Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-24

The manner OF my getting access to
President Kruger was Of itself an epi-
tome Of Krugerism, In that year 1896
the Transyaal spent about 100000 In
secret service. and part OF 1t went to
pay the man who stole my dispatch
case. had, says Poultney Bigelow In
the ST, Louis Globe Democrat. come
from Capetown armed with the strong
est possible letters Of introduction to
the political leaders In Pretoria,and had
no other object than recording truth
fully my Impressions. At Bloemfontein
this dispatch case was stolen from me,
under circumstances which left no
doubt In the minds Of the chiefs Of
police In the Free State and Natal that
the theft had been made for strictly
political reasons. II was rather aWk-
ward for me, because In the same bag
We're all my manuscript, my letters OF
Introduction, and-my letter OF credit.
Advertising in every paper of South
Africa did no good. After my visit to
Pretoria. and while was living at
Pietermariizburg. as guest OF Col Dart
nell, the chief Of the mounted police.
this Identical dispatch case was one
night deposited at police headquarters
by messenger who could give no ac-
count Of himself, and did not even wait
for a reward. looked carefully through
my treasures not a thing was missing.
And yet there are people who insist that
the Boers are corrupt
When ! reached Pretoria. therefore,
was without letters. and | should have
been without money had not q good
friend kindly lent me some. | had
written ahead however, to DR.. Leyds,
detailing my purpose in visiting tbs
Transvaal, and invoking his assistance.
With this letter ] inclosed one OF in
PRODUCTION.
But the state secretary was evidently
suspicious. on the morning after my
arrival in Pretoria there came TO my
hotel young Hollander, whose card
was decorated with a coronet, and who
told me that he was secretary Of
DIR. Leyds'. come 20 express that gen
tleman's regrets that he would not ba
able TO receive me-that he was not In
good health-that he was too busy
there were lots OF other good reasons,
but have forgotten them.
SO ! was inclined TO be discouraged
for not only was | there minus my
precious dispatch case, but apparently,
the state secretary had determined that
/ should not see President Kruger, nor
anything else worth mentioning al the
Boer capital. | began TO feel as | did
on certain day In 81. Petersburg when
the police Informed me that II would
not be well for my health II under
took canoe cruise through the Cars
empire.
But Just then along came a splendid
Boer friend, Mr. Jooste. OF the Volks-
iaad. We had been fellow-passengers
10 the Cape. for he is one Of the Trans
yaalers who have Travelled and studied
politics at first hand. lie took me with
out iuIAiitI tfitHuuy 10 the mouse VI
President Kruger.
By the way. notice that most OF
the learned editors insist upon placing
two dots over the ~" In Kruger. That
Is not right--at least. " the president
Is an authority on the subject. He wrote
his name for me--with some difficulty.
! admlt-and II had no dots over the
''u." This signature subsequently COM
pared with several az the Government
House at Natal. and there were no dots
over the "a there Sir Walter Hely
Hutchinson, the governor. WIS distinct
" ~ the opinion that Kruger did not
use the dots. Consequently Il is cor
rect 10 pronounce the u" as In true"
When we reached his residence was
struck by the evidences Of military pro-
lection al hand. He had trooper pac-
M at his gate. and across the road, in
n vacant lot was an encampment for
the relief Of this guard There was
nothing OF this sort at Bloemfontein.
and many Pretoria Beers disapprovcd
OF this feature saying that Il was only
dodge OF Or. Leyds 70 make the coun-