The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-29
New York cn,,on ,InrIse,.
LETTERS FROM CAPE TOWN.
Gustav FIeischhnuer's Efforts {
Reach the TrnnsvnnI.

The family of Gustav Fleischhauer, who
left his home in Washington last October
to join the Boer forces in their campaign
against the British, are in receipt of fire.
quent letters from the young man. who
has been unable as yet to go to the front
from Cape Town. by reason OF illness.
These letters are read to coterie Of
friends Of the family at the home of Mr..
Julius T. Fleschhauer, l Myrtle Street, a
brother of the writer.
The most recent letter is. in part, as
follows:
The British in Cape Town are uneasy and all
news OF the Boer victories is suppressed turned
natives OF Cape Town are restless and the British
lear that the success of the Boer armies in the
held may lead 10 uprising. and the forts at
that place may be seized and destroyed.
In a former letter he says:
The children and the young people Of Cape
Town and the surrounding towns are singing tie
Nolkslied," the Boer national hymn. At Paarl
thirty miles from Cape Town, the British
noIed trains have been fired upon by small bands
of Boer sympathzers who dispersed before they
could be found BY the English troops.
The British mistrezting every person sup
posed TO be in sympathy with the Beers, and carry
their persecution SO far to mistreat passengers
on English ships bound for Cape Town other
4
English vessel and taken sick few days
out. The ships doctor gave me some medicine
that contained opiates, and became unconscious;
no further attention was paid TO me- and but for
a Salvation Army captain ] would have det.
When complained 10 the ships steward they
looked up my name the ships book and when
they found II was Fleischhauer and that /
booked for Cape Town they Immediately charged
me with being Boer syfnpathizer, and said that
did not deserve any attention from the hands OF
the English. | hope within the next few weeks
TO he able to leave Cape Town for some other
place whence | can make my way to the Boer
lines.
In speaking Of the situation in South
Africa, Mr.. Julius Fleischauer said
! have sister. Mrs George Schultz. who. with
her husband and eight children, b,sieged in
Kimberley and we have heard nothing from her
since carly last autumn, lust before war was. de-
ciared. She wrote at that time that the English
soldiers were pouring into Kimberley, throwing
up bresstworks, and preparing to defend the
place. ] have spent several years in kimberley,
and II there has been half the bombariing Of
the town the papers report believe it has been
almost destroyed, and the loss Of life has been
great The reports that the inhabitants II
Kimberley have been taking refuge in the cellars
cannot be true, for there are no cellars under
refuge IN the galleries Of the mines, but IL the
Beers make determined attack do not be-
lieve that Kimberley can hold out very long
The ignorance Of the British of the country in
SOuRH Attic IS Nht nlost ASTOUNDING feature OF
the war 10 me. For years they have had their
soldiers there, and General Warren who was re-
Gently defeated, has conducted previous cam
paigns against the natives in Suohusnsland and
ought 10 know something Of the ground over
which he has been fighting for the las; few
weeks.
The ground where the Modder River fight took
place Is very familiar 10 me. II was at the
iuncture Of the Modder and Refer rivers. which
form triangle where they meet. and how the
British could have been entTapped | unable
10 sec, for the ground at the place Is level eN-
cept very near the river, where ii is slightly
rough but not enough TO offer the obstacles the
British claim 10 have met with
The Modder and Refer rivers. like all rivers
in Africa. are merely small strains between very
PERCEPTIONS banks. and in the five years spent
in that vicinity I never any Of the foods
which have been spoken Of occurring and
impt:ing the progress Of the British troops
The reports that General Joubert was born in
this country all wrong. for he was horn a
farm near Bethlehem. in The Orange Free State. |
His father was French and his mother German.
His exact birthplace not known when | was
in the Trshsyaal, but it was not far from
Bethlehem.
/ AN hoping every day TO hear that my brother
has succeeded in joining the Boers, and would !
60 myself except that ! have wife and two |
children who have TO be provided for. My |
father is over seventy Year, old, but would go is
the Tiansyaal tomorrow il myself and sister here
F., -