The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-15
OF THE WAR.
.,nrR DESCRIBES SCENE AT
fart OF HosTILITIEs.
1.A,.s Endured by Refugees
- yohannesburs Rushing to
v.ssnaly Observation-Disclosures
"a ABILITY OF the n"er'

VICTORIA, Is. u, jan. -.
=. Ietter received at Victoria today from
~ -. Incidents attending the outbreak OF
asn,t,cs there. The writer says:
s~s,,r abort months ago We were hard
:. .scyt IN johannesburg In various d.
..,rrs which we had long looked upon
s~rnanently assured, believing that the
s.,,,hances in the political atmosphere
s,sA had been going on for years
..rM still proceed indefinitely or end In
S.ssrs a they had often done before. and
e,.-hinr al the hosts who had got the
I s,sts ana were leaving the country daily
- hundreds. The British were backing
y their demands by landing Indian troops
= Natal and more we're on the way from
~ IA country. The Beers had long been
s,ned TO the teeth and. for some months
,rsylously, the government had been sup
uyins guns Of the latest patterns to the
Esrsrs IN the country districts The
..s.ss hoveyer. seemed to be reached when
~ Nv the authorities commenced distri-
sss,us Mausers and ammunition to the
s,~ghers IN town. Business men, TAR more
9~sssI,sh In their taste than Dutch, clerks
Il Ecycles old men who had been road
v~stins as destitutes and striplings with
= enormous display Of side were seen
ssAnsnidering home brand new guns. Early
~ Following morning orders having been
ssceived for the commandos to proceed
testnvith to the Natal border. the work
Il Communicating commenced IN real earn
~ writer after decribing the seizure
~ M Transvaal government Of all horses
"a supplies proceeds to describe the en-
ssss horses were the first on board,
nile on the next siding fighting men,
VIZ wen charged bandoliers. slowed away
M provisions and equipment In covered
trucks. The detachment, numbering about
NJ formed the first portion of the johann
ussburg commando and was composed OF
"A had new kits and accouterments. and
generous supply Of good things edible,
silh whisky and cigarettes galore. but the
ereeter portion appeared to be Of the
poorer classes and to have nothing but
What they carried In blanket and a
rocket full Of 'baccy.'
sfhcusands witnessed the departure and
many were the pathetic scenes as aged
mothers, young wives and sisters waved
ia many cases-a last farewell But
throughout the force, with the exception Of
/ nm old gray boards. who alone seemed
70 realise the grave nature Of the bust
utss the utmost enthusiasm prevailed, as
Il d the first conviction Of the Dutcn, as
tanght them from their cradle, from the
tie veldt, that their victory is assured. as
ths Rooineks can't fight, and that with
little opposftion they will drive the hated
BYitishers out of the land and South Afri-
CO Wi soon be a Dutch republic.
The same afternoon a long train ar
rived packed to overlooking with tho COM
mando, numbering, It is said, 5000 from the
Krugersdorp district and a motley crew
these sons Of the soil appeared. rowling
At the carriage windows. unshaven, un-
dihpidated Of SLOUGH hats. but fairly
frantic with excitement. triumphantly
waving the vierkleur CTransvaal fag) and
another representing the union OF the
Tnn1vaal and the Orange Free State.
Aiter TIL. attachments were daily leav-
ircnt. Even in the middle of the night the
cheering might be heard as they passed
through Park station"
British Leaving johannesburg.
Speaking Of the accommodation provided
outgoing Britishers the writer says
White men, Cinnamon, coolies and KAT
frs we're huddled together for days and
nights under scorching sun and drenching
rain. the women and children being rele-
gated to the only carriages available, which
we're packed to suffocation. During the
long. wearisome Journey It was no unusual
occurrence to be shunted into a siding
for hours to allow the burghers to pass.
Or worse still, be turned out on to the
vedt without food or shelter; in one In
stance the use of water tap in the sta
ton was denied by the Hollander off,
Gals cupful for a sick child being re-
fused
"0ne came across cases that were par
ticuarly sad intermarriage giving 1t all
me horrors Of civil war. One young fell
low, Just Off to join his commando only
the day before said goodby to his cous-
ms his lifelong companions, who we're
On 70 join the Imperial Light Horse in
Natal, Goodby, old chap says one to
:. Britisher. we've been friends long
lime it's damned hard l should have to
shoot YOU
Another snatch overheard in a tea-room:
Wen. Jack. are you off? Then your we'd
eng Is postponed Yes, worse luck, and
s,de, The forty-eight hours granted to the
British government Cto give Great Britain
= last chanceo In which to reply 10 the
iIansvaal ultlmatum, demanding the with
oaIawa! OF the troops in Natal, was a pc
.ioe OF tension and anxiety although few
outlanders doubted what the nature of the
answer would be-
The scene when the British agent at Pre-
VIA handed In his governments dispatch
ouecnning even to discuss the Transvaal
p,ggposas was pathetic In the extreme. The
eu president and the members of the ex-
evuluve council present bowed their heads
NV mere was intense silence for some
,sconos Then Mr.. Cunningham Greene,
w wno with Lady Lilly Greene, had done
,, n 70 bring about a good feeling be-
%sen Boer and Briton. at once received
s ,nslf passports and said goodby to the
president and leading officials. who at once
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