The Washington times., 1901-09-01
HOW STEYN ESCAPED.
Surprised by the British, He Ran in
His NightgOwn.

| surprised by the British. He Ran In
His NiGhtgOwn.
But l must tell you how the capture OF
| Steyn's eleven came about on the morn
ing of the 18th instant. General De Lisle's
| column had passed through Reitz in the
| northeastern part of the Orange River
| Colony. few days previously General
| Broadwood, with the Seventh Dragon
Guards, the Fourth Imperial Yeomanry
| and the Third Dragons, l think, were
near the place when they received an or
| der from Lord Kitchener to turn back
and seacn the town The columns had
been annoyed by snipers, but .hese had
| drawn off somewhat when Reitz was
passed. Broadwood turned back as di-
rected, intending to surround the place
by daybreak. 1t is a square or rectangu-
lar built town, of struggling dimensions,
with about loo houses of all sorts. Tn
luckily the scouts. about a. M, followed
some loose horses, thinking they we're
part of their own force. When the mis-
| take was discovered day was breaking, so
| less than a dozen of the Seventh Dragon
| Guards turned and rode for the town.
| led by Lieutenant Shaw. They saw q
tent behind a house in a garden, with a
fire smoking near. and early ssffee be-
| ing prepared. AS they charged up about
an equal number of Beers came running
out, as If they had suddenly tuinbled out
of their beds. Hands up.' cur fellows
yelled. and the majority of the Beers in
stantly complied
one of them, now identified as General
or Commandant Cronje, reached into the
tent for rife, but the flash of a dra-
goons sword made him desist, and an
other Boer found his cheek hot from
showing a disposition to flee. The whole
anair was over in minute, and Broad
woods supporters and main body were
stili far away. The scouts had no clear
idea, nor had anybody else, l am told
what was expected to be found in Reitz
or that Steyn was anywhere in the neigh
b"rhood. They imagined they were going
back to round up some refugees or snip
ers. or both. and not a man had the least
idea at the moment that the eleven prfs-
oners in night clothes and partly clad
were the members of Steyn's Cabinet or
war council. To Lieutenant Shaw and his
men their shirted captives were but ordi-
nary burghers, and they were una ware
they had caught Steyn's younger brother.
the Orange Free State secretary and
treasurer, Mr.. Brain, Commandant Fra
ser, General Cronje. Generals Daryel and
vessels, or Mr. Fisher.
Moreover. creeping away around the
corner Of an adjoining house, bareheaded,
In night dress, and with only socks upon
his feet, was tall. stout swarthy, full
bearded, partly baIdheaded, elderly man.
II anybody saw him he probably smiled
at the spectacle, and did not trouble in
particular about the unclad burgher more
or less But the skuFking parsonage was
none other than exResident Steyn him
SELF, now reduced to this woefuI plight A
boer companion nearby found him a
pony and assisted Steyn to mount. for the
eN-fresident prefers a wheeled vehicle to
horseback. With a cut and a kick the
boer sent Steyn adrift upon a most un-
easy seat If. In the hurry, there had
been saddle thrown upon the pony. it
was ungirthed, and had turned beneath
in stride or two
Then the unwonted apparition appeared
IN the one long main street of Reitz of
dark, heavy figure of a man, bareheaded
and barelimbed, with flowing shirt.
elinging to horse's neck, and galIoping
madly to the eastward He had to pass
the corner where some of Lieutenant
Shaw's men were. A challenge rang out
for him to halt. yet not Steyn, but the
horse. was in charge of that wild John
Gilpin ride. I am told Steyn would have
gladly stopped. but could not and looked
pitifully as If he would have liked TO-
Sergeant Cobb the crack shot of the Sew
enth Dragon Guards, repeated the chal-
ienge, and at ten PAGES lifted his rife
to bring the horse or rider down But the
weapon missed fire. Slipping out the
cartridge. he put in another. but the sec
ond also missed fire. And why? Be-
cause the oil supplied the men was of in
ferior quality and had frozen, blocking
the spring and the striker
Owing to the intense cold similar mis-
haps had previously occurred with the
mems rifles Lieutenant Shaw snapped
his pistol. but missed. There was more
laughing than vexation at the mans es-
cape till later on 1t was found that II was
Steyn himself who had got away. When
the columns came up scouts were des-
patched after him, but Steyn had been
met few miles out by three or four
brother Beers, who had helped him upon
a better and more comfortable mount
and conducted him by Kaffir tracks into
the kopjes. Subsequently the Cabinet
prisoners We're brought into Hebron.
when Brain was allowed to visit his fami-
ly. Thence they were taken via Glands
fontein. where ] saw them, to Pretoria
and lodged in the old Birdcage upon the
north side of the town. Their escort com
prised Major Deitz. Lieutenauts Shaw and
Sullivan, and sixteen men of the Seventh
Dragon Guards. Since their arrival here
they have been visited by their friends. |
and those willing to give their parole have
been told that 1t will be taken, and they
will be permitted to go about for a few
Gays before being SEN elsewhere With |
the Cabinet was captured all the State |
papers. including correspondence with |
Reitz, Botha. De Wet etc, Steyn's |
clothes, a number of refugees, including |
women and children, and several hun |
ired pounds in gold, with about f12. 600 in
bluebacks. The prisoners have recovered |
heir equanimity, and Brain thinks that |
T.; II.