The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-14
FOUGHT WITH Beers
JAMES STRATTON, WHO WAS WITH
DEWET, IS IN ST.
PAUL
BURGHERs IN GOOD SHAPE
They Seem to Be Able to Obtain SuR-
ficient Supplies Despite Rigid
Gordon Maintained
by British.

James Stratton, a nephew Of Stratton,
Of Independence mine fame, of CripDle
Creek, Col, is in the city on mis- way to
Rossland, B. c., where he will engage in
mining until the Boer war is over. Mr..
Stratton arrived yesterday with his dis
charge and honorable mention from the
Border Horse The discharge is signed
by Gen. Dewet, and Mr.. Stratton is
recommended for silver medal for con-
spicuous bravery in the engagements of
Kip river, Heidelberg, Patrol Rheinoster
and Tabakosburg.
For two years and two months Stratton
was member of the Border horse that
wild band of cavalry that caused the
British SO much trouble by its dashes
hither and thither in violation OF every
principle of manual maneuVers. Alter
his discharge, he, with his partner, Jack
Riley, attempted to break through the
British lines to the southwark, but We're
forced back to Gen. Dewet's column.
While scouting ahead of the main body
Of the Boer troops he ran square into the
muZzle of British guns and was forced
to surrender He was given the option
of leaving the country or staying with
the alternative if he was ever captured
again of being transported to the island
of St. Helena.
Stratton with a company of fifty miners
left Cripple Creek in 1892, for the gold
fields of South Africa. He located a claim
between Johannesburg ana HelenfOntaine,
being obliged to pay $3.50 for the privilege
of working it. He prOspered until the
outbreak of the war wnen his cabin was
burned by Gen. French because he re-
fused to aid the British
Il went in to fight the British more out
of revenge for the loss they inflicted upon
me than for any motive of patriotism,
and after l once joined the Border Horse
l had to take the side of the under dog
while the Beers are evidently fighting
a losing fight, l have no doubt in the
world but what they will force the
British to come to cOnciliatOTy terms.
This feeling is strong in England, and
the capture of Methuen Will make it
stronger.
ITO an American who has been in the
West the way the british conduct their
warfare looks SHY. They don't appear
to be able to learn that they are not on
dress parade and the best fighters they
have are the Canadians and Australians.
VINO would rather fight than spend their
time dressing for a show. l was at the
battle of Ladysmith, where Lord Roberts
son was killed and although 1 did not
witness his death, I heard the details
many times from those that did He de
liberately walked UP to cannon with
a sheer on his face, too naughty to con-
could blow him into eternity, and that's
Just what the man did. All this sort of
stuff reads very fine in dispatches, but
it doesn't win any battles
How the beers Live.
''Since I have been in this country 1
have been asked how the Beers manage
to exist and now that l am away from
there it appears strange to me. We ate
anything at any time, and were satisfied
with what we got. Some days there was
nothing, and then there might be plenty.
1t was that way since the war started,
but it toesn't appear to be any harder
to get along now than it did two years
ago.
THE reconcentrado camps or refuge
camps" as they are called, are some
thing frightful Tor the women and chill
dren and in my. opinion it is a piece Of
unnecessary cruelty on the part Of Lord
Kitchener The Baden-POweI police
could quiet the country if Kitchener
would allow them to do so, but he has
his reputation as a man Of ice and
iron" to live up to and he won't consider
any humane proposition that would SAVIOR
the slightest of Cancellation.
There are about $50 Missourians fight
ing with the Beers and remnants of the
2C0 that went with Capt Blake. The
Missourians are from the southwest ter
ritories and can beat the Beers at their
own game. when it comes TO riding all
day and night and lighting the next day.
q think South Africa is the finest
country on earth even if the Beers won't
allow us to vote. A miner can make good
wages and not do enough hard work in
a week 90 draw a days pay in this
country. There are all kinds of good
claims there and as soon as the war is
over there will be another rush to get
4
that there will be restrictions in the
shape oil @ining laws, that will make it
difficult for foreigners to do anything"
Mr. Stratton spent the night with rel
atives on Concord street, and will leave
for British Columbia today.