Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1900-09-06
THE B|)ERS At ST. HELENA.
They Are, Apparently, Faring Bet
ter Than Their Brethren
in the Field.
THEY MUST NOT CROSS THE DEAD LINE.
The Officers are Posted ut the st.
Helena Club and Gen. CronJe is
Practically the Guest of the Gov
ernOr-COI. ShieI Said to be still
CantnnkerOus.

CnntankerOus.
New York, Sept. 3.-The British
steamship Masconomo, which has
just arrived at South Africa touched
at st. Helena for repairs. Capt. Mann
was permitted to visit the Boer pris-
oners on the island. He rode up the
five-mile winding road to the top of
Rupert hill, in Deadwood plain, where
he found the prison pen of Gen.
Cronje's 1000 men. Deadwood plain
is east of jamestown. The stockade
is two miles from Longwood, which
was the home of Napoleon.
Within n Barbed Wire TrOcha.
The Boer captives are confined
within q barbed wire inclosure
quarter of a mile square. Twelve
feet from the fence, on all sides, is a
second trocha like the first. 1t is
death for Boer private 20 cross he
line of the inner pen.
Capt. Mann said that Boer, wish
ing for change of scene, left the M
ner inclosure and advanced to the
outer inclosure. The sentinel warned
him and ordered the man to go back.
The Boer only laughed. The sentinel
fired and killed his man. The British
soldier was then tried and acquitted
by u court martial.
COnsiderate Treatment.
"While the British soldiers sleep 13
men in a tent" said Capt. Mann, tine
Beers sleep only ten men to tent
In order to afford them all the room
possible, the British have allowed the
Beers to cut bamboos for snacks
These bamboo frames the Beers have
ingeniously covered with canvass and
tanned in curious way. There were
on the island a great many paraftine
cans, which the Beers carefully fat
tened out for tin sides and roofs to
their shacks.
Some of the Prisoners Work.
"Some of the prisoners are per-
mitted 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 if they meet you on
the highway. These Beers fraternize
with the inhabitants.
The nearest approach to anything
| like uniforms was three uniform hats
which picked out among the 1000.
"The Cradle and the Grave"
''There were many men 20 years
old, and just as many others Is, 16
and II.
1.-THE officers with whom I con-
versed speak both Dutch and English.
| The privates are not as bright as their
| officers. They seemed rather n stupid
lot. They have the same fare as the
| British soldiers.
| The Island Garrison.
"There are two regiments in the
| garrison-the West Indian colored
regiment, composing the regular gar
rison, and the Fifth Gloucester infan.
try, Lieut.-Col. Evans, guarding the
prisoners.
"The Beers have such an aversion
to blacks that the proposition of as.
signing the West Indians to guard the
captives could not be entertained.
Col. ShieI Stin CnntnnlSeFOus.
81 conversed with Col. Shiel, tho
! German officer who fought with tho
Beers. He was very cantankerous
still.
"Commandant Roose, the Boer Off
Ger who captured Winston Churchill
was very conciliatory. He told me
that he thought the game was up
and his people ought TO stop fighting
Officers Have Good Times.
1.-THE Boer officers are allowed tC
do pretty much as they please, ant
their names are posted at the st
Helena club. The British officers en-
terrain them at afternoon teas, and
Gen. Cronje is practically the steady
guest of the governor.
Connected by Cable.
"a cable now runs to the island
from South Africa, and the bulletins
from the seat of war are frequently
struck off and sold to the prisoners a
a penny apiece.
"a Dutch ship anchored while wal
there, but was requested to leave, nnC
did so. The British were afraid som,
of the Beers would get away on theil
cousins ship"
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