St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-03-14


tracts from letters just received from
Miss Cordelia Nevers, who is vel re
membered here as student of the Acad
envy about five years ago. Before thu
war broke out Miss Nevers was teach
ing at Langlaagte, Transvaal. TIT
letters give an impartial review of the
scenes of the war and will therefore b.
read with especial interest.
Since coming over to Pretoria have
made one trip on Red Cross train tc
Elandslaagte which lasted about two
weeks. We went to Dundee for few
patients who were able to be removed to
Pretoria, and there we had the battle
described to us by men who had fought
on both sides. One train brought ul
from the camp near Ladysmith thirty
three sick and wounded. The hospital
at Dundee was full of English wounded
but they were too badly off to be moved
This trip to Natal gave me good op-
portunity to see that part of the country.
We found Dundee completely deserted ex-
cept for the hospital, and every house
and shop was looted. The Beers had
driven in from miles around and loaded
up their wagons with furniture.
They had taken absolutely everything
pianos, stoves, carpets and all. Their
little reed-thatched, mud.hoor houses
must be crowded with such things as
they never saw before. 1t is sad to see
how in their desire to destroy they have
torn paper from the walls and broken
windows. They have done everything
but burn. 1t is told how one Boer went
iuto store, and taking bolt Of light
blue silk, tied one end of it to his hors's
tail and galloped through the streets.
We do not hear of acts of cruelty COM
mitted by the Dutch, but this spirit OF
destruction is ripe. At farmhouses far
down in Natal where it is impossible to
carry away furniture to the Transvaal
they destroy it. They think nothing of
jumping up and dancing on the top of a
fine piano, and smashing the keys.
This war is indeed terrible thing, as
is every war I suppose.
Today there is great excitement in
Pretoria. There have just been a series
of fights all along the border and the
news coming in is sickening.
This afternoon five bodies are to arrive
from Ladysmith. One is of fine young
business man who lived not far from
here. He leaves wife and three little
ones. Another body is that of an Amer
lean from Columbus, Ohio. He leaves
wife and children at home. When he was
here about month ago we demonstrated
with him for his family's sake, and tried
to prevent his volunteering. But he
would go, and now so soon he is brought
back. The war is not so near us as
people thought it would be, but we feel
the losses because in almost every battle
some friend or acquaintance falls. And
we feel it is all to no purpose. l do not
see how more good than harm can come
out ofthis race struggle. The hatred which
is thus increased between Dutch and
English is something most deplorabe
When in Natal visited Col. Blake, an
American army officer who has charge
OF an Irish brigade which is fighting Tor
the Beers. He was wounded at the bat
tie of Modders-Spruit, and was staying
at farm house which had been appro-
priated as hospital by the Dutch. 1t
was the residence of a wealthy Natalian
Mr.. P; member of the Natal parlia-
ment. This man had voted for the war,
and this being known to the Dutch, they
of course had no mercy on his things.
All of Mrs. P-'s clothing and most of
the portable articles of furniture and or
had been carried off.
Your letter OF Nov. IL came to me this
week and was the first word had had
from any one at home since the war be-
gan. wonder when the letters sent via
Cape colony will reach me. They are
most careful of the mail down in the COL
ony. They have even had the cheek
to keep all the Transvaal mail down in
Cape Town which arrived there the first
three or four weeks after the war began.
Mr.. Macrum did his best to get the
American mail sent up, around by Dila-
goa Bay and all the consuls made big
row about it, but to no purpose as vet.
We hear every now and then that it is
expected soon. Mr.. Macrum advised the
United States government to send all
mails for us via the German or French
steamers down the East coast and your
letter must have come that way. This
keeps our letters out of English hands,
and saves their officials the trouble of
reading them.
They have the satisfaction OF censoring
to their hearts content all the cables
going to Europe, bnt they can hardly
prevent us sending mail through on
German boat. 1t is blessing to us in
more ways than one that England has
not control over Dilagoa Bay. This is
a queer war in this respect, that the
Beers win their victories so easily and
with so little loss, while they are fighting
against the tar famed troops of Great
Britain.
1t is hard to believe, but it is true, that
the loss on the English side in killed and
wounded and prisoners is at least ten to