The National tribune., 1900-11-15
A BOER DELiLAH.
The Fascinating Woman Who Was Kruger'f
Sny

One of the most fascinating stories of
the war in South Africa that have as yet
found their way into print was told in the
Daily NeUs by that journals war CORE
spondent, Mr.. A. g. Hales.
1t is the story Of a woman whose re-
markable personality. and still more re-
markable cunning, enabled her to play the
part of Kruger's spy to perfection, and to
entrap British officers into parting with
precious military secrets, the knowledge
of which by the Beers was the direct
cause Of some of our greatest disasters.
Here is Mr.. Hales' description of this
South African witch:
''She was Il woman of about 30 years of
age. Madame was of German or Swedish
nationality, married TO Russian civil en-
gineer. She was not a beauty, but her
face was full of charm, her eyes had the
gift of eloquence, and she could say more
without opening her mouth than most
women can impart who possess tireless
tongue. She coIld be gay or sad, pathetic,
pleading or imprrious at will.
Her hands were shapely, soft and
white, and had the trick of clinging caress-
ingly to masculine fingers when the humor
suited the dame, and men who knew her
well, and who later came under her spell,
have told me that there was a magnetism
in her touch which drew men to her as
moonlight draws the sea-Something
dainty. like the scent of the waffle flower
at the dawning in the nostrils of the bush
man.
Her waist would fit the Crook of n
mans arm. her bust was fashioned on a
model designed bys the gods. When she
reclined upon a settee she looked like n
tigress basking in the sun, SO full of lis
som grace and vitality did she seem, and
when she walked hef body undulated like
the ripples Of runting. FLYER"
Her first missionL was famong the Boer
women in the Free Stateoand Natal. .
when she left johannesburg on her
frequent trips she was not wasting her
time, as folk fanci6d. From town to town,
from farm to farm, she vent with restless
activity, organizing a, system of spying
among the Boer women. ait was Madame
who arranged that when our troops ar
rived anywhere in Natal or the Free State
the wives of the farmers and the best
looking daughters should visit our lines
with fresh eggs, fresh butter and other
little luXuries. She, instructed them TO
take note Of the number of men in each
camp, the number OF guns, and the guam
tity and condition Of our horses. Each
was advised to send all information so
CLEANED promptly to the nearest Boer com
mando, and right well they obeyed her
when the time for action came"
Presently she established herself ut
Cape Town, in a sweet, secluded villa, and
looked very pathetic in her loneliness"
Among others VINO fell under the spell of
her fascination was a certain British Off
Ger of the bluest blood-a man with "a
pretty face, soft blue eyes, and brain to
match" Mr.. Hales describes him rs Il
poltroon in war, and a simplcton in all
else. He was the witch's shadow.
"He thought he was fooling the green
grass widow, but she knew she was
him dry. All that she gathered
from him went rapidly either by trtlsty
or by code pleairanged TO Del
agoa Bay. and from there it soon found its
way into the haEds of tbs Boer leaders,
Who laughed i:catil a:otra their mess