The age-herald., 1900-02-18
Living Under Cannon Fire

I wonder how many persons realize what
 bombardment by modern siege guns
 means. They are mounted five or six miles
 from the town, and unless you happen to
 see the flash the shell and the report reach
 you almost simultaneously.
 Again. too, the artillery of today is such
 an exact science that there is no need for
 the gun to be within sight of the object 1t
 is intended to hit. Many of the pieces in the battery against us are 100 yards down
 the slope behind the hill from which they
 firing, and have dummy earthworks on
 the sky line to deceive our gunners.
 For this reason you never know when
 you strike them. It is a curious fact that
 during the four solid weeks that compli-
 ments have been exchanged between the
 enemy's batteries and our own not one
 gun has been definitely put out of action.
 This would not have been tine case had our
 investment been delayed even week. As
 il is the town suffers the discomfort
 So far 1 think the most dramatic incl
 dent of the siege occurred last Wednesday
 night. We were bomfoarded by the enemy
 for all he worth during as terrific a
 thunders torm as I have ever witnessed in
 any country.
 We have had nocturnal cannonades until we wake up just to know they are going
 on and drop off to sleep again without wait ing for the end; have had thunder storms, too, and welcomed them as clearing the air But the two together, and both on a magnificent scale, was an experience that
 will never be forgotten.
 The thunderstorm started first, and I am bound to say, made a much better show than the ombardment-besides lasting longer. For a full hour before the storm reached us we sat in front of our tents watching the continuous sheets of light
 which played in the skies.
 Incessant rumblingS from far away were echoed among the hills around the town. Then the sheet of light was rent with blinding flashes, followed by absolutely deafening crashes. The hills seemed to quake. It was worth climbing the one that backed our camp to watch the storm. Just as we reached the summit we be- came aware that the Boers were contribute ing to the entertainment. But the thun- der of their cannon was small beer com- pared with natures thunder.
 It Is true that you could discern the flash of their guns upon the background of lightning that played over the hills, but it was Nike a match struck in front of a Crystal Palace set-piece. It is true, too, you could hear the sound of their cannon
 ade dove-tailed into the roar of the storm,
 but it was like the firing of a popgun to distract the noise from a gas explosion. And so the unequal endeavor to create awe-inspiring effect continued. But it was not for long. A quarter of an hour after the Boer gunnerts took up the challenge of the storm great raindrops commenced to fall. Then came a soaking downpour, driv- ing artillerymen and spectators of the scene | to cover.
 The storm, to emphasize it's victory, light ed up the town and hills with two dazzling | flashes Two fearful claps of thunder fol- 1 lowed them, and then the storm growled l away In the distant hills, as suddenly as it | had approached.
 By midnight all was quiet, and the ene- | my spared us the cannonade he was &C., | customed to serve out at that hour.