The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-19

New York, May 1S.-Mrs. Abraham
Fischer, wife of the Orange Free State
delegate, ACCOMPANIES her husband to
this country. She is a Scotch woman.
Speaking of the war, she said that
many stories sent out from English
sources were wholly false,
She told of the struggles of the Boer
women while husbands, brothers and
sons were fighting for liberty, and ap-
pealed to the women of America for
comfort and aid.
1T was oL5rageous," she said, "that
report which was sent out a while
ago that women were being enlisted
into the Boer army or would be. They
would go willingly, but their services
would not be accepted. The Beers are
not baTbarianS TO send women into
war If some few have been found it
is because they were disguised as men
and thus entered the ranks.
Would Be Easier to Fight.
1T would be easier for them if they
might fight. As it is they stay home
trying to keep the great farms trimming
that the country may not be de-.
Yastated, and 1t is heaTtbreaking work
Our farms cover large tracts of cOun-
try and the work is done by the ma
tives. These are negroes, Of whom
there are always many, but they are
difficult to manage. They are lazy
and shiftless and need the management
of a man to keep them going, but there
is many a plucky Boer woman quite
alone in her home looking after
force which before the war took all
the time Of her husband and sons''\
Life is hard" she continued. "Our
women struggle with the fortitude of
heToines. They never despair. They
are fighting for their homes and right
must triumph in the end.
Here we want to enlist the SYM
pathies of the American government;
if we could only do that our cause
would be won, for all Europe would
follow Americas example.
I'VE do not want America to fight
that is not necessary-a mere declara-
ton of sympathy would be sufficient
to throw the balance of favor our way
Europe is afraid to be the first, but
America is a powerful ally, whose sup
port would bring others.
Appeal to American Women.
Eve want the help of the American
women to bring that about. We
women Of other countries hear that
those here are powerful. If ever their
help was needed, it is now, and we
South African women are putting our
faith IN them.
we find here such sympathy from
individuals that it makes US very
happy. The weeks before our coming
here have been so hard and trying that
we are appreciative of joy"
Mr.. and Mrs. Fischer left their home
at BlOemfOntein ten days before the
arrival of General Roberts.
Mrs. Fischer said further: 1--WE put
our things into warehouses quite in
methodical fashion. but it was terri
bly, hard and depressing to handle
things which had made my home for
nearly thirty years. and not know
when, if ever, 1 should have them
again
Many a woman in Bloemfontein
went through the same thing in their
days, but we tried very hard to be
hopeful and trust in the time when we
should come back. We did not believe
that the British would wantonly injure
our houses, but we do not like now to
think of the changes which must al
ways be made in war"
One of Mrs. Fischer's sons is fighting
with the BOer army; the other is at
Cambridge, England, studying law.