The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-16
poEn uAIp HELPED the BRITISH.
A Tale Of Two Lovers and n Bursher fio' 70
Seize Johannesburn

OTTAWA Sent "a Writing from SPRINGS
south Africa, on Aug /. a correspondent III ,ne
first Canadian contingent gives me ~lono"'hs
romantic history Of the failure OF n boer p'o'
10 recapture johannesburg which hada pIospeo'
of being SUCCESSFUL until the owe OF y boer
maiden for a Briton overcame her PATRIOTISM
and saved the British garrison; i,
e, connie Of weeks ago the Beers within ana
without Johannesburg arranged ior q IE'"s
there BY making all our officers prisoner anu
then by ATTACKING the soldiers, "ho' " Nd'
expected. would he demoralized and surrenoer'
Meetings were held by the Boer Leaders w 'ne
Grand National Hotel and ah arrangement
were made once more 20 place Johahnesours
in the hands of the burghers TN sa'uruaF
afternoon, July II. a gymkhana had peeh ar
ranged for by the Officers TO he heiu on 'no
racetrack, under the patronage OF the Military
Goyernor and the Major General commanding,
for charitable purposes. II was expected 'hat
almost all the officers OF the garrison would
be there.
The Beers purposed attending this meet
ing armed with revolvers, and having a large
number Of cOnfederates. armed likewise pu'
with Mausers, hiding In buildings IN the I'M
mediate vicinity OF the racetrack, ready 10 act
upor, the given signal. IL was planned tha'
when the officers had been made PRISONERS
other Beers in the city would concentrate al a
point fixed upon and attack the British soldiers.
While this was going on a large NUMBER OF
Beers from the outside would rush INTO the
town and assist their countrymen. IL was
anticipated that the soldiers would be utterly
demoralized by the absence OF their oiflcers'
and with no one 90 direct them would easily
be overcome and made prisoners. The whoie
plan was carefully and secretly concocted'
so that the military authorities were IN entlre
Ignorance Of the plot on the morning OF the
day for putting II into execution. The total
miscarriage Of the Beers bold attempt was
brought about by a woman in a very simple
and yet interesting tale Of love.
1T appears that II pretty Boer maiden in
Johannesburg had two lovers. one an English
man and the other a burRher. They we're both
very pressing for the hand OF this young girl.
ON the morning Of The gymkhana day the
Boer lover visited her aud urged an immediate
marriage that very morning. and, for the rea-
son OF such urgency, he unioldcd the Boer
plot to seize johannesburg. A. he was 10
take part in the stirring event OF the day, he
Was afraid that possibly he would tie killed
Or Wounded. and consequently wished 10 make
the young woman his wife. The girl asked
tor two hours to consider the proposal, dt the
expiration Of which time he was to return TO
her for his answer.
As soon a. the Boer lover was well out OF
sight the girl rushed 10 the Military Cover
nor and gave him all the information she had
Just received. II can readily be understood
how such a tale would startle that officer, and
he at once took action. On the young womHn's
return home she was accompanied nv some
Of the military police. who followed d short
distance behind, and when the Boer lover re-
turned for his answer he was ~ once arrested
and taken before The Military Governor. On
I the prisoner discriminating papers and letters
we're found which bore out all that the younH
woman had told and d great deal more. A
list of the leaders was discovered among the
y Il. pers secured. aud other important infor'
nation.
The Governor noted promptly. cancelled
the gymkhana. and had all the Beers whose
names appeared on the lists. arrested and al
once sent 10 Cape Town. More than 500 Boer'
were made prisoner. 4 general search fol
arms was ordered. and hundreds Of Mauser'
were found hidden under mattresses and In
other places. There is little doubt but for the
information given the Military Governor by the
Roer maiden the Beers would have heen sue
cessfnl In retakinG Johannesburg The action
If this young girl was most commendable, and
il will no doubt he amply compensated by the
Imperial Government, II il only a fair pre-
sumption that the young maids tastes were for
hor English lover, who will. no doubt. now run
n winning race for the possession Of her hand,
a. his competitor is out Of II e1ectually."