New-York tribune., 1900-07-08
IN THE TRACK OF " BOBS. "
ADVENTURES OF A CORRESPONDENT
on THE VELDT
HARD TRAVELLING IN THE REAR OF THE
BRITISH FORCES.

The following letter has been received by
''The Providence Journal" from F. H. Rowland.
who succeeds Julian Ralph as war correspond
ent at the front in Africa:
Bloemfonten. o. T. S, Monday, May Il. 1900.
have just returned here from the front after
some interesting adventures, and proceed to-mor-
for Fourteen Streams Christiana, in the Trans
vaal, VIA De Aar and Kimberley. 10 Join General
Hunters column
Wednesday morning I started 70 catch up with
'Bobs." They told the railway station that
the train for the front left at g. and that the
was clear 10 SmadeeI. which had been Lord Rob
ertss headquarters the day before. l hustled to-
gether such things as I absolutely needed iry ythe
way Of food and clothing, swallowed rather hasty
breakfast. and the station 9. only TO find
that the train would be delayed IN starting by the
necessity of getting on trainoad of sick soldiers
10 Cape Town. They have only single track rail-
ways in South Africa. and with traffic swollen
as It Is by the necessity OF providing supplies for
two hundred thousand men. all attempts to keep
schedule only proved abortive and have long since
been abandoned
As a matter OF fact. the train did not start TIL
l23o. There such luxury as carriages; II
consisted entirely OF trucks laden with supplies
and guards van" which nothing
less than caboose. In brief was a freight
train, or, in the Queens English goods train"
Several hundred ''TOmmies'' made up part of the
supplies They disposed themselves as best they
could on top Of the tarpaulins which covered the
goods, with shelter from the broiling African
sun. while the major in charge, with a couple OF
heutenants, a scout, civilian supply agent and
myself shared the caboose with the conductor,
guard. There were not enough seats TO go around
so most Of us made ourselves comfortable as best
we could among the boxes and kit bags and various
other packages and personal belongings with which
the loaded
It IS about fifty miles by rail from BIoemfontein
TO Vet River, which turned out TO be the rail
head" or terminus. at that time. of the road The
Boers had blown up the bridge across the Vet
hiVer, and beyond there we had to make our way
TO the front as best could. until the Royal En-
gineers had succeeded in completing the 'devia-
uon'' or temporary line along the river bed by
"hlch the trains were 10 cross the drift at that
place They completed their work in record time
yesterday. working three days and nights. when
their supply teams We're sent across on their wav
toward the next break at Doom River some thirty
miles beyond. The same story has been repeated
al the way up from Colesburg. The Beers as they
Ielreated have blown up bridges and culverts and
The Royal Engineers. following after the advance
guard as II cleared the country of the enemy have
Constructed devatons across the various rivers and
repaired the damaged culverts to allow the pre-
Cous supply trains 10 60 through in their slow but
sure way, 20 Pretoria One train took inst seven
hours 10 cover those fifty miles to Vet River
There we were all bundled out in the darkness TO
nnd ourselves on the edge of a camp occupied by
some two thousand troops left behind to guard the
mass Of stores there accumulated after Lord Rob
ertss advance column had driven off the enemy
SEARCHING FOR CONvEYANCEs.
Meanwhile, the scout who was bearing dis
patches 70 headquarters the supply agent and NY
sen as the three passengers who wanted TO get to
1he front as soon as possible had joined forces
Jumping our luggage out on the veldt by the side
oI the line, we took turns in searching for possible
conveyance onward, two doing the searching
while the third stayed behind to watch the lug
sase- Inc latter at first fell TO While wait
Ing for the others to return I was accosted b,,
another officer on duty. Captain Harrison Of the
Kings Royal Rifles, one Of the famous Irish ree-
ments whose valOr at Magersfontein and else
where in the early battles Of the war had placed
me shamrock in its present place of honor and led
the Queen to make her pilgrimage into the Emer-
aid Isle.
Captain Harrison, found had spent three wears
In Fail River. and knew Providence well and out
there on the veldt under the Southern Cross and
me brlllant stars Of the Southern fruar1ent with
the light Of campfres glinnering aI,or,+ ne We
became fast friends. He was eager for the oppor-
tunity 10 lend aid and comfort to a wanderer from
those Old haunts Of his. We nad talked together
tor z half hour So when nv two corlpanions
returned TO report that the advance had moved
IN from Smaldeel and that we could hardly hope
TO catch up with Lord Roberts that night The
supply agent reported that a wagon had been
placed at our disposal in which we could spend
the night in case we could not get on and Farqu-
har, the scout reported that there was a Cane
cart IN the camp which we might secure for our
onward journey
Elliott. the supply agent, was inclined 70 spend
The night in camp. but Farquhar and 7 felt we
ought 10 make final effort 10 get on feeling CON
WINGED that II travelled all night we might
catch up with the advance next day. AccOrdinglv
started off in search Of the owner Of the cart
AFTER some inquiry, found that it belonged TO a
captain Foote. and told that he was not likely
10 want il for several days. That suited me ex-
actly, as we felt that could catch up with the
headquarters and be back within that time I
hnalIy found Captain Foote. bundled I'D in a great
coat warming himself by a campfire for II grows
LITER colo after sunset. explained our predica-
ment and asked him If we could borrow his cart
wouldn't you like my hat and coat too?" he said
In good-natured sarcasm Then he explained that
he was under orders to proceed the front in the
morning and could not spare the cart. Accord
ingly we decided 20 spend the night in camp and
see what We could do in the morning in the way OF
occurring transport
So proceeded to the wagon discovered nv
Elliott There were served with a toothsome
repast 10y a couple Of obligng "Tommies" and after
satisfying very keen appetite with coffee most
substantial stew and bread and lam we rolled
ourselves up in our karosses and. taking off only
morning We were up dawn. Elliott had found
to pToceed b2 b% ifHq9u h an abode t9at he decided
must push on. Searching friend Captain
e. -, We % Il5iIy secures TWO nags, sorry enough
70 look upon but promising TO carry US AT least
another stage on our journey toward that
bride, but was minus both having perforne eft
them at BlOemfontein.
DIFFICULTIES WITH A SADDLE.
saAfs After good God I'd desi @ Of searching diapdated
from 4 Stroillng and suspected kaffr the day
before Unfortunately Il lacked girths and stirruD
pensed with one Of his. AS for the latter. we
FOUND one strap, and makeshift used a piece
was was thus completed eft most Of my yS Kit II
IN the kindly charge OF Captain Harrison and
SADDLE, sung haversack with two days rations
15a S,t my wa ma'f5 E3 poIte over my shoulders and