Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-08-13
GREAT BOER GENERAL A SILENT
AND SATURINE PRISONER.
WIFE oNLv COMPANION
He and Other Prisoners Are Well
Treated and in Thoroughly Com
Portable Circumstances-Sc
Made Historic by Napoleon Bona
parte.

SIX nunQr0Q DOer prisoners are now
CHARTERED here, says a special dispatch
from the island of st. Helena to the
New York Journal. Cronje and his
wife are comfortably housed on the hill
back Of Jamestown, while Schiel and
the others, including old men of sixty
and boys of fourteen, are encamped in
tents at Deadwood on fine grass land
at an altitude of more than LOO feet,
and half mile in front of Longwood,
the famous house in which Napoleon
died. And right comfortable these
prisoners of war must be, for while
jamestown is at this time of the year
a veritable stewpan, made the hotter
and more uncomfortable by the heat
canic rock on three sides, Deadwood is
fresh and cool. with delightful views of
hill after hill and an outlook for many
miles across the deep blue Atlantic.
Kent Cottage, which is the present
home of Cronje and his small retinue,
is pleasantly situated, though the ap-
proach is by no means enticing. 1t is
just such cottage as may be seen on
the outskirts of many an English viii
lage. Imagine an unpretentious two
stored dwelling with slate roof, and
yellow-washed walls standing out
clearly from a background of green
hillside. The window frames and shut
ters are painted the same shade of
green that you may see any day at a
Dutch farm house in the Pearl dis
trict of the Cape Colony. In front
runs veranda, and there is slightly
raised ''stoop" There is also some
pretense at a flower garden, but it is
sadly neglected. The garden is en-
closed by black wooden paling, and
still further in front is a little more
cultivated land with banan and a few
other trees. The scene is simplicity it
self, but for the bell tent in the right
hand front corner Of the garden, and
the steady tramp of khaki-clad SEN
tries, east, west, north and south.
On the stoop and beneath the YER
anda for the best part of the day sits
General Cronje, dark of visage, some
what long bearded, and with hair
turning gray. His eyes are deep-set,
dark and ferret-like, and his de-
meanor is one of extreme reserve.
Pet Cronje can speak English almost
as we'll as any Transvaaler of Dutch
extraction, but you may ply him in
vain with questions in English. He
To Cn0Qk n q
but his native "taal," even his replies
are little more than monosyllables.
He has little to say about anything,
and is difficult to draw. Of course, he
feel his position. You may see that
written large upon his face; but, con-
trary to what SO many people think,
he appears to be very grateful for any
kindness that is shown him, and fully
appreciates the efforts that are made
to secure his comfort. Beyond this he
is as the Sphinx. He sits in the
brooding attitude of Napoleon.
It is a strange character, this of
Pet Cronje Charges of terrible
cruelty have been laid at his door,
and somehow, when you carefully re-
gard his face, you feel sure that the
man is capable of violating the terms
of an armistice or firing, on the wo
men and children's laager. Yet there
are some redeeming features, as, for
example, when the fire of patriotism
lights his eye, and more particularly
in the homage paid to his wife.
All day long Mrs. Cronje, in rusty
black dress and black boer 'kappie,' is
the defeated generals close COM
panion. Others who are blood rela-
lions may emerge from the house and
remain for brief while beneath the
veranda, but there is about them the
restlessness and impetuosity of the
younger boer when under restraint.
When, for instance, was at Kent
Cottage, there came within hundred
and fifty yards, just outside the Gordon
of sentries, two young subalterns with
field glasses and Snapshot cameras.
OF course, they were inquisitive. The
general and his wife were screened by
the closed end of the veranda; but a
younger relative was extremely an
noyed. He was fine, tall young fell
low in shirt sleeves and the inevitable
slouch hat. AS he caught sight of the
officers he gesticulated violently, flung
his arms about and muttered in Dutch.
Then he hurriedly entered the house,
but only to emerge minute later, il
anything more restless than ever.
Cronje, however, and his wife have
acquired the art of sitting still. His
attachment to her is very great Talk
to him on any subject and he will i'm
mediately make reference to her views
and acts. Cronje, the devoted hus-
band, and Cronje, of Potchefstroom, Of
Mafeking and of Kimberley! You
come away feeling that the conjunction
is homogeneous.
Quite a different man is Command
ant Schiel Here you have one who
has received training in European mill
itarv schools, There is much of the