Waterbury Democrat., 1900-10-27
HELPED BY A BoER MAID.

Writing from Springs, South Africa, lon August I, a correspondent in the first Canadian contingent gives the fol- lowing romantic history of the failure of Boer plot to recapture Johannes burg which had a prospect of being sue cesEful, says the New York Sun, until ths love of Roer maiden for Briton oysfeams her patriotism and saved the British garrikaR:3 .sF fs sa.
 .t "A coAplS of wssks ago the Roars MithiA and without JohRnnaAhurE ar- cAA9sd for . riaaaS thars by making all osx ofloArs pRsoonars. and then by ate tAektnG ths sold1ars, who. ii was eK- psetAd, would be ,dsmoralized and sur render. Asstines were held by the Boer ladders at the Grand National ho- tel and all arrangements were made once more to place Johannesburg in the hands of the burghers. On Satur. day afternoon. July A, gJmkhana had been arranged for the officers, to be held on the race-track. under the patronage of the military governor and major general commanding, for charitable purposes. It was expected that almost all the officers of the gar rison would be there.
 ''The Boers purposed attending this meeting armed with revolvers, and hav- ing large number of confederates, armed likewise with Mausers, hiding in buildings in the immediate vicinity of the racetrack, ready to act upon the given signal. It was planned that when the officers had been made prisoners other Boers in the city would concen- trate at point fixed upon and attack the British soldiers.
 "While this was going on O large number of Boers from the outside would rush into the town and assist their countrymen. It was anticipated | that the soldiers would be utterly de- moralized by the absence of their off, cers, and with no one to direct them would easily be overcome and made | prisoners. The whole plan was care fully and secretly concocted, so that the military authorities were in entire ig- norance of the plot On the morning of the day for putting it into execution. The total miscarriage of the Boers' bold attempt was brought about by woman in very simple and yet inter- esting tale of love.
 Tt appears that pretty Boer maid en in Johannesburg had two lovers, one an Englishman and the other burgh- CT. They were both very pressing for the hand of this young girl. On the morning of the gymkhana day the Boer lover visited her and urged an i'm mediate marriage that very morning, and for reason of such urgency, he unfolded the Boer plot to seize Johan- nesburg. As he was to take part in the stirring event of the day, he was afraid that possibly he would be killed or wounded, and consequently wished to make the young woman his wife. The l girl asked for two hours to consider the l proposal, at the expiration of which time he was to return to her for his answer.
 ''As soon as the Boer lover was we'll out of sight the girl rushed to the mil ttary governor and gave him all the in- formation she had just received. It can readily be understood how such tale would startle that officer, and he at once took action. On the young woman's return home she was accom- panied by some of the military police, | who followed 0 short distance behind, and when the Boer lover returned for his answer he was at once arrested and taken before the military governor. On the prisoner discriminating papers and letters were found which bore out all that the young woman had told and a great deal more. A list of leaders was discovered among the papers secured, and other important information.
 "The governor acted promptly, can- celled the gymkhana, and had all the Boers whose names appeared on the lists arrested and at once sent to Cape Town. More than 500 Boers were made prisoners. A general search for arms was ordered, and hundreds of Mausers were found hidden under mattresses and in other places. There is little doubt but for the information given the military governor by the Boer maiden the Boers would have been successful in retaking Johannes. burg. It is only fair presumption that the young maiden's tastes were for her English lover, who will, no doubt, now run winning race for the possession of her hand, as his compet- itor is out of it etfectually." {. The Pioneer Shfrt-Wnist Man