The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-18

smith correspondent of the Standard
thus describes Christmas day in the be-
leaguered camp:
-Cannons instead of carols greeted us
On Christmas morning. The roar of Long
Tom and the crash of shells babe us awake
and salute the unhappy morn. We had
hoped that the Beers would extend to this
anniversary of peace and goodwill the
privilege of Sunday. AT midnight an en-
envy crept to the foot of Caesars Camp,
and, having fired five shots shouted to the
indignant Manchesters, Compliments of
the season. A merry Christmas If
shrapnel and shell could make a merry
Christmas, we had no cause of complaint
The Beers were determined that a tone of
solemnity should blend with our convivial-
w. and that the thunder of their guns
should accompany the anthem song in the
little stone church with the shattered
porch.
Nothing is more characteristic of our
race than the tenacity with which we
cling to old customs. Neither the place nor
the circumstances could contribute to the
gayety and good cheer that are associat-
ed with Christmas at home. We are a
sick a beleaguered garrison, whom death
and disease have steadily reduced. Ten
days ago the distant sound of artillery
filed us with hope that we mught cele-
brate this festival with our deliverers. But
the fateful message from Gen. Butler, 1
have made my effort and failed put an
end to pleasant dream and brought us
face to face with the stern necessities of
our position.
IL was a bright Christmas morning. The
heat down the
ing plain and made one pant for breath
of chill northern air. Nothing in nature
or in the aspect of the town recalled the
gayety or the solemnity of the day. There
were neither carols nor church bells to
awaken tender and secret memories Our
message of peace on earth and good will
to men came shrieking through the heav-
ems on wings of melinite, and burst in
murderous fragments when they fell. As
soon as the deadly greeting was over men
betook themselves whittier duty or incli-
nation led. Some went to church and
heard Archdeacon Barker deliver mes
sage of hope, others to church parade
where Chaplain Tucker moved Thomas
Atkins almost to tears by pathetic refer
ence to home and those family connect
ions that are supposed to be strongest at
this time of the year. With others,
sought the cooler nights near the town.
Buffers Difficult Task.
Crossing the muddy creek at the ford
close to the Gordon's camp rode through
the bush that clothes the slope IeadinS
TO Caesars Camp. Two herds of lean
cattle were grazing among the stones,
needless of the shrapnel that burst harm
lessly among them. Caesars Camp is a
lofty plateau on the border of the PLAIN
Looking south, ! could see the rugged,
mountainous country through which Gen.
Butler must fight his way-range after
Of lxnDies in which the
enemy will find abundant cover. In a
eulch southwest of Bulwana is a great
laagar of tents and wagons in senior
Gle with spruit along the chord, and the
arc arranged to resist attack from the
west Not a man is visible, though light
clouds of dust rising high, show that cav
airy are moving toward the laagar Along
the broad, green summit of Bulwana ride
Boer horsemen, each stalwart figure out
lined against the blue sky.
Returning to the town, found nothing
TO recall the festival. The street was al
most deserted, and the camps gave few
signs of life. Heat-not dependency or
shells-had driven every one to shelter for
the thermometer under the Veranda reg
istered 102 degrees. 1t was not until the
cool of the evening that we threw or TINS
lethargy and strove by many devices TO
agine that we were having merry
Christmas If our, table did not present a
picture of abundance and was devoid of
GOOD cheer we were in excellent spirits,
and far into the night the Boer must nave
heard the laughter and song of town ana
camp.
only in one room, however, was the
illusion complete. There were in TINS town
no fewer than 200 children of European
parentage. Why they were permitted 10
run the risk of bombardment Is question
that may some day demand an answer
Here, however, they are, and II was De
termined that they, at any rate, shoulo
have something to remind them of siege
Christmas. Col. Dartnell of the Natal
Mounted Police-a veteran whose service
dates to the muntiny-Col. Frank Rhodes
and Maj 'Karri' Davis the Johannesburg
reformer, who underwent imprisonment
rather than pay the fine imposed after
Or. Jameson's raid, organized a Christ
mas tree. Stores were despoiled of toys
and books, and the branches of cedar
trees were heavy with the delights of
childhood. Four of these green Santa
Clauses were ranged along the center OF
the hall, Great Britain and South Africa
m the middle, with Canada and Australia
on each side. Upon the walls were SUCH
notices as Advance, Natal and May
The New Year Bring Happiness Cotton
arufcially disposed among green leaves
was suggestive of snow, and the happy
faces of the children carried ones thoughts
over many leagues of land and sea TO
our English homes
Details of the Assault.
A Ladysmith correspondent describing
the assault upon the camp Jan. 6, gives
some interesting Incidents
'McNaughton of the Gordons," he
writes was taken prisoner on Wagon
Hill in the early morning, and was re-
moved in charge of an old Boer TO place
oil safety half way down the hill. The
enemy were on all sides of him, blazing
way at our fellows on the top. They ev-
Ithtly took everything very coolly. They
would crawl about among the rocks until
lhey found a suitable place for cover, and
men lire away for about an hour, after
winch they would crawl back for a smoke
"ld chat. Some of them would even go
!" sleep for thirty minutes. They were
l"Iiectly confident of victory, and had
,"elr tents ready to pitch Immediately they
nad captured the ridge, which they said
u''y would do before night. On Sunday
.Aoy declared, they intended to take the
own AT o'clock, however. in the mid
Ole OF the terrific shower of hail which