The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-07-06
A BoER EXILE.
Henry vessels is Working on the
Streets of Duluth.

Twelve thousand miles from home
and family, exiled from the country he
loves, with all of his property confis-
Gated, Henry Vessels, Transvaaler,
soldier and land owner, is working on
the streets Of Duluth for the wages of
a common laborer, says the Herald. A
rich man in his own country, this
''pauvre exile du Transvaal," as a
French nobleman has called him, is
working day after day pounding paw
ing blocks for .Waterworth & Fee in
front Of the Northern Pacific freight
depot, 'sdving money here and there to
bring his family, now prisoners in the
Transvaal, to this country until time
comes when they can all go back to
their loved Land together and live in
peace for the rest of their lives.
A paroled prisoner Of war, he refuses
to talk concerning the conflict more
than to relate the story of his arrest
and capture. ...
Vessels was born on the borderland
and attended an English school, so that
he speaks perfect English with but a
slight accent. He chooses his words
well, and expresses his points perfect
~. Born about IS years ago of rich
parents. he has increased his worldly
possessions until at the beginning of
|
the war he could call himself wealthy
man. When the call to arms went
forth he, with the rest of his friends,
went into The field to repel the invaders
and wassin most Of the large battles.
He CAME through the war without
wounds ind was successful in eluding
|; capture until about four months ago.
when the Boer army was at Bigersburg
mex. The English held an advantage.
GUS position, and were strongly en-
trenched, when the Boer leader, Cen
eral Botha, called for volunteers. -Four
men stepped forward, Vessels among
them. It was almost certain that they
would be captured but that did not
deter them. All was going we'll, when
suddenly sentry stood before them
and recognized them. They were
quickly surrounded and taken prisoners
and were put on board prison Ship
After weary weeks of waiting they
were released on parole, with the as
surance that If ever they came back
to the country they would be treated
to the sight Of file of soldiers and q
shallow grave. No.,
Vessels was forced to leave the
country without seeing his wife or
children and went to England, after
which he came to this country. He
spent month or 30 in Canada and
made some powerful friends, among
whom was member Of parliament
Coming to this country he was strand
ed, and, too proud to beg, was forced
to pawn his fathers watch. Unfor-
tunately he went into one of the blood
sucking shops on the Bowery where he
received $3.50 ON it. He has been in
the city just month and Saturday
night after drawing his weeks pay,
he went to the shop to secure his
watch. The pawnbroker said that It
had been ordered cleaned, and conse.
quently there was $3.50 coming to the
house before he could redeem it. This
Vessels paid, although he said that
he had not ordered anything of the
Kind. The matter has been put in the
hands Of the police and will be looked
into.
Vessels Is staying at the Bethel on
Lake avenue. where he has room. He
Is an interesting talker and showed a
Herald reporter a picture of his wife
with his youngest child which was
born while he was in the army and
died while he was in captivity. There
were tears in his eyes when he spoke
Of the loved ones.
He has deck Of cards on each of
which Is the name Of some friend in
the Transvaal, and which he chertshes
among the most treasured of his pos
sessions. Several letters to him were
shown the reporter which ON the ton
bore red slips OF paper with the legend
Opened under martial law, V. r."
The life Of this Transvaaler has been
full Of exciting Incidents and were
he not bound BY his parole doubtless
he could tell stories that would open
some peoples eyes. Z.
Vessels Is d tan, well made man of
powerful frame and it would not be
difficult for anyone to recognize his ma
tionality from his appearance. He Has
the customary beard, and smokes his
pipe a good deal He Is a very friend.
" man when one becomes acquainted
with him. and b well liked BY. his co.
laboeerA Vessels II delighted Win
l America and THINKS that 4 country