The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-30


Correspondence of the Associated Press
London. March 21.-Hon Mrs. Roch-
fort Mcguire, who, with her husband,
the British South African company di-
rector, remained in Kimberley through
out the siege, describes her experiences
in several columns Of the London
Times. Like all the, correspondents,
she is loud in her praises of the work
done by Cecil Rhodes. She says:
For some time before Magersfon-
TEN, Mr.. Rhodes had felt that in view
or the uncertain duration of the siege,
~ was necessary to get rid of as many
mouths as possible. This idea had
been at first opposed by the military
authorities, but they gave way eventu-
ally, and he managed to get rid of
some 5000 out OF the 10000 natives in
the compounds. This was splendidly
managed by L. Finn, his agent, who
understanding the natives thoroughly,
Won their confidence and explained the
situation TO them. and led them out of
town in detachments. They started on
their way in very good spirits, carrying
their belongings, cooking pots, blan-
kets, etc, together with some rations,
fully intending, many Of them, to re-
turn when the war was over.
Must Leave the Town.
After the battle of the Modder, Lord
Mechuen, who expected to be in Kim
berly almost Immediately, sent a mes
sage to Colonel Kekewich that he
would not be able to remain any time.
and so, practically all non-combatants
must leave. A little food would be sent
in and the town would be only occu-
pied by its defenders.
e@H 49,
ton among the people, who thought it
very hard that after enduring a siege
OF two months they should be called
upon TO leave the town, and go nobody
knew where, at almost a moments no
tice. Colonel Kekewich stated at
meeting Of the town council that the
people would havo to leave on the entry
of Lord Methuen. but all the same,
numbers Of the people said they in
tended refusing to go, the great pro-
portion Of them being not at all well
off and had nowhere to go. A telegram
was sent by the principal men in the
town setting forth the difficulties of
turning out 10000 people suddenly with
out provision having been made for
them.
our intelligence department did not
succeed in getting much information,
so Mr.. Rhodes organized a system of
native runners and scouts, by which
we were enabled not only to receive
occasional papers and letters from the
outside world, but also learned what
the besiegers were about, where their
laagerS were, etc.
Beers Were Active.
I'VE gathered that there were prob
ably never more than 1000 or 5000
around us at any time, with about
5000 or 1000 (if as many more in Spyt-
fontein impeding Lord Methuen's adj
vance, but so mobile are these irregu-
lar troops that whenever we made a
sortie they collected from all parts in
q very short time and made action or
our part very difficult. if not impOssi-
bic. without great loss of life.'
The Standards Kimberley CORE
spondent states that the Sunday previ-
Gus to relief, when petitions praying
that surrender be resorted to were be-
ing circulated in the beleaguered town.
Mr.. Rhodes received a message
through the intelligence department
from Lord Roberts saying it would be
100 humiliating for the town to sur
render after its brave defense, and
asking him 10 assure the people that
relief would reach them in a few days.
The message as received by Mr..
Rhodes, was marked Secret I met
him shortly after its receipt, when he
read it TO me, saying:
I knew Lord Roberts never intend
ed it to be kept secret. The people
need something to cheer them up, and
/ want every one to know l have re-
ceived this cheering news