The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-07
Mrs. Joubert at Maiuba Hill,

WIS., OOuOSil al HtdIu tsths
The story has never been told in print
before, but Mrs. Jcubert and not Gen.
E,iet JOubert was the real hero OF Aajuba
It'll. according TO the General himself.
VI hen the Eice-P President OF the Trans
vaal Republic was visiting IN New York
CItr in 1sso he and his wife and little
granddaughter were the guests Of a sweli-
Known Boer sympathizeT- One evening,
sitting around the fire. Mrs. Jou5ert. who
Is very proud Of her husband. told the
stery OF the British attack and defeat
at Maiaba Hill, telling how she aroused
her sleeping spouse and fairly pitched
him {she is woman of powerful ply
siquel ont of the tent before he would
believe the British were fairly upon
them. she took credit for the victory.
and when she had finished the story, her
husband. who had never taken his eyes
from her during the narration, said:
III is true; she is right. and but for
her the story OF MaJuba Hin would have
been very different"
Mrs. Jouhert speaks no English Her
little granddaughter translated what she
said into French for the benefit Of the
host and hostess. According TO her story.
the wives OF the soldiery and officers had
come, as is the custom Of the Beer vrouw
in times of war. 10 the camp TO remain
over Sunday and attend meeting" with
the men. Bright and early she was I'D
Sunday morning 10 make the coffee for
her husband. Going outside, Mrs. Joubert
looked Up the hill. and saw something
cleaning in the sunlight, which she al
pnce decided was bsyonets. The night
before II had rained hard, and the thick
fog which followed was now disappearing
in a thin mist She rushed back into the
tent, and called TO her husband: The
British are on the hill Get up quick,
and out"'
Go back TO bed, woman was the
sleepy retort OF her husband; the sand
isn't out Of your eyes yet. What do you
think the ssntries are doin@?
With that ne turned over, and was
about TO RESUME his nap, when his wife
shook him. She is a powerful woman.
as has been told. and her grasp reused
her now irate lord. She made him so to
the door: and with his Own eyes he saw
she was right. Cronje was hastily sum
moned, and within thirty minutes Jouoert
without his coffee and 100 sharpsho0terz
were climbing up the almost perpendicn-
lar face Of the hill, while the main BODY
of between six and seven hundred Beers
advanced in the regular way 10 sham At
tack.
The British had taken advantage OF the
dense fog and by rapid march had pass
ed inside the sentry line. They advanced,
about 500 strong, TO meet the Boer force,
never dreaming that any one could attack
them from the walled hill behind. Down
on their knees Joubert and his $50 sharp
shooters dropped, and after one voliey
100 British soldiers fell 70 the ground.
The British turned and attem3ted
charge Only one more volley was sent
into their ranks by the Beers. Then
there were many more dead or wounded
on the field. Their comrades turned and
fed. The Beers returned TO camp and
had their coffee.
Mrs Joubert said she could not get her
husband 10 look at her when he was
leaving the tent. NO" the General
spoke up, reminiscently, Il turned my
eyes away; 1 could not look at you. |
felt that I would never again see you.
During all their conversation Mrs Jou-
bert addressed her husband as "Piet,
The Beers call him slim Piet,' the adj
jective in Dutch meaning foxy, cunning,
When Gen Joubert-whieh he and al
Dutch pronounce 'Yowburt was leav-
ing his host said he wanted to present
to him a little gift and asked what he
would like. Give me a history Of the
United States the Boer answered with
quick decision. He received Bancroft's
history. in eight volumes When quitting
the house he gave the patriarchai bless
ing To the inmates
Of the impression his guest created his
host Of that time said. recently:
Il should never want to see his eyes
looking at me over a rife barrel. I have
never seen such eyes in mans head
They are fascinating and make you fesr
him. He is fanatically reiigious-just ike
the old Puritans; there are prayers night
and morning and between times wherever
he IS.
one of the objects Of General Iouhert's
visit to New York was to purchase
battleship for the Transvaal Republic
sent for Charles Cramp. and together We
three talked the matter over. ! @dvisea
him first 10 buy port. The TransVaai
government was then negotiating with
Portugal for the purchase of Delag9a
Bay, and Joubert believed the deal was
about to be closed While he was la the
United States, England got Portugal 20
sign a treaty giving ii first option on the
bav whenever Portugal was ready TO SELL
thereby putting at an end for the time be-
ing any possibility Of The Transvaal ac-
curing the right 10 this port This
treaty. I believe. still holds good and
since last October England has been in
possession Of the Portuguese end Of the
cable even"
The Holland Society gave a banquet for
General Joubert while he was IN New
York CITY. OF this function his former
host. when asked Il the guest pf honor
had had anything to sag tleu about the
Motley OF the TransvaaI towards England.
says:
Not a man who vas there was able q
remember a word that was said OF
thing that happened" watch leaves ths
that the Boer genera! IS not
a total abstafuer.
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