The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-10-20
NO RELIEF FROM AMERICAN CONSUL
Thrust Into Jail and Placed on
a Cattle Ship.
SAD EXPERIENCES OF FRANK CREEs
How the British Brutes Illtpeat
the Defenseless.

Frank Crees, American born, was
kidnapped from Johannesburg by the
British on July 13 last. He was Il
gold miner in the Robertson mine, had
not borne arms, and, although pro-
vidcd with pass supposed to guar
antee his safe conduct, he was separ-
ated from his wife and threc-old
daughter at the dead of night and
transported to the coast. From there
he was sent in n cattle boat to Rot
terdam and thence to Hoboken.
To an Evening World reporter Mr..
Crees told the story Of his treatment
as follows:
Although l have good home and
over 1900 in money, all in Johannes
burg, l find myself stranded in New
York without n cent to my name and
with a lot of clothes given me by the
United States Consul Mt Rotterdam.
NV plight is due not to choice, need
less to say, but to the outrageous ac-
tions of the British in South Africa.
1 am an American citizen. went
to the gold fields fifteen years ago. I
prospered and married an Africaner
woman. made from f. to f3 day
mining. With care managed to save
1900. 1t is now, suppose, In my
home where left It,
All through the war 1 kept on with
my work. did not take sides one
way or the other. was contented
with my lot, and my wife did all she
could to help me.
On Friday, July 13, at midnight, l
was preparing to go to bed when my
wife came running in to tell me lot
of soldiers were peering In Mt the win
dows. went to the small front win
dow and heard loud hammering on
the door. I opened it.
The commanding Office of our dis
trict knew me.
"Come along" said he. "Nevel
mind your Clothes"
was pulled out without time to say
good-by to my frightened wife. The
baby was asleep.
h01 f1rooco1
found numbers of my comrades II
a plight similar to my own. Bu
there was no time for questions. I
was dark and we marched along a
the point of the bayonet toward thu
: Fallsburg market place.
There our residential passes were
examined and we were told we woult
be allowed to 90 in the morning.
We were thrust into the jail there
and kept, eight men in a cell meant
for four, all day Saturday. The wo
men were treated in the same way II
a different part of the prison,
On Sunday noon we were told tt
pack. None of us had anything tt
pack, and with no explanation WI
were marched to the Johannesburg
station and hustled into open cattl,
cars.
I then asked the commanding officer
why l, an American citizen, was be
ing taken from my home, my wift
and my child He said, 81 do no
know
Forty men were piled Into eacl
.,,,,,, and thus, standing up, we he
oon ,,o ing 800 mile journey from
7,,'a,,,a.,' ~ w @ 70 East London. II
took five days to c. 'ver the distance
We were provided with wv " ''''"i
prison blankets.
The nights were bitter cold ana W.
stood with our teeth chattering each
night till the sun rose and relieved us
somewhat from our sufferings. The
women, most of whom were Dutch,
were piled in separate trucks.
Our food consisted of half a pound
Of "bullie" meat and some dog bis
cults each day per man. The behav-
ior Of the soldiers, some of whom ac-
companicd us, was brutal and unfeel-
ing.
After terrible journey we reached
East London, in Cape Colony, all
weak and much shaken from the
long enforced ride.
Then we were asked to sign patrol
papers, agreeing neither to leave Cape
Colony without military permission,
nor bear arms against the British, nor
hold any conversation concerning the
war.
The authorities then installed us