Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-25

with standing only ON the defensive.
They made plucky little night sorties,
which scared the Beers considerably
and caused them some loss. Twice
Conductor Parsons OF the army serv-
Ice corps sailed out alone in the dark
and pitched hand grenades In among
the enemy, which produced q perfect
panic among them. There were vigor-
Gus sapping and mining. too. on the
part OF the Royal engineers. who made
things very lively for the besiegers.
Then the water ran shOrt-a pint a
day for each man was all that could be
spared. and this. though supplemented
with a pint bottle OF ale from the
stores. was terribly short rations OF
drink In the hottest month Of an Afri-
can summer. Plucky Mrs. Long found
the privation of water for washing
more trying than even the thirst. and
her JOY was intense when. after many
days Of this privation. she discovered
big bath sponge in it's oilcloth case.
still damp. One daily wipe she and
her husband allowed themselves as
luxury and then locked the sponge up.
weary hours they had watched deIug-
ing the hills around. cOndescended to
visit them. and then they had rather
more water than they wanted. for. the
huts being all roofiess since the fire
there was no shelter from the pltiless
dOwupOur. The soldiers. always eager
and anxious TO protect Mrs. Long. rig
ged up tarpaulin screen 10 shield her
from the rain when sleeping. but de-
spite their care She often woke up
drenched.
The news Of the disasters at LGings-
mex and Majuba Hill was. Of course
promptly communicated TO them by the
enemy. accompanied by a peremptory
summons 10 surrender. But Lieuten-
ant Long. though badly wounded him.
self. lying helpless. with his faithful
wife nursing him night and day. sent
back Slc curt answer. Il shall hold out
TO the last" And the men. looking NJ
that brave woman. so patient and
cheerful under her terrible load OF anx
iety. set their teeth hard and swore the
Beers should never have Fort Mary
while there was a man left to handle n
rifle.
old banner Of England blew" At first.
indeed. it was but merchant ship's
ensign. How they hoisted real union
jack ! will let Mrs. Long tell in her
own words:
Our ships ensign had become. what
with the wind and what with the bul-
lets. n perfect shred. Moreover. we
were anxious 10 hoist real union lack.
A Geneva flag was discovered. but.
though sufficient red and white were
Forthcoming TO complete the crosses.
no blue was to be found. Nothing
daunted, the men came to me to in
quire II ! possessed such Il thing as n
bit OF dark blue for the new dag. and.
TO their delight, gave them a serge
dress OF the desired color a beautiful
union jack was very soon made and
hoisted instead OF the first. Our shiD's
ensign, though exchanged. was not dis
carded. for under its tattered shred our
brave fellows were carried 10 their
graves"
On the 29th of March the Beers kent
up a furious cannonade and fusillade
all night But the next morning. 10 the
surprise of the garrison. a white flag
-'~-NNNN WI NAAt CAltlllN = iltS. ana
under Its protection Lieutenant Baker
OF the SiXtieth rifles brought them the
humiliating news that peace had been
concluded with the Bocrs SO the gal
liant defenders marched out from the
riddled and battered little fort which
for 81 days they had held against ten
times their number.
Mrs. Long was so thin and pulled
down that her friends in Lydenberg
hardly knew her. The Beers cheered
her heartily as she passed them on
her way into the town. and their com
mander. Piet Steyne. treated her with
the utmost courtesy. Indeed such a
chivairous gentleman was this gallant
Boer that he sentenced one Of his men
TO 20 laSheS for shouting out during
the siege; Come out. Mrs. Long. and
make us some coffee. We are So cold"
Al the same time he threatened double
the penalty If any further insult were
offered TO the English lady
Lieutenant Long and his men were
! publicly complimented in a general or
der for their successful and heroic
defense" But | am disposed TO think
that the largest share Of the praise was
/ due to the brave woman who set them
so noble an example.-Chambers Jour
nal.