The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-30
GAVE CREDIT 10 RHODES
WOMAN's NARRATION OF OCCUR
FENCES IN KIMBERLEY DUR
ING THE SIEGE
LORD METHUEN's ULTIMATUM
NOn-COmbntants Were to Leave the
Place When the Relieving
Force Entered It-Brave
Defenders Demurred.

| Correspondence of the Associated Press.
| LONDON, March M.-Hon Mrs. Roch-
| fort Mcguire, who, with her husband.
the British South African company
director, remained in Kimberley
throughout the siege. describes her ex-
perience in several columns of the
London Times. Like all the correspond
ents. she is loud in her praise Of the work
done by Cecil Rhodes. She says:
For some time before Magersfontefn
| fell. Mr.. Rhodes had felt that In view of
the uncertain dura ton of the siege, It was
necessary to get rid OF as many mouths
| as possible. This idea had been at first
| opposed by the military authorities, but
| they gave way eventually, and he man
aged to get rid of some 5000 out of the
10000 natives III the compounds This
| was splendidly managed by L. Finn, his
agent, who, used to the natives thorough
| ~, won their confidence and explained
their situation. and advised them to go
| out OF the town In detachments They
started on their way I'm very good spirits,
| carrying their belongings, cooking pots
| blankets, ETC.. together with some rations,
| fully intending. many Of them, to re-
| turn when the war was over
After the battle Of the Modder, Lord
Methuen. who expected to be in Ktmber-
| ley almost Immediately, sent a message
| to Col Kekewich that he would not be
| iy all non-combatants must leave. A lit
| tie food would be sent in, and the town
would only be occupied by its defenders.
This Idea caused great CONSERVATION
| among the people. who thought it very
| hard after enduring a siege of two
months they should be called upon to
| leave the town and go. nobody knew
where, at almost d moments notice Col
! KekeWfch stated at a meeting of the town
| council that the people would have to
leave on the entry of Lord Methuen, but
| all the same many people said they In
| tended refusing to go. the great portion
| of them being not at all well off, and not
| having the means to go. A delegation
was sent by the principal men in the
| town setting forth the difficulty of turn.
| ing out $4,000 people without sufficient pro-
vision being made for them.
MOBILITY OF BOERs.
'The intelligence department did not sue.
| coed IN getting much information, so Mr..
Rhodes organized a number of native
runners and scouts, for the purpose OF
| communication. learning where the emo
mys laagerS were or what their numbers
| were. He learned there were not more
| than 1900 or 1900 around as at any time.
| with probably 5000 Of as many at Spy
| fontetn. according to Lord Methuens adj
| vices but so mobile are these irregular
| they collected from all parts in a very
! short time. and made action on our part
| very difficult. If not impossible without
great loss of life"
The Standards Kimberley correspond
ent states: 1.-THE Sunday previous to
| relief, when petitions praying that sur
| render be resorted to were being circu-
| lated in the beleaguered town, Mr.. Rhodes
| received a message through the intelh-
| gence department from Roberts, saying
| it would be humiliating for the town to
! surrender after its brave defense, and
| asking him to assure the people that
| relief would reach them in a few days.
| The message, as received by Mr.. Rhodes,
| was marked secret. Shortly after its re-
! ceipt he read It to me- saying:
90 know Lord Roberts never intended
| to keep it secret. The people want some.
! thing to cheer them up, and 1 want ev-
| crybody to know L have received this
| cheering news
HE caused copies to be posted at the
| corners of the principal streets annCunc-
| ing that the De Beers and Kimberley
mines would be lighted and opened as
! places Of safety for women and children
at p. IN. Over 1900 were accommodated
| at De Beers and 800 at Kimberley mines,
while 1900 took refuge under the railway
| bridge, which was also extemporized by
| him as a place Of shelter. In these places
| they were fed and looked after by MIR.
| Rhodes, DR.. Smart. NJ. l.. A; Mr.. Gardi-
ner Williams and a staff OF able assist
| ants during the four days of active she'll
| ing which followed"