The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-07-11
ONE OF CRONJE'SMEN
Boer Warrior, Taken Prisoner,
Escapes to This Country.
SWAN UNDER GUNS AND SEARCHLlCHT
David stephen du PIooy, only Twen-
ty-four Years old. Tells the Tale
of His struggle For Freedom
and Begs Protection.

NEW YORK, July 10.-From battle.
field and prison camp. after marvellous
adventures in two continents, David Ste
phen du Plooy, a trooper in the Boet
army, who escaped from the British at
Bermuda. landed in this city from the
British steamship Trinidad The brave
young man-he is only "a years old-was
stowaway, who riskcd his life to flee
from his captors. and is now detained at
Ellis island. where he will he held until
the United States government decides
what to do with him.
Seated on bench Mt Ellis island. the
young six footer tod the story of his life.
II was born at Potchefstroom, in the
Transvaal," he said, my father being a
Frcnchman and my mother German. l
worked on the farm and got what school
ing | could until | became anxious to
learn more and went to Pretoria. | went
to school there for few months and
then Joined the army. | saw my first
fighting at Mafcking under Commandant
Wolmarans
Il became prisoner along with Gener-
al Cronje and the others and was taken
to Cape Town. There | was placed upon
the prison ship City of Cambridge on
March 4. 1900. l was later transferred
to the Penderia where our food was very
bad and our treatment worse.
when | complained, l was dragged
out of my hammock. and the colonel
charged me with insubordination, declar-
ing | had said would not allow British
dogs to guard me. Though | had never
said it, l was locked in Il cell for two
days.
Later l was transferred to n prison
nt eff Of
caught making a tunnel there. The men
caught were sent to Ceylon. l became
i'll and went to the hospital. A British
sergeant was in cot near me, and /
tried to escape by putting on his clothes.
One of my own countrymen gave me
away, and | was placed in tent with
guard over me.
Il guess they were afraid l would es-
cape, for l was finally placed on the
steamship Armenian, and on May 30,
1900, we sailed for Bermuda with about
900 prisoners.
Twenty eight days after we sailed we
reached Bermuda, and | was placed in
a prison camp on Darrells island. We
We're well treated, but | planned to es-
cape, expecting to carry with me state
ments from some of my fellow prisoners
which told of terrible outrages upon our
women by British soldiers. These /
hoped to send to President Kruger, be-
lieving he could use them to gain your
sympathy for our cause.
"The men with these letters were trans
ferred to another camp. but determined
to escape anyhow. l tried twice, but
had to turn back for fear of detection.
The third time | slipped into the water
at night with a hat made of seaweed on
my head. | knew the sentries were pac-
ing the shore and watching from the
deck of n man-of-war near by, but l was
willing to risk my life to get away.
'At one time the big searchlight on
this warship was turned upon me. | had
discarded my hat, but escaped detection
10y diving under the water. After swims
ming for about two hours l reached the
mainland and boldly walked to the pier,
where the Trinidad was moored.
Several men met me, but suspected
nothing, and | boldly said Good morn
ing to them. No one saw me go aboard
the ship. and | was soon safely hidden
in the coal
Il do not know what your people will
do with me, but pray they will not send
me back. | can work, and | will do
anything to support myself if | can only
stay in this great country"