The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-26

NEW YORK. March 26.-Leonard Leigh
and his son Leonard Leigh. jr., Of Lake
Linden, Mich, arrived on the steamship
New York Saturday on heir way home
from the Rand mining district of South
Africa, where both have been employed by
the French Rand Gold Mining Company
for three years.
Both are intensely pro- British in senti-
ment. They we're at the Stevens House in
lower Broadway. last night and Mr. Leigh
ST.. spoke as follows:
Il am glad Of this opportunity TO do my
part as an American toward setting Amer
leans right on the South African war. That
the sympathy Of America should be with
the Beers can be attributable only to the
fact that the people OF the United STAGES
naturally side with republics. But the
Boer Republic is a republic in name only.
II is a monarchy. with President Kruger
as the supreme autoCray.
The outrages to which all foreigners
are subjected by the Beers are incredible
TO persons who never have lived in the
Transvaal. Every Boer from sixteen to
sixty years old is compelled 10 have a
MauseT rife and $50 rounds Of ammunition
constantly ready for action No foreigner
is permitted to carry arms. OF course. the
temptation for the Beers TO use their
weapons on the slightest proyOcatiOn is
irresistible. and Americans, Irish and
British, and other foreigners have been
shot down In cold blood and nothing has
ever been done TO the person who did the
shooting. BOer policemen are usually
mounted. They carry a sword and a large
saH - mol UaH tn fnaa
whenever they have an opportunity.
Take the case of Thomas Jackson Ed
gar the killing OF whom by a BOer police
man really precipitated the present war.
Edgar was walking along street in JO-
hannosburg. when another EnKlishman in
suited him. and Edgar knocked him down.
BOer policemen saw the act. They follow
ed Edgar home, saw him reading i'm the
parlor. his wife with him. and battered in
his doom. He stepped into the hallway TO
see What the trouble was when a police
man. without a word being said shot him
dead. Nothing was ever done to the po-
liceman.
Il oversight once on a train from Jo-
hannesburg TO Luipaarsvlei I was put Of
fined s.. and forced TO pay s. more for
ticket for the distance / had eyerslept.
After the shooting of Edgar Outlanders
called meeting to protest TO the British
Consul. Mounted Boer policemen broke up
the meeting. injured many r5rsons, and ar
rested two men who got up the petition
No paper printed in English is allowed
10 print petition unless the petition suits
Kruger and his men. but we secretly man
aged to get up one with 2l.6SO names at
tached and presented a. to the Consul
II foreigners appealed to a court they
were always Disseminated against. An
American once appealed TO "a court because
he was fined for riding past a station on
train. lie was fined G25 and costs. Ju-
Ties are composed only Of Beers.
The Rand mines employ 1900 laborers
Each laborer Is taxed $40 when he Is set
10 work. When Boer official wants money
he sends an inspector around who claims
that such and such a number Of laborers
have not paid their initiation fee TO the
mines. He fines as many as be likes S25
apiece.
Every Boer official makes a practice CT
Ievyiug blac6mau on foreigners. When
ever ne wants money he goes TO a mine
manager or owner and asks for a loan
There is no land tax so all the taxes
are paid by the Outlanders. who own prop
erty. yet they have no voice in the gov
eminent
The cities are conducted in an out
Tageous manner. There is no attempt at
sanitation. and when we protest we incur
the enmity Of officials. who prosecute us.
Last year G62 900 was spent on schools
by the Transvaal. all contributed by Out
Ianders. yet only $3.50 was used for schools
IN which English was taught
The Irish in Africa are indignant at
what they term the Misrepresentation BY
the American press. They despise the
Beers heartily. Great numbers Of Irish
and Americans volunteered I'm the British
Army. Louis l. Seymour. chief engineer Of
the Rand mines. an American is major or
the Pioneer Regiment Of Engineers. a corps
composed entirely OF Americans Irish, and
British.
The TranSvaal never will be q ft place
for white man 10 live in as long as the
Beers are in power. Our lives and prop
erty are being mensced constantly.
The Beers are not brave. They fight
like rats. They get into holes or behind
trees and shoot down the British. but never
charge or fight in the open
My son and / intend TO return TO the
mines as soon as the war is over. The
Rand Company is paying all salaries the
same as though we were working there so
as to keep their staff together"