Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-30
CRONJE AT ST. HELENA.

London Chronicle: Kent Cottapa
where is the present home of Cronje agld
MS small %retinue, is pleasantly Situated,
though the approach is by no means
of two routes. Their is the shorter WY,
up Jacobs Ladder, with it's 700 steps
save one-a straight course up the face
of an almost perpendicular rock-or
there is the zigzag carriage road. When
the top of the hill is reached the road
branches off in another direction, but
ever ON the rise, and bordered ON either
side by thickets of prickly pear cactus.
The road is red rock. Just below the
extreme head of a valley which drops
to the right and runs dow to the sea,
there comes into view Cronje's new
home. The cacti have vanished, Will
a delightful breeze comes down from the
hills yet further up.
It Is just such a cottage as may be
seen on the outskirts of many am Eng
lish village. Imagine an unpretentious
|two-storied dwelling with slate roof and
yellow washed wallis, standing out clear
.ly from "a background of green hillside.
The window frames and shutters are
painted the same shade of green that
you may see amy day at a Dutch farm
house in The a district of the Cape
colony. In ron runs a veTanda and
there is a slightly raised "stoep." There
is also some pretence at a flower garden,
but it is sadly neglected. The garden is
incased by a black wooden paling and
still further in front is a little more cul-
tivated land. with bananas and a few
other trees. The scene is simplicity it.
self, but for the bell tent in the right
hand front corner of the garden and the
steady tramp of khaki clad sentries,
east, west, north and south.
On the stoep and beneath the veranda
for the best part of the day sits General
Cronje, dark of visage, somewhat long
bearded and with hair turning gray
His eyes are deep set, dark and ferret
like, and his demeanor is one OF extreme
reserve. Piet Cronje can speak Engnsn
as we'll as any T~ransvaaler OF Dutch ex-
traction, but you may ply him IN VAIN
with questions in English. He positive
ly refuses to speak anything but his ma
tive "taal." and even then his replies are
little more than monosyllables. He has
little to say about anything and is diff
cult to draw out. OF course he feels his
position. You may see that written large
upon his face: but, contrary to what SO
many people think, he appears to be very
grateful for any kindness that is shown
him and fully appreciates the efforts that
are made to secure his effort. BEYOND
his HI is as the sphinx. y
1t is a strange character, this OF Fiet
Cronje. Charges of terrible cruelty haVs
been laid at his door and somehow
when you carefully regard his face, you
feels sure that the man is CAPABLE of VIC
lating the terms of an armistice or firing
on the women and children's lager. Yet
there are some reaeeming features, as,
for example, when the fire of patriotism
lights his eye and more particularly in
the homage paid to his wife. Al cay Ions
Mrs. Cronie, in rusty black dress AMI
black Boer ~'karpie.'' is the defeated
generals cIase companion. G#Ssrs who
are blood relations may emcrg7 from the
house and remain for Il b'iaf while b.
Meath tie ~veranda, bat II s Lh9It
tnefn she rertlesEreSs and i'm n9sstysol
they were iaaui&itire. Tfie ai sal
W.. for irstpvcc. wca ~ eet-
tara there c~n.a w't=tn a I,s7s 81 a.
| fifty yards. irst outSSaa the 9aeianfs'
seatries. two young sroalterrs with IL
glasses aHl s~a~sfot ca
thay were rqu.&...e. a. -e:-. -