Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-10
W|THBOER PRISONERS
Some Account of Those Who
Have Recently Arrived in
the Bermudas.
MOST OF THEM ARE FOR PEACE
Being Free Staters, but the TransvaaI-
ers Continue To BE Chock
Full of Fight.

Hamilton. Bermunda. July 10.-ThC
BOer prisoners who have been sent I,
Bermuda are. taking them as n whole
fine looking lot of men, and one feels
much sympathy for them in their lacL
OF occupation and the evident long
ing for home and freedom which
press them. The Free StaterS, who
number some 800 men. have beer
placed on Darrelrs island. and the
Transvaalers, less contented crowd
whose confessed desire is to be free
TO fight again. and who number only
about 80, are on Burts or Moses
island. The former are orderly and
quiet. we'll hammered. and many of
them educated. They say they never
wanted To fight, but that it was case
of fight or be shot" They recognize
also that their cause is hopeless and
only desire 10 return to their homes
TO live peacefully. One of them said:
War Breaks Up Hi, Prospects.
Il am wagonmaker Before the
war broke out | used To earn 81 a day
at my trade. i own a farm for which
| have paid in full, at least | did
own it. | suppose the British govern
ment owns ii now. | was pressed into
fighting. Had | refused l would have
been shot. | know our cause is lost
All i want iS TO return TO my wife and
my six children. l left them enough
money TO last them twelve mont .lS
but l have been away now for sixteen
months. However. l trust the British
government will take care of them.
This is the tone of most of the Free
StIterS.
Lack OF Occupation a Feature.
The want of occupation is the chief
cause of complaint among all the pris-
onerS. They have busted themselves
in the manufacture of various SouVc-
Mrs which they readily sell. but their
only tools are penkniVeS-mOSt of
them with broken bladeS-and sharp
Cned nails and pieces of wire. One
man ngeuuOuSly manufactured knit
ting needles from harbed wire Sand
paper and polish. which harmless items
they will soon he able To purchase ~
the canteen now being established at
the camp. are also among their require
mentS as an aid to the industries. The
local authorities have taken into con-
Sideration the matter of providing for
the prisoners amusement.
Many Are OF British Blood.
Many of the prisoners have English
names. being the defendants of Eng
lishmen who married and settled in
South Africa. They speak excellent
English too. and there are several who
are BritiSh-bOrn subjects. but who
were 'commandeered" and forced To
fight On the occasion of the diSem-
barking from the troOpship to the
island camps crowds of people gath
cred in boats to witness the proceeding.
and i'm some of the boats which got
among the craft conveying the pris-
onprS were several persons who got
an opportunity to speak a few words
TO the Beers.
Had to Speak to the Lady.
One lady was accOSted by Il prisoner.
who apologized for addressing her by
monthS-since he had had Il chance TO
speak to n woman. that lie could not
resist. The same lady obtained several
souvenirs. such as carved stone
brooches. mechanical toys. and carved
boxes. most of them bearing carved
images of &ruger. Since the prisoners
occupation Of the camp martial law
has been proclaimed on the island and
the waters surrounding the same. Two
gunboatS guard either end. and buoyS
are placed to define the dead-line. IT
is therefore impossible for civilians to
have any intercourse with the Beers.
The transport Rance is on her way
from South Africa with a second de-
tachment of prisoners and should ar
rive here in about two weeks time.