Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-11-21

pearance, when not speaking. he looks
like William j. Bryan. In this con-
nection Mr.. Davis related an auecdote
on himself, to party of friends at the
Madison House last Saturday afternoon
He said one day In ST. Louis he was
riding in a carriage with William j.
Bryan. both being clean shaved, gen.
| tleman came up TO thes carriage and
meet you, Mr.. Bryan" Il explained
that the other was Mr.. Bryan and he
commenced to explain and apologize
to US both for his mistake That's
all right, said Mr.. Bryan, all smooth
faced fools look alike to me-"
Mr.. Davis was introduced to the audi
ence by Prof. N. B. Henry in few re-
marks. The speaker said he had sew
eral lectures, but it seemed as if his
audience had decided on the subject he
was to speak on, 30 he acquiesced and
would speak on the ssBoers." He said
that what he would say on this subject
would be facts-facts that he had wit
messed with his own eyes and expert
ences which he had come face to face
with in the two little republics in the
Transvaal. The speaker had the sym
pathy and attention of the audience
from the start.
He said that when he decided to take
vacation he concluded to visit his old
friend, Consul Stowe, In South Africa.
On arriving at South Hampton he was
compelled to stay oyer three days be-
fore he could get vessel to take him
to Pretoria, so he decided to put in the
time in London and while there he Wis.,
tied the various clubs and theaters in
that city and the only explanation he
could get from any one there as to why
the war was being carried on against
the two little republics was, 1--WE want
the gold fields and we are going to
have them" The inhuman greed on
the part of England to possess the gold
fields of South Africa is the only excuse
that can be offered for the only inhu-
man and brutal conduct of England"
said the speaker.
81 was travelling in that country as
a private citizen and everywhere I went
On British or Portuguese territory was
the recipient of receptions and nothing
was ever said about it; it was all right,
but as soon as / expressed desire to
enter the Boer country and investigate
heir condition, that was all wrong and
must not receive recognition from the |
sold babboon" and the s'savages" as
hey termed President Kruger and his
brave band of followers who were fight
ug for their homes and their 'lib-ar
y as Mr.. Davis pronounced it. "While
It dinner, I was handed dispatch
rom President Kruger which read,
hat his private car would be at my
ervice to conduct me to the republic.
What, can this be from the savage /
lad heard about, and being from Mis-
ouri, at once decided l would have
0 be shown that private car, and so
ccepted the invitation. I found the
ar was a neat and comfortable one,
'ut nothing expensive about it and
vhen l arrived at the depot a porter
onducted me into the car, he was a
ative Boer. Can he be one of the saw
ges they have been telling me aboutP
thought there must be a mistake
"The whole secret of this inhumane
7ar is the desire of Chamberlain and
,ecil Rhodes that England shall pos
ess the gold fields of South Africa.
rod is certainly with the brave Beers
q this unequal struggle, else how is it
hat 10000 Beers could successfully
old at bay 100000 British soldiers
rmed with the latest guns. The SOL
iers of the republics are poorly armed
md have few cannon. They are the
.randest race of people on the face of
he earth. saw them and talked with
hem, they are all hard working farm
RS and are simply fighting for their
lib-ar-ty.' At every station that the
rain stopped the station agent, in uni
orm, would come through the train and
SIX the passengers if they were com
ortable and if they had any complaint
o make. And yet they told me they
we're savages.
''You have, no doubt, read in the
that the Beers were violat-
ng the rules of civilized warfare by
siGg 'dum-dum' bullets. Let me tell
ou, happened to be in the battle of
pion Kop, not through choice on my
art, however, but by accident. In
his fight the English had 5000 trained
oldiers and the Beers 400; the Beers
e-took the hill by jumping behind the
ocks and firing as they went up. The
'oers lost 65 killed and something over