSTER DAVIS ON THE WAR
(Continued from First Page.)


 giant Boer, in the prime of strength and manhood, was seen carrying a small Boer flag; in short time he fell to rise no more. Then an old white-haired vet eran picked up the fallen banner and waving it, urged his comrades on. With flowing hair and flashing eyes the old man rushed on, but suddenly a shell laid him low; ere the little flag touched the ground, however, a barefooted lad, only thirteen years of age, who had been fighting in his shirt sleeves, leaped like a panther to the old mans side and, snatching the flag from his grandfa- ther's nerveless hand, raised it aloft and pushed on. A mighty shout arose from the Boers as they saw that gallant deed, and with renewed courage they made a fearful charge; following the flag they rushed like an avalanche over the Brit ish trenches and Spion's Kop was won"
 General Burgers, the Boer command CT, had made repeated attempts to se- cure cessation of artillery fire that the dead might be buried, but for several days without success Finally General Butler accepted the Boer proposal to bury the British dead and offered to pay the bill.
 General Burgers regarded this reply as an insult" MT. Davis asserted, but, nevertheless, concluded to bury the British dead Then I visited the top of Spion's Kop and saw there the most horrible sight that could be imagined. Upon every hand were helmets, belts, canteens, bayonets and wearing apparel scattered about covered with clotted blood. We saw feet and hands protrud- ing through the ground, all swollen and skin burst asunder, while the rest of the body was covered with thin coat ing of earth. The explanation was that these poor British soldiers had been buried by their comrades under only a few inches of dirt. In other places we saw scores of dead British soldiers lying on the top of the ground just where they had fallen, no attempt having been made to bury them.
 "As we descended from the hill we met the Boers going up to bury the British dead who had been so sadly neglected by their own comrades and commanders, who amuse themselves by calling the Boers savages.
 
 Athens and Sparta, who, with their al lies, stood up to battle and to die to de- fend themselves against Asiatic inva sion. Brave was Alexander the Great and his Macedonians on the battlefield of Issus, where they won a victory against overwhelming odds. Brave was the struggle of the Tyrolese against the 1egions of Napoleon. Brave was the stand made by the Switzers for liberty against the Hapsburg. Brave was the wonderful charge of Pickett's men and the equally brave defense of the Union troops on the crimson heights of Get tySburg. Brave were the heroic dead who fell at Salamis and Marathon. Brave, indeed, were the famous 300 at But equally brave, gal lant and chivalrous are the humble peasants of the veldt, who, defending the passes of the Drakensberg, or seek ing death, climbing the rugged sides of Spion's Kop, willing to die, if need be, to save their beloved republics from the British yoke of oppression.
 These men have the same spirit that prompted the farmers to face death for liberty at Lexington green; that nerved the arms of Americans at Saratoga, Bunker Hill and Brandywine; that warmed the hearts of Washington and his shivering patriots at Valley Forge; and at New Orleans where Jackson and his men taught old England that easier were it to hurl the rooted moun- tain from it's base than to force the yoke of slavery upon men determined to be free.
 "Then why should we not sympathize with them? Why should not the great est republic in the world assist the smallest of republics? Is the word lib arty' to become obsolete in our national lexicon? Must this greatest republic of the worlds history chain it's destiny to the chariot wheels of the British empire in her mad race for land and gold? Shall the fair name of this great repub- lie, whose prowess on lad and sea has oeen the marvel of the century, be used Tn Europe by British officials and the British press as menace to other Eu- 'opean powers who are anxious to as- list the Boers in their brave struggle for freedom and independence?
 'tLet us not drift away from the prin-
  IS listen to the cry for help from all vho struggle for liberty and justice. Let not be said by future historians that his great republic arose in splendor lnd grandeur, that made the world tare, but it hated justice and liberty; it lalted on it's bright and shining march; t fell, and as it was going down the lespotisms of earth, grinning from the ops of bloody thrones, souted, We told rou so, we told you so.' Oh, may the 1 tightly millions of American freemen see o it that the world may know that heir sympathies are not with Great Britain, but with the struggling Boers, | nd let it be known that they believe | he cruel war waged in South Africa ! hould stop, and stop at once" At the conclusion of MT Davis ad 1 ress P. Louter Vessels, special com missioner from the South African re- 'ublics, made brief address.
 Then Chairman Morgan offered se- ies of resolutions, expressing tour eep and heartfelt sympathy for the [ eroic patriots of the South African re- ublcs in their immortal fight for their omee and liberty and our admiration f their indomitable courage and unex- mpled heroism in their wonderful truggle against the British enemies of epublican government" commenting