Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-07-04

KIMBERLEY, SOU III AFRI-
CA, TO MO. VALLEY, IA.
An Interesting Letter by A
] Laurie
We left Kimberley on the h of
April homeward bound. One would
naturally think that We would have
felt highly elated to think that we
were going home, but however pleas
ant that feeling was we were leaving
South Africa with sense of regret
We felt quite reluctant when the time
arrived that we must turn our backs
on the country that we liked and one
that had liked us so well, but 1t was no
fault of our own that circumstances
were such that 1t was dangerous to re
main longer. We had tried hard to
weather the storm and perhaps would
have been successful had there heen
but one storm. The war had raw
aged the country for l8 months but
things were looking more hopeful, al
though we must admit they were bad
enough, but there came another storm
worse than war because it will not
permit any one to remain neutral;
everyone must take their chances If
they remain in the country. This
great calamity to which refer is the
Bubonic Plague which had been rag
ing in Cape Town for about three
months and gradually but surely
spreading to other parts of South
Africa. We stayed ss long as We
thought 1t safe; in fact, we stayed
longer than was really safe for our
selves, for the plague was reported to
have made its appearance in Kimber-
ley before we left and there had been
several cases and some deaths re-
ported in Maffeking which is over 200
miles farther inland and on the same
line of railroad. so things we're looking
gloomy enough in the plague line
when We left Kimberley.
We left Kimberley by mail train at
6:3O 9. m. and at 8 p. m. we had
travelled about 80 miles. so you see we
had been whirling along through the
country at tremendous velocity of
about six miles per hour. Not bad for
q mail train. Of course this was be-
cause the Beers were in the country
along the railroad so that we had to be
escorted by an Armour train in front
OF us about 800 yards, then came three
freight trains and then another Ar
mour train behind. This they say is
simply precaution. They also say
that the war is over. That is the talk
in British circles, but it is quite diff
ferent thing when you meet and talk
with people that are not blinded by
their loyalty and who still retain q
small portion of their reason. The
fact is the country is full of Beers,
which fact the British don't like to
admit.
This way of running railroad and
running the trains In bunches, it is
quite natural that they must go slow
because one train cannot leave q sta.
tion until the rest of the trains have
arrived, and as soon as it gets dark
they all stop no matter where they are,
until next morning. II took US over
72 hours to go less than 500 miles. II
is sad sight to 60 through the coun-
try now. 1t is one perpetual cemetery
all along the railroad. You can look
out any time and see graves, let us
hope, the majority of which are Brit
ish.
We went to East London which is
on the east coast and up to the time we
left there had been no case of plague.
We found East London to be q very
nice little place of about $4,000 In
habitsnts. Very clean and nicely laid
out. Thus you might say endeth the
first chapter of our journey.
We left East London on the llth of
April, on the Steam Boat Carrisbrook
Castel bound for Durham Natal, $50
miles from East London, at which
port we safely arrived on the 18th.
Here we changed boats for European
ports. We found Dnrban to be the
prettiest town that we have seen in
South Africa, although we are told it
is far from being healthy place. The
streets were broad and scrupulously
clean and straight. This is something
very unusual for South African towns.
The buildings were good and sub
stantial, brick and stone, while the in
land towns are built principally of
galvanized iron; very warm In sum-
mer and equally as cold in winter.
Here we took boat called the Kouig
which belongs to the German East
African Steamship Co. and runs be-
tween Hamburg and Durham, our des-
tinstion being Rotterdam Holland.
We left Durham on April 18th, our
first port to call at being Delsgoa Bay.
The name Of the town is Lorenzo
Marques. This territory belongs to
Portugal. Here we went ashore and
took in the sights but there was nothing
much to see. The town was small but