Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-03-21
Side Lights on.
the BOer War.

Il AA& A(O@A AL
~>~~S~.--~-~~J~~N~~
1t is said that in 1894 the Beers gave
their first order for big guns and that at
the time they expanded yearly half
million dollars with krGpp Of Germany,
and about the same AMOUNT with an Aus
TRAN firm for smaller arms, The krupp
gras were delivered in 1895, and includ-
ed two Of what was then the largest pat
tern for 4 gun in the world. These guns
are forty eight feet in length. weigh 10
tons. throw shell weighing $3.50 pounds
and require 904 pour of powder for
each discharge. One ( these guns has
been dragged to a hill overlooking Lady
smith. The other is on the Notifications
defending Pretoria In 1895 another or
der for field guns OF long range was piac-
ed with Krupp, II was in 1880 that the
Creus.t guns, those chat have done the
most aetire fighting, were purchased,
Several large orders for guns were placed
at later dates
-:--:-
The Lee Metford bullet is about four
times as long as it is thick, and to keep
1t straight ID It's digit it has to be made
to rotate at a tremendous rate by the
riding &c the gun Obviously this long,
narrow bullet meets with much less re-
sistance from the dir than the old spner-
zeal ball OF the smooth bore musket. But
the swift rotation has another effect.
When the bullet strikes n man it hores
its way in like gimlet, and nothing can
stop it. As the bullet leaves the muzzle
il is twisting on its axis i33.200 times
per minute. This is the rate with ordi-
nary powder. When cordite is used, the
bullet is made to revolve no less than
la 900 times per minute, or 400 times
per second.
49,
The important part played by carrier
pigeons In the South African war is not
generally known. At the outbreak Of
hostilities one Of the first 10 place his
pigeons at the disposal of the British
Government was II. Lee OF Pietcrmaritz-
burg. These birds were carried through
10 Ladysmith on an armored train the
dag before communication was shut off.
They brought the FIRST news from Lady
smith to the British Government. The
Beers realizing the advantage gained by
the enemy from the use Of pigeons soon
established a loft for training the birds
| In Johannesburg.
-
The Tugea river is oger 200 miles long
and attahs a breadth at its mouth OF 4ot
| feet. II rises in the Drakensherg Noun
faius. the extreme western point 10 Ma
tai. and "a once leaps down into tht
colony with fall broken by two hedges
/ of 500 feet--Jhc highest waterfall in the
world. Ii then cuts into canyon ovei
/ two mics long, Joined here and there by
meuy a feamins stream from kioof ans
| hillside. The scenery throughout th'
whole length af the Tugeia is picturesque
and in places wild and magnificent, Thu
/ river is not uayigabie for ha' Of sant
| stretches across It's mouth.
-
Nearly sixty-dye years ago, SO tbs
story runs, party of Boer immigrant
| from Cape Colony came upon a littl'
| plain in the territory north Of the Orang,
| river, and as it first burst upon thei
ewes woman in the party exclaimed
! IT'S a BlocmfOntein" flower gardenl
! The plain was covered with wild flowers
and presented a glorious appearance t.
the first white people that had ever look
Cd upon H. Thus was the capital Of tht
Orange Free State founded and named.
-
The question of the employment Of M
tive Indian troops in the South Africai
war is being very generally discussed i
India. The Indian native cavalry is on
Of the finest bodies of horse in the worlt
An argument Cor the employment Q
these troops is that the waste of cavalr
will be great before the war is over, an
that SIX mooths hence Great Britain wi
be driven 20 employ her native cavalr
whether she wants to or not
The widow OF Gen. Symons, who wa
ona of the FIRST British officers 80 fall {
tho war. has married again. Sir W. !
Symons. X. {. r., was killed ia the ba
! lie of Glencoe 10 October last. Tn
lady's new husband is said 20 he aboI
! baif her age.
-.-.~
/ Human sympathy IS always with ID
anu,icr dog" in 81 Sight. Crrajcs rcmayl
aide stand against the British forces an
fh,. ystoy shown by The H0ers in the tat
III terrible odds have won thc Tram
vaair~, rrajs' aud admiration he Wort
over.
$50
Butler aud his staff arr actually Twin
tbc life OF private There has not bee
even a tent 10 cover the commanding seI
P erals They eat FROM sheig Knees, wit
,8eir shoulders against rocks. The
j Steep where they can, aud their field wor
S is carried on under q transport wagon.
-
{ The artillery and cavalry horses OF ii
{ Beers have ail been inoculated again
t the ''tsc.se fly and rinderpcst, both ,
E which are apt TO play havoc with gree
. horses is thar district