The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-09
WEBSTER DAVIS ON
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.


tries. The truth is, / defy contradiction.
that the British soldiers themselves are
the parties who violated many of the rules
of civilized warfare and frequently ig-
nored the white flag and also the-red
cross flag. 1t was my fortune to witness
some of these scenes myself"
Mr.. Davis described the storming of
spion kop by the Beers. after the British
had occupied it. and his own visit to the
battlefield several days later.
storming of spion Kop.
when the fight began" he said. "a
giant Boer. in the prime of strength and
manhood, was seen carrying small Boer
flag In a short time he fell to rise no
picked up the fallen banner, and, waving
it, urged his comrades on. With flowing
hair and flashing eyes the old man rush.
ed on. but suddenly shell laid him low;
ere the little flag touched the ground a
barefooted lad only 10 years of age, who
had been lighting in his shirt sleeves,
leaped to the old mans side, and snatch
ing the flag from his grandfathers nerve
less hand raised 1t aloft and pushed on.
A mighty shout arose from the Beers as
they saw the gallant deed. and with re-
charge; following the flag, they rushed
like an avalanche over the British trench
es and Spion kop was WON
Gen. Burgers, the Boer commander, had
made repeated attempts to secure cessa-
ton of artillery fire that the dead might
be buried, but for several days without
success. Finally Gen. Butler accepted
the Boer proposal to bury the British
dead and offered TO pay the bill.
Gen. Burgers regarded this reply as
an insult" Mr.. Davis asserted. 'but.
nevertheless, concluded to bury the dead
1 visited the top of spion kop and saw
there the most horrible sight that could
be imagined. On either hand were he'll
NETS. belts, canteens, bayonets and wear
ing apparel scattered about, covered with
clotted blood. We saw feet and hands
protruding from the ground and swollen
and the skin burst asunder, while the
rest Of the body was covered with
thin coating of earth. The idea was
that these British soldiers had been buried
by their comrades under only a few
scores Of dead British soldiers lying on
the top of the ground. Just where they
had fallen, no attempt having been made
to bury them
Beers going up to bury the British dead
who had been so sadly neglected by their
own comrades and commanders, who
amuse themselves by calling the Beers
savages.
las citizens of the greatest republic in
the world, with which side should we SYM
pathize? | say our sympathies should go
out to that brave little band Of patriots
who are struggling to keep alive forever
the fires of liberty upon the affairs OF these
two young republics"
At the conclusion OF Mr. Davis address
Mr.. r. Vessels. special commissioner
from the South African republics, made
a brief address.
Meeting Adopts Resolutions.
Then Chairman Moran offered n series
of resolutions. expressing "our deep and
hearty sympathy for the heroic patriots
OF the South African republics in their i'm
mortal fight for their homes and liberty
and our admiration for their indom.t-
able courage ana unexamped heroIsm in
their wonderful struggle against the Brit
ish enemies OF the republican govern
ment," commenting the Washington Post
for Its work in behalf of of the South At
rican republics thanking Mr.. Davis for
his eloquent and masterful presentation
OF the struggle between the Beers and the
British, and rendering him applause for
his manly course In taking the lecture
platform, as a free American citizen, 10
plead the cause of freedom and republi-
can government in South Africa" and as
surfing him that the mass OF American
people are In sympathy with the Beers
and that we denounee the present Brit
Lsh government and its allies In this coun-
try" was read. This was received with
a storm Of Kisses and cries of mo, no.
Mr. Moran then asked for vote on the
resolutions as a whole There was a
great number OF ayes and II seemed al
most an equal number of nays and the
chair declared the resolutions carried
In his opening address Mr.. Moran at
tackled the administration and was greet
ed with Kisses and cries or ''Traitor!"