The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-08-31
TIVE Years with the Beers.

the cause Of the Beers at Westminster.
TIVE Years with the Beers.
William G. Harmon, who served for
two years in the Boer army, first as a
private and then as colonel, receiving
three English bullets in his body, spent
last Saturday in st. Paul visiting his
cousin, J. o. Harmon, of St. Peter
street. He came from his home in
Washington, d. c., and left Sunday
evening for Seattle.
'What do you think. of the Beers as
fghters?" was asked of him.
"They are the pluckiest, most reck-
less and stubborn fighters in the
world" was the answer. "And when
it comes to patriotism, why, they are
simply brimming over with it. They
are the most religious folk I ever en-
countered. They never prepare for bat
tie without first saying their prayers
and invoking the blessing of the AL
mighty IN their behalf.
''Their patriotism is best displayed
when 1t is known that loving mothers
Willingly send their 10 and 14-year-old
boys to fight by their fathers side.
And these boys are the salt of the
earth. No truer, drawer person lives
than a boy Boer soldier. The only
thing that can be said against them is
that they are too reckless. They ex-
pose themselves to the enemy's fire
with the GOODNESS and sangfroid of a
veteran. In fact, many youthful SOL
der of the Boer army has received
sound thrashing from his father and
fellow soldier for being too careless.
During one of our engagements I was
detailed to carry a dispatch from my
general to the officer in command of
gun which was stationed at the top Of
a tall kopje How they ever got that
gun up there I can never tell YOU.
And imagine my surprise when on
finally scrambling to the kopje 1 found
that the gun was being manned by
lot Of little chaps, none of them older
than 16, with the exception of the Of
icer in command. After delivering
my dispatches stood and watched the
little heroes for some time. First one
would sight the gun at the little NOV
ing cloud of dust miles away and be-
low us, which was all that could be
seen of the enemy's forces from that
distance. After each shot was fired
there would be CALCULATIONS of either
admiration or the reverse, according
to the skill Of the juvenile marksman.
Wow one little chap would say
in his native tongue, that's a good one.
I'll bet that made the Britishers shake
in their boots
"And should shot go astray, some
one would shout:
'Blockhead, an Englishman could
fire gun better than that. You should
practice with throwing stones first
"And there they worked, those little
children, loading and firing, with the
precision and bravery of gray haired
veteran. At night, when secreted
among the rocks in little groups they
would write home to their mothers
and tell the old folks the news of the
day.
Mr.. Harmon, before returning to
America, went to Europe and had the
pleasure of an interview with Presi-
dent Kruger at The Hague.
II was ushered into the presence Of
the Boer leader in the afternoon of the
same day that had sent him my card
and credentials" said Mr.. Harmon.
HE was sitting in the garden and ON
table by his side was his long Dutch
pipe. On his lap was a prodigious
Bible, which the old gentleman had
evidently been reading. AS the inter-
prefer announced my name, Mr.. Kru-
ger arose and extended his hand. He
said u few words in Dutch, which.
although am little familiar with the
language, was beyond me. The inter-
prefer, seeing my visible embarrass-
ment, said in English that the presi-
dent had thanked me for my work in
behalf of his people. 1 remained in
his presence not more than fifteen
minutes, and during that time was
forced to answer a number of uues-
lions, instead of doing the asking, as
had been my desire. finally managed
to squeeze in a question relative to
what Mr.. Kruger thought of the out
come of the war. The old man pointed
his long, gnarled forefnger at me. as
he said:
my dear brother, until every Boer
on the broad veldts Of Africa is under
the sod; until every good housewife
can no longer offer her prayers for
our deliverance, this war will continue.
The English offer us everything but
liberty, and with Gods help we will
have only one thing, and that is lib
erU.'