The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-22

NEW YORK, March 22.-One OF the most
interesting documents that have come
from South Africa since the beginning Of the
Boer war a half year ago, is a copy Of
the Express" a local paper published in
BlOemfOntein, o. F. s., the very hrst paper
Of the dark continent to reach America
since the Beers began their struggle for
permanent freedom. A copy Of this paper
dated January &C. was received yesterday
by Charles D. Fierce. Consul General OF the
Orange Free State in New York The
paper is printed half in English and half
in The peculiar BOer Dutch. Some extracts
taken from different parts Of II and trans
lated are as follows:
John ID. Nanwyk. a 16-year-old lad who
had never been away from his farm, wrote
TO his parents about the storming OF Pla-
trand on January g.
Dear Parents: I want TO tell you some
thing about the fighting. 1t was a terrible
thing for me. ! was on top Of the kopie
with the advance Of our men. Two Eng
lishmen came up TO within thirty feet Of
me shot them both dead. Kootje Co
dendaal came TO me and said we would bet
be too hot. He and / were chums. you
know. Then he went UP with ten boys 70
| capture gun. They got the gun. but
| KOOtje was killed.
Il have been here a day. praying and
| fighting. ! am wondering how any Of Us
I got out alive. but the Lord has helped US
| out, and for this we cannot be TOO thank
/ full TO Him. Father and mother. pray for
/ US all the time. We are expecting more
! fighting soon. but not with our lager. It
will be on the Tugela."
From the BOer lager at Hebron an
! other young Boer. Pierre Theron, under
| date Of January %, says:
| Last Sunday We had a talk from Dr.
/ Duplessis, Of Lindley who made a stir
| ring address What a pleasure TO hear a
/ learned man address Us under Gods can
/ opy, with cannon muzzles pointing their
/ noses AT us from the enemys position,
| How happy we will be when we can again
/ worship God in our own little church, IN
I hindered by greedy, unprincipled Eng
/ lishmen!
''On Saturday we had a sham alarm
! which helped to keep us in good fight
/ ing trim. There was considerable firing
/ but We saw nothing except q few torch
/ lights in the distance and a searchlight.
/ Later in the day we took part in the
/ fighting at Platrand. With the help Of
/ God We we're able to maintain our posi-
! ton and take over 100 prisoners Of war.
''Oh, 1t was terrible sight for me. who
/ had never been on a battlefield before, TO
/ see over fifty dead and wounded lying
! about Oh, what a spectacle IL was, 1t
! is terrible to have to believe that the
/ thirst for gold can cause the splitting OF
| so much innocent blood. Where are
/ Rhodes. Chamberlain. and Miner? / wish
| that they could only see for a moment
| how many have dropped in the bloom Of
their lives and TO hear the cries Of the
| wounded.
Never will forget it.. Here one asks
| for drink OF water TO allay his thirst:
| there is another. writhing IN a big pool OF
| blood in another place, a poor fellow is
| struggling to fight on with one leg shat
| tered under him and holding on 10 his gun
| with the one arm that he has left Ii il
! terrible. terrible, Oh. England how great
| is your responsibility, / hope that all
/ burghers. aided by Almighty God. Will not
! rest uatn this trouble is settled for good
! and ever. With Him and His might. We
shall be able 10 do brave deeds
The hand despatch rider with the BOer
/ forces. tdat invested Ladysmith. sends an
interesting report Of the battle OF Spion
. Kop. saying.
ION Tuesday night January % the enemy
/ advanced on Spiou KOp. Sixty members OF
I the Vryheidvol FIRE department who had
= been on duty on the summit retired. This
was the signal that the ascent Of the bur
ghers, planned 10 take place on Wednesday
I morning was 10 be made as soon as q thick
mist. which enveIOped the Kop. should
have disappeared
The battle began at O'Clock In the
Z morning. One regiment OF the English
Z was nuihilated. Among the wounded is
1 Colonel BIomfold- General W0oLgate is
I among the British dead"