The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-04
BoERs WELL TREATED.
Captain Mann's Account of His yisit
10 the st. Helena Prison.

NEW YORK. Sept. 3.-The British steam
err Masconomo. which has just arrived
here from South Africa. touched At st.
Helena for repairs. Captain Mann was per-
mitted to visit the Boer prisoners on the
island. He rode Up the fve-mile winding
road TO the top of Rupert hill in Dead
wood plain. where he found the prison per
OF General Cronje's 1900 men, Deadwood
plain is east of Jamestown The stockade
is two miles from Longwood. which was
the home of Napoleon The Boer captives
are confined within a barbed wire inclos-
ure quarter of a mile square. Twelve
feet from the fence on all sides is second
trocha like the first. IL is death for a Bocr
private to cross the line of the inner pen.
Captain Mann said that Boer. wishing
for a change Of scene. left the inner in
closure and advanced TO the outer inclos-
ure. The sentinel warned him and ordered
the man TO go back. The 3oer only laughed
The sentinel fired and killed his man. Tho
British soldier was then tried and scquit-
ted by a ccurt-martial.
"While the British soldiers sleep thirteen
men in a tent" said Captain Mann. 'the
Beers sleep only ten men In a tent. In or
der TO afford them all the room possible the
British have allowed the Beers to cut bam-
boos for shacks. These bamboo frames the
Beers have ingeniously covered with can
vas and with slabs of tin. The tin they OBJ
tanned IN a curious way. There were on the
island a great many parsffine cans. which
the Beers carefully hattened out for the tin
sides and roofs 10 their shacks.
Some of the prisoners are permitted to
work for the farmers on the island, and
thereby earn little money. Many are
dark-skinned. six-foot fellows. who go
about smoking long pipes. They always
give the military salute IL they meet you
in the highway. These Beers frafernize
with the inhabitants.
1.-The nearest approach TO anything like
uniforms was three uniform hats. which
picked out among the 1000. There are many
men seventy years old. and just as many
fifteen. sixteen and seventeen. The officers
with whom | conversed speak both Dutch
and English. The privates are not as
bright as their officers. They seemed a
rather stupid lot. They have the same fare
az the British soldiers.
There are two regiments In the garrison
the West Indian colored regiment. COM
posing the regular garrison. and the Fifth
Gloucester infantry. Lieut.. Col. Evans.
guarding the prisoners The Beers have
such an aversion TO blacks that the propo-
sition of assigning the West Indians 10
guard the natives could not be entertained.
Il conVersed with Colonel Schiel. the
German officer who fought with the Beers.
He was very cattankerous still. COM
mandant ROose the Boer officer who cap
tured Winston Churchill, was very concili-
atory lie told me that he thought the
game was up and that his people ought 10
stop lighting. The Boer officers are al
lowed TO do pretty much they please.
and their names are posted at the 81.
Helena Club. The British officers enter
tain them at afternoon teas. and General
Cronje il practically the steady guest OF
the Governor.
"a cable now runs to the island from
South Africa and the bulletins from the
seat of war arc frequently struck of and
sold 10 the prisoners for penny apiece
"A Dutch ship anchored while I Was
there. but was requested 60 leave. ana did
50. The British were afraid some cf The
Beers would set away on their ecusins'
ship"