The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-17
ESCAPED FROM LADYSMITH.


LONDON, Feb. 1.-THE correspondent of
the Associated Press at Ladysmith, from
which place he escaped. Feb. 10, and ar
rived at Durham. Feb. IA, sends the follow
ing, written before he left L~adysmith:
''Sinc the furious cannonade in the early
part of the week quietness has reigned.
The hills on which the relief columns lyd-
dite shells were bursting in hundreds a few
days previously, are now only occupied by
grazing cattle. Further on the north side
of Spion kop the Boer laagers can be seen,
evidently bigger than before, showing they
nave no idea at present of retiring from
their position.
much disappointment is felt at the nom
appearance of General Butler, as from the
severity of the fire every heart was glowing
with hope and excitement at the prospect
of immediate relief; not that we are at all
in the blues, for every one capable of Shout
dering a rifle Is confident in our ability to
hold the town against any forces the Beers
are capable of putting in the field. Still,
the continued diet of horse and mule flesh
is getting somewhat m~onotonOuS, although
the health of the camp, taking everything
into consideration, is better than could be
expected. Enteric fever and dySentery
have abated. The camp fever is not viru-
lent. but is slightly increased.
Nv tdA1Al III 10 NtlI a ll6
to the troops and they are luxuries beyond
the means of the majority. Eggs are SO
shillingS a dozen, a small fowl is IS shill-
ings 6 pence, pumpkins II shilllngs each. a
tin of jam II shillings 6 pence. a tin of milk
4 shillings 8 pence. box of sardines 3 shill-
ings, tobacco 30 shilling a pound. A case
OF whisk was raffied for Gas.
The Beers are smuggling tobacco into
camp through natives. a local factory is
turning out excellent horse sausages and
another is making nourishing soup which is
much appreciated by the troops who GER
tainly have increased in strength since
| these were served out"
|! The escape of the Associated Press cor
respondent was most adventurous and ar
duous. Leaving Ladysmith the evening of
Feb. 10, guided by a native, he soon en-
| countered a Boer patrol. who fired upon
him.. Escaping the patrol, he crawled twen-
ty-two miles OF the toughest and sternest
paths. hiding in native huts and kraals
during the day and proceeding at night.
Once a Boer patrol came 10 the door of the
hut where he was hiding under blankets.
He swan the Tugela river and reached
| Chieveley the morning of Feb. Is, where he
took the train for Durham.
| 1 reached Chieveley the morning of Feb.
| Is, where / took the train for Durham. The
correspondent says that except for two
| slight attacks of fever, which never inca
pacitated him., Sir George White, the Brit
ish commander i'm Ladysmith, has been in
excellent health throughout the siege. The
total number of people within the British
lines. including lntombi camp. Is 1000, all
of them troops except 5000 civilians and
| 500 blacks.
When the Associated Press correspond
ent left the live stock on hand included
1900 horses. 700 mules and $50 cattle. and
the garrison had no fear that the necessi-
ties of life would be exhausted for some
time to come.