The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-10-20
twenty to a tent and fed us on infe-
rior meat and hardtack. allowing half

This treatment brought from the
600 prisoners the loudest complaints,
and l, with several other Americans
determined to appeal to headquarters
as soon as l got an opportunity. 1t
came soon. One day just after we
had eaten our wretched lunch, Gen.
Weaver appeared General" said,
"why am I here? am an Ameri-
can"
did you tight?" he asked. "No,"
said 1. II can prove by the books Of
the Robertson mine that l have been
working all through the war;"
"Fll see what l can do for you," he
answered. That was the last ever
saw of him.
But l did not let my grievance rest
there. l went to the United States
Consul Mt East London, Mr.. Dyer, who
is an Englishman.
Consul" said 1. after explaining
the peremptory manner Of our remov-
nj to the coast, 81 have wife and
little girl in Johannesburg. Here is
my residential pass. The. books of
the Robertson mine will show you
what I have been doing during the
war. am an American and I de-
mand protection. l want to notify
my wife and want to see the United
States Consul Mt Johannesburg and
find why l am here"
You'll find nothing" said he
abruptly, and to all further questions
he gave an angry NO" II can do
nothing for YOU" said he.
"What have l done to be treated
like this?" several of us asked. II do
not know" he answered.
Our last chance was gone and the
man to whom we looked for an inves
tigation of this shameful conduct,
though paid by our government for
protecting its citizens, was as unsym-
ian:
On July 26, after being kept six
days in camp, we were Informed that
we were to be sent on the cattle
steamer Manhattan, lately arrived
from Australia with horses. This was
a new move. Where were we to be
shipped? No one knew. "Could we
write to our families?" "No, our fam
lilies were we'll enough"
"Will send them after you," an
swered the captain.
"But. where?" "Oh, anywhere"
On the last day of July we sailed
from East London, six hundred In all,
with an escort of fifty soldiers. 1t
was with heavy heart that l watched
the land fade away and pictured my
poor wife and my little Maria wonder
ing what had become of me and ask
ing in vain of my whereabouts.
On Aug. 3 we arrived Off Simons
Town and again I made an incffectu-
III attempt to communicate with Col.
Stowe, our Consul there. The Ger
man Consul, who had come aboard
to look after the German refugees,
took him note, which he said he
would deliver on his arrival mt Cape
Town, but we heard no more of It.
The Manhattan left SimOns Town
on the 9th. Meanwhile the close quar-.
ters, and, more than NIL, the horrible
food, had begun to make their effects
felt on the weak and sick.
Finally so many men and wOmeI
fell i'll that the ships hospital wnt
crowded. After that 1t was waste OF
time to go near the doctor. you're
playing Off. You just think you're
sick" he would say and walk away.
We were quarantined Mt st. Vim
cent on the 25th. That Sunday w,
found two dead rats in our soup
That was too much. And when OF
the following day, being again ut sea
we were served with meat that wa!
absolutely putrid we protested in F,
body and demanded that the heat
steward throw the remaining 4,O0(
pounds overheard. He protested, bu
we were determined. 1t was G.;;.i;lll,
dumped into the sea and we had t,
expect no more meat.
The captain Of the Manhattan whcl
we complained to him, told us he coult
do nothing for us.
The head steward treated us will
ii hnrshncss he would not have be
slowed upon cattle, but we had III
redress and our sulferings went un
needed.
On the 31st we reached Madeira
From there we went to Rotterdam
In that city l went to the American
Consul and he said he would do al
he could for me.
Many Of the Dutch women were
landed In Holland, but we were car
ricd to Hoboken and there dischar@@hl
three Americans besides myself.
1T Is now nearly three months since
"as unlawfnlly dcportcd from my
bo,no l left there not only nv wife
and child hut all have in the world
in the wov Of nroperty-f3OO In ready
money and n few Kafiir stocks, min
ing tools and various supplies, amount
ing to over zoo.
This sum represents the savings Of
fifteen years. know nobody in New
York and, though I hope to have mv