Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-04-19

others as the penalty of his rashness
and scores of wounded was told ty
friend of mine who was in the en-
gagement that had not darkness came
on they would all have been killed or
taken prisoners.
November 60 This was the ssddest
day that Kimberley had witnessed. In
all her trials there has been nothing so
sad as to see twenty.six of her citizens
laid to rest. practically in one grave
The engagement OF the 28th was the
greatest battle we had in the immedi-
ate vicinity of Kimberley or Kenil-
worth, but might go on from day to
day with q skirmish here and there.
with some one killed or wounded every
day or SO, but am making this very
lengthy letter. so I must skip some
things that made life burden to us.
which am afraid would prove unin-
teresting for yourself and those for
whom it is intended, but there are
things that l cannot omit, so will
pass on to December 4, when we re-
cetved message from Lord Methuen,
who was commanding the column that
was coming to relieve Kimberley. The
message was to this effect: ri have
gained passage of Modder river after
successful fight" This, indeed. was
delightful news to the people Of Kim
berley; in fact we were elated to think
that 1t only remained q matter of few
days until We would be relieved. But
alas, haw uncertain things in this life
are, especially In war times. Here was
our relief column only twenty-five
miles from Kimberley, 5000 strong.
with all the modern improvements on
implements of war, with their great
and all destroying concoction called
lyddite, which we we're told would an.
nihilate the Beers by the thousands at
each explosion, just think of it.
within twenty-five miles of us. Who
wonld not rejoice under the same cir
cumsta noes? Then the march to Kim
berley commenced. but Lord Methuen
alone WAS aware Of what he had to
contend with. The successful fight he
spoke of at Modder river was little
short of disaster. He brought his
army in by train, being told by his ad-
vance guard that there we're none of
the enemy about. But before his men
could get ont OF the train the Peers
were giving them shot and she'll from
all sides, and am told that the river
was filled with dead and wounded
British soldiers. Lord Metluen ad-
mits the loss Of 557 killed, and the
Lord only knows how many wounded.
But of course We know nothing of
this, only from hearsay-only what
Lord Methuen has given to the paper.
which in my opinion would he the
most plausible. Well. after leaving
Modder river he encountered the
Beers at q place called Spytfontein,
about eighteen miles from Kimberley.
never shall forget that morning. We
have had some firing around Kimher-
ley. but 1t was not circumstance to
what we heard at Spytfontein. Itwas
constant roar like thunder. A friend
Of mine who was present says there
was battery of thirty six guns. and
few naval guns also The most the
Beers had firing on Kimberley at one
time was twelve. and that was plenty,
thank you. This battle took place on
December 10 and lasted all'dsy. We
got it unoilicislly that the British
losses we're LOO The next battle was
fought at Ma0ersfontein. This was
close enough to Kun berley 40 that you
could see the shells bursting among
the hills. The Dutch name for hill is
kopje. This hattie was fought on De
cemher IL. and you cannot imagine
how pleased the people of Kimberley
we're to think, not to say know, that
our relief column was actually in
sight. But you have heard that song,
$50 near and vet so far" That would
have been splendid song for Kimber
ley to have sung to Lord Methuen and
our reiDforcements After the battle
at Magersfontein people got cabs and
went out rs far as it was safe to meet
the relief column, but no relief column
could they see. For days We could
hear nothing of the reltee column.
Days turned to weeks, and weeks to
months before we heard of Lord
.Methntn, and only then TO learn the
wOrst-tfat lie had been defested and
had retired back 10 Modder river, there
to await reinforcemenis which were to
come from England. In the mean
while our supplies we're getting lower
and lower. and all this time Kimberley
was being bombarded continually,
people being killed and scared to death.
infants aud larger children dying by
1.-THE score for the want of proper food
jus, think OF it, eighty children buried
in one week. no, to say anything about
the hsrdships and privati"ns the older
citizens were enduring. And for
whstY To satisfy the greed of Eng.
lish capital; although don't mean to
say that the Trsnsvaal repntlic is spot
less or that there was nn reasen tn
want reform. There is always room
for reforms In all governments From