The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-31
. WINSTON CHURCHILL's RIVAL.
a BOer Prisoner Makes n plucIy Es-
cape Piauant story.
From the London Globe.

From the London Globe.
Roer named Jan Bothma who recent
ly made his escape from the transport
Manila, has given the following account
of his adventures. Regarding his escape,
Bothma says: ION Friday, Jan. 5, at 10
p. M. l descended from the ship by means
of a rope. The night was dark. The at
tention of the centres were drawn to an
other part of the ship, so that they could
not see what | did | was quite naked,
and had fixed my clothes In a bundle on
my back Besides, / had a life belt, of
which there We're many on board. Slowly
| approached the place where a line was
hung out for me to get into the water
So far everything went well. Col Schiel.
who still went on Crutches. sat on an easy
chair watching with interest what was
going on around him. Scarcely had
started overheard before l heard somebody
approach. ] descended quickly, but when
near the water | again went slowly, be-
cause | was afarid | would make a noise
in the water. The hne with which l de-
seconded left numerous abrasions on my
body, which are still there. l had to
swim about two miles.
After swimming for three-quarters of
an hour against the current, 1 felt my
strength deserving me- / looked back to
the ship 10 see how far off / was and
to my surprise | was very near II still.
Suddenly l remembered that the sea was
full Of sharks. but | had gone too far al
ready, and could not return. Eventually.
after having struggled for an hour and
twenty minutes, a huge wave threw me
on shore. l remained there behind q
bush for half an hour, quite exhausted.
Just when I arrived on shore searchlights
were thrown from the ship and boats
lowered. 1 waited until the searchlights
were gone, then dressed and took to the
road. ! had scarcely proceeded a hun
dred yards when / suddenly heard voice
shout Halt, who comes there?' 1t was a
Gentry at the fort. | told him. without
hesita ton, that l was a friend named De
Jonge, and was going to Kalk bay. where
upon he said Pass. 1 walked the whole
Of Saturday and part of Sunday without
food and sleep. At the Touws River Sta
ton | met an English sergeant, whom l
told that / was out buying horses for the
imperial government Had he asked me
for proof l would have shown him a
proper document. On the contrary he
showed me a telegram containing an order
for the arrest of person who escaped
from the Manila. He also showed me a
wire stating that a great fight would
take place at the Tugela within a week
That night 1 slept with that hospitable
English officer. | there wrote a couple of
letters ION H. NJ. Service" of which one
to myself, signed by Mr.. Small, related to
the train for Victoria West Road.
'At Matjesfontein l had the honor to
have a meal in the same room as Lord
Roberts. From Victoria West Road I
went to Prieska on a horse purchased
from a colonial burgher. On the road to
Prieska / met English troops and Lieut.
Macfarlaine, who informed me that
Landdrost Perry, with 800 rebels, had oc-
cupied the town, and that 1000 rebels were
on the other side of the river. Maofarlane
left for Brlstown, and / for Prieska.
where l arrived on Monday, and met
twenty-one burghers. The Field Cornet al
lowed me to go about freely. but at night
had TO sleep in the lager Prieska had
not then been proclaimed. l met the Eng
fish magistrate, and he told me of the
escape of the man from the Manila. From
there / went to Bloemfonteln via Griqua-
town AT the Hoofdlaager l got a wire
from Mr.. Blumenthal, who was com
Wandering goods at Johannesburg, saying:
Congratulate you. You deserve the Vic
toria Cross. I give you permission to
take one from an Englishman" Both
ma subsequently left for Pretoria to lay
before President Kruger a report of his
experiences which, the Express remarks.
will no doubt have some influence on the
further treatment of British prisoners al
Pretoria