Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-04-19

commtssion as Qusrtermsster and Of.
fered me the job as his assistant with
the same pay had been receiving for
running the engine with
the assurance that would not be
called on to perform any OF the duties
pertaining to that of q soldier on these
conditions I took up my new position
which held until the 9th of March.
when the town guard was disbsnded
It might be we'll to mention here that
whom the siege started we picked up .
few things and few to Kimberly for
safety believing the enemy to be close
upon ns. but up to November 10, Ken
ilworth had mt been fired on, and as IL
now had defense force we Thought
of moving back. Now Kenilworth
was not the safest place on earth but
at this particular period was safer
than Kimberly. l would just as soon
have been in New York or Missouri
Valley, for safety but the old saying
is "any port in storm" and storm
being In progress and Kenilworth be.
ing an open port We put in and cast
anchor, but. alas! Kenilworth was
doomed to have its day. After return.
ing to Kcnilworth the village was
shelled three or four days, houses were
wrecked, four or i've being burned
down set on fire BY the enemy's shells
Each family had q cellar dug in their
yard to 60 into while the shelling was
going on. No doubt this saved many
Of the lives Of the people Of Kenil
worth as there was not one death In
village from the enemies shells, but
tell you it was hard thing to sit in
your dugout and know that your house
with all yon possessed was burning to
the ground. We know of several in.
stances of this kind, but fortunately
our domicile was untouched although
shells fell all around US, and my wife
and baby put In most of their time in
the dug out, it not being safe to come
out long enough to cook something to
eat 80 this made it doubly hard. Shell
ling usually started about 4 q m and
quit at 0p. m, although fer week or
so the the firing lasted day and night
on Kimberly b,.t the village was never
fired into after 9p. m presume be-
cause the Beers thought they could do
more damage In Kimberly with their
night shells
November 18th was rather q warm
day for Kimberly the enemy resumed
their bombardment between the hours
of ~ m and p. M, 65 shells falling
in and around the center of town,
hotels, churches and dwelling houses
being wrecked, and no one knows how
many people were killed, as all news
was Impressed. The loca, paper stat
ed that there we're no desths, hut all
the same funerals were plentiful, but
the enemy was getting to learn too
much about what happened in KIM
berly through the newspapers 80 the
military authorities would not allow
only what they saw tit to be published
so I'm told.
November 18th was something sim
iliar to the l4th. have not stated
that Kimberley was supplied with
pound artillery guns before the siege
started, but the smallest gun the en-
emy used on us was 9-pounder, SO
You see our guns we're of little use to
us unless the enemy were to attack us
or get little bold and come in much
closer than they needed TO, then our
guns came into play; but don't think
our guns done any great damage to
the enemy. November l6 our mount
ed men had another engagement with
the enemy, in which We lost one killed
aud eight wounded.
November II there was slight set.
to, but no one seriously hurt; BON.
harding of Kimberley still proceeding;
citizens getting more used to II looked
on as common occurrence.
November ls, Beers took rest; SO
did inhabitants of Kimberley.
November 10 the Boer commandant
ssnt in flag of truce. asking that fan.
lilies of colonial rebels be permitted 10
come to the Boer camp. To this re-
quest Colonel kekewick refused to
comply.
November 20 our. mounted cattle
guard had fight with the Beers near
kenilworth; no one hurt, both sides
being afraid IT each other. The Goth,
2lst and s4'h we're pvt in fighting the
enemy at KeMlworth, in which we had
several w0nnde. Yon would have iu.
agined by the sound of the rifle shots
that there was being hundreds killed
but 1t was all long range shooting
which proves very ineffective. They
usually start firing at 1900 to 2.coo
yards, but scarcely ever get closer than
soc to 800 yards.
November Is our mounted men had
IN engagement with the enemy wes,
Fof Kimberley about three miles, In
whith they captured some thirty Boers
some ammunition, etc., and made a
brave fight. Our losses were six killed
and % wounded, eome of whom died
from the effects This gave our men
courage. so on November % they went
/. = feor Ella onon,u ano;. =, 49,