The Opelousas courier., 1900-03-10

defenders with cannon and rifles, and,
what was worse. 'Greek FIRE" shot in
metallic tubes into the thatch of the
roofs. Perhaps if the Beers could
only have summed up courage to
make o determined assault while the
huts were bIazfSS and half the gar
rison occupied in putting out the
flames, they might has captured the
fort. But they did not ca1e TO meet
the stubborn defenders of Fort Mary
hand to hand. So they c~ontented
themselves with potting at the gallant
fellows who fearlessly exposed them
selves in their efforts to extinguish
the fire. Those efforts were success
full, though they cost the lives of two
brave men who could ill be spared.
But the garrison were not content
with standing only on the defensive.
They made pluck little night s~orties,
which scared the Beers considerably
and caused them some loss. Twice
Conductor Parsons of the Army Ser.
vice Corps sailed out alone in the
dark aud pitched hand grenades II
among the enemy, which produced 9
p RECT panic among them. There
was a vigorous sspping aud mining,
too, on the part of tn Royal Engineers,
who made it lively for the besiegers.
Then the water ran short. A pint
a day for each man was all that could
be spared, and this was terribly short
rations of drink in the hottest month
of an African summer. At last tht
rain, which for many weary hours they
had watched deluging the hills around,
condescended to visit them, and theE
they had rather more water than they
wanted; for, the huts being all roof.
less since the fire, there was no shell.
ter from the pitiless downpour. The
soldiers, always eager and anxious te
protect Mrs. Long, rugged up a tar.
screen to shield her from tho
when sleeping; but, despite their
care. she often woke up drenched.
The new Of the disasters at Laing's
Mex and Msjuba Hill was, of course,
promptly communicated to them by
the enemy, accompanied by a per-
emptory summons to surrender. But
Long, though badly
wounded himself, with his faithful
wife nursing him night and day, sent
back the curt answer: II shall hold
out to the last" And the men, looking
that brave woman 30 patient and
cheerful under her terrible load of
anxiety, set their teeth hard and swore
'he Beers should never have Fort
Mary while there was a man left to
a rife.
"And ever on the topmast roof the
I'D banner of England blew" At
irst, indeed, it was but a merchant
'hip's ensign. How they hoisted a
cal union,jack I will let Mrs. Long
elf in her own words:
"Our ships ensign had become,
What with the wind and what with the
a perfect shred; moreover we
we're anxious to hoist q real union
ack. A Geneva flag was discovered,
'ut though sufficient red and white
we're forthcoming to complete the
no blue was to be found.
Nothing daunted, the mon came to me
o inquire if I possessed such a thing
$ a bit of dark blue for the new flag,
nd, to their delight, I gave them a
erge dress of the desired color. A
'eautiful union-jack was very soon
made and hoisted, instead of the first.
Dur ships engign, though exchanged.
Vas not discarded, for under its tat
ered shred our brave fellows were
arried to their graves"
On the goth of March the B ,ers
ept up a furious cannonade and fusil-
ade all night. But the next morning,
o the surprise of the garrison white
.ag was hoisted over the enemy's lines,
nd under its protection Lieutenant
'aker OF the Sixtieth Rifles brought
hem the humiliating news that peace
ad been concluded with the Beers.
the gallant defenders marched out
rom the riddled and battered little
ort which for "a days they had held
gainst ten times their number.
Mrs. Long was SO thin and pulled
own that her friends in Lydenberg
ardIy knew her. The Beers cheered
er heartily as she passed them on
er way into the town, and their COM |
lander, Pet Steyne, treated her with 1
utmost courtesy. Indeed, such o |
h%ivalrous gentleman was this gallant |
'oer that he sentenced one of his men I
25 lashes for shouting out during
lie siege: "Gome ont, Mrs. Long, l
nd make us some coffee; we are so
At the same time he threatened /
ouble the penalty if any further in {
alt were offered to the English lady. I
Lieutenant Long and his men were
complimented in q general
for their successful and he
,ic defence" But I am disposed to :
link that the largest share of the '
raise was due to the brave woman q
no set them SO noble an example,
Magazine.
Old Maps of ths United States.
~ II