The National tribune., 1901-06-13
PRISONERS IN CEYLON.
Over Three Hundred Americans
Among the Beer Captives.
A VISIT TO THE CAMP.
Adventurous Spirits Yearning TO Return
to "GOd's Country"

"
Six hundred more arrived at Colombo
while l was there, and We're being sent
over the Government railways TO join
the others.
l found among these prisoners of war
about 800 American citizens, principally
from the West and South, but represent
ing several States.
When one is so far away from home
1t does the heart good to meet an Amer
lean. You are not particular about what
State he is from; it is enough that he is
an American, and you Immediately begin
talking about the good things of the United
States, and comparing them with the un-
favorable conditions you have found in
other countries. But for those held as
prisoners of war in an alien land, how
must it seem to meet an American?
WAITING TO RETURN HOME.
These 300 Americans who are British
captives, held as Boer prisoners in far-aff
Ceylon, halfway around the world, were
in a particularly good mood for talking
of America, of home, of Gods country"
But it was pathetic to hear them talk,
though they were men of stout hearts.
They had gone to the far-off Transvaal
to join the people of that little Republic
in what these Americans thought a just
war ON the part of the Boers and unjust
on the part of the English. Some of them
had left wives and children behind, scanti-
ly provided for in some instances, to join
in the hazards of war with the hardy
Dutch Colonies beyond the equator.
Who will ever know how many Ameri-
cans who Joined their fortunes with the
Beers have been killed in battle?
i said to some of these American BOer
prisoners at Diyatalawa: You are for
tunate, indeed, to be prisoners, for you
are alive and have some hope at some
time of joining your dear ones in the coun-
try you love above all others"
In their misfortune they express most
earnestly their devotion to the United
States, but one or two ventured to say
they were disappointed that the United
States didn't help the Beers out.
But when will we ever get homer
lmpatiently asked one.
The British citizens of Ceylon claim
these Americans joined the Boer army
from a love of adventure, the same as
they would go tiger hunting, more than
anything else, and their concern for the
Boer cause was secondary.
THE BoER PRISONERS.
The Boer prisoners are a vigorous but
untidy looking lot. The British require
them to take frequent baths They left
South Africa with clothes they had worn
for months through the fierce campaign,
and the British had a problem on their
hands in fitting them out with absolutely
necessary clothing. The steamship voy-
age from South Africa to Ceylon is about
10 days, and these prisoners suffered
greatly for clothing en- route, which could
not be provided until Ceylon was reached.
The Boer prisoners camp covers quite
q large area in the mountains, with good
natural drainage. The location is about
B,500 feet above sea level, and being trop-
lcal, affords one of the most perfect eli
mates in the world.
The camp is inclosed by a series of high
barbed-wire fences separated from each
other by several feet. The British garri-
Bon, containing about 1000 soldiers, over
looks the entire camp.
The food for the prisoners is sent to
them over wire cable overhead. Their
food is plain but substantial. The men
receive far better treatment than they
expected.
They are given ebony, satin, rose, sa-
pan, iron, jack and other beautiful woods
Indigenous to Ceylon, and so beautiful
there, from which they make fancy pen
holders and ornamental wood pieces of
various kinds, which they are allowed TO
send TO the stores to be sold to the resi-
benefit of the proceeds of these sales. But
this is done TO keep their time and minds
occupied, more than anything else, there
by making discipline easier.
While | was there one prisoner tried
to escape through the fences. He paid
no heed to the sentry's challenge to halt,
made three times, so the prisoner was
shot, from the effects of which he died
In a few days.
The sentry, however, was arrested and
given a trial by court-martial. at which
several witnesses from among the prison
ers were called. The verdict was that the
sentry had shot the man in the discharge
of his duty.
The British officials are doing every
thing III their power to be magnanimous
and just with these prisoners.
FREEDOM ALLOWED BoER GENERALS
The Boer officers of higher rank are
given their freedom, and are not confined
at the camp at all. Some of them live at
the best and most expensive hotels. 1t is
necessary for them to report to the Brit
ish officers twice a week. There are three
very prominent Boer Generals held as
prisoners in Ceylon, namely, Gems. OIL
vier, Plessis and ROux. The latter was
one of the leading preachers of the Dutch
Reformed Church in the Transyaal and
IL very religious. He is permitted to hold
services, and often breaches feryent SER
u1OilS III lIt IJulCh ldHSuupe 10 MS IeI-
low-prisOners at the camp. He speaks
English very well, and has preached sew
eral times at other places. ! heard him
make an address before the Y. NJ c. A
at Colombo on Sunday afternoon. An
nouncements had been made in the local
press and the hall was crowded to over
flowing. No doubt many of the English
people expected he might make mention
of the war, but he studiously avoided
that subject He exhOrted his hearers TO
a better and higher life and reminded
them Of the shortness of our stay on this
earth. He spoke of the selfshness of men
and of nations. There was no bitterness
In his words; il was most earnest ap-
peal of a deeply religious man to his
hearers.
Gen. Plessis spends his time with his
wife, riding their bicycles around the most
fascinating of all towns in the tropics
Handy, the great resort and show place
of Ceylon, nearly 100 miles nearer Co
lombo than the prison camp. Here is
Buddha's tooth on exhibition, as well as
the footprints of Adam of old. Mount
Adams. the highest peak Of Ceylon, is in
plain view.
The British citizens of Ceylon COMPLAIN
that the Government is giving the Boer
officers better treatment than they de-
serve, for they feel that many friends
from England have been killed in a war
which they blame wholly on the Beers
But the British Government is wise in
giving these prisoners the best treatment
when they are fortunate enough TO can