The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-16
VISIT TO A PRISON SHIP
HOW CAPTURED BOERS SPEND
THEIR TIME AT SIMONS TOWN.
Given Better Food Than the English
men Who Are Making an En-
forced Stay at Pretoria.
correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
LONDON, Feb. 1.-THE WEAKNESS Of Cape
Town criticisms and explanation is varied
by an account in the Times Of a visit to
Boer prisoners, under date Of Cape Town,
Jan. z. 1t follows:
"A few days ago 1 took the occasion to
visit the Boer prisoners of war at Simons
Town on the Cunard transport Catalonia.
The Catalonia was anchored well out in the
bay, no doubt to prevent a repetition of
the attempts to escape by swimming which
were made from the Manila rattle more
than a week ago. Climbing on deck L at
once lit on acquaintance, men l had met
at Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Johannesburg
or in the Boer laager at Sandspruit.
'The prisoners were scattered all over
the deck, some reading or playing
d%raughts, others pretending to fish or walk
ing about. Some looked profoundly bored,
others were holding animated CONVERSE
tons, chiefly about the war. A favorite
amusement seemed to consist in chatting
the sentries or the crew about the British
reverses. One wizened little man, a
Johannesburg bar loafer, to judge by ap-
pearances, was treating a sailor to a most
graphic account of how 1t took six Lancers
to capture him at Elandslaagte, a state
ment which provoked much laughter from
his fellow-prisoners.
1.-The dinner bell then rang and we went
below. TIL whole dimly lit space below
deck was filled with rows of wooden tables,
with prisoners kits and with
slung TO the low ceiling. They were not
very CHEEKY quarters. it must be confessed.
and the prisoners complained very freely
about them, contrasting them with the
comfort they had enjoyed at the docks hos
pital in Cape Town. 1t is true the space
occupied by some $50 prisoners on the Cata-
lonia Is the same as that allotted to 1000
of our soldiers on their way out, and, as
the captain of the Catalonia said to me
afterwards, IF the soldiers were so pleased
with their accommodation and feeding that
they sent a special deputation to thank
me before they left the ship / don't see
why these Beers should grumble If they
get the same treatment
"Still, ii must be thai most
of the prisoners. especially those taken
at E~landlaagte, are men belonging to the
middle and upper classes and accustomed
to live in considerable comfort. These
naturally find their present quarters
squalid, gloomy and unpleasant. The only
task imposed on them is that of keeping
their own quarters clean. They are allowed
to receive visitors on certain days of the
week. Their friends may supply them
with any luxuries they like in the way of
deck chairs, clothes, cakes, fruit or tobac-
CO. in fact. anything except money and
spirits, and as very many OF them have
relatives in Cape Town or else friends
among the uitlanders staying sdoWn here
NtA(J u ~ - ~ W. ACAh1At anu lOA-
gotten. Their food is not very varied, but
is sufficient and healthy. The meal / saw
consisted of boiled beef, potatoes, pickles.
bread and coffee.
From such information as comes to
hand through Boer sources Ii would seem
that our prisoners now confined in the
neighborhood of Pretoria are we'll treated.
| 1t is rumored they get rather less meat
and rather more mealie pap than the SOL
| diers care for. but In the hot climate of
Pretoria, without sufficient exercise to keep
them in condition. a mainly vegetarian diet
can do no great harm. They have an in
closure sufficiently large TO allow them to
| play cricket and football in. From what
| / saw of the Boer leaders myself at the
| outbreak of the war and from their be-
| havior since / believe they intend carry
| ing on this war in a civilized and humane
| spirit. Almost invariably the wounded
| nave been given back 10 their own side.
although 1t is a fact that with the wounds
| caused by the modern rifle quite % per cent.
| Of the wounded are able TO return to the
! front within two months"