The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-07-31
B0ER BOY OF IA
A WAR VETERAN.
PRISONER FROM BERMUDA.
Rode, Shot and Fought With Gray
Haired Men.

during the past week than any other
OF the 90 Boer prisoners OF war who
came last Monday from the British
prison camp In Bermuda and most Of
whom will sail for their homes in
South Africa next Wednesday.
The boy is small for his age and
wears knickerbockers. He has taken
to the round OF sightseeing in this
city with all a youngsters delight,
hut like his older companions he
wears solid face through it all, and
when he talks it is in a solid, COM
mon sense way which seams comical
in contrast with his juvenile appear
ance.
This boy left his mother and his
home in Bosdorf, Orange Free State,
and with his older brother, Pet, rode,
shot and slept in the open air and
participated in seven months OF con-
tinuous fighting, in which were many
raids on British wagon trains and
small attachments and many wild
dashes to escape pursuing part les
that outnumbered the commando
four to one.
LEFT AT HOME WHEN WAR BEGAN.
His father, who was a cousin OF De
Vet, the famous Boer general, is
dead. He has two sisters and four
brothers, two younger than himself.
He was schoolboy and had advanc-
ed to the grade OF the "Third Stand
ard" when his countrymen went out
to fight the British. His two older
brothers galloped away on their
ponies with the orange ribbon bound
round their hats and their rifles and
cartridge-belts as full field equipment.
Young MAT" begged to be taken
with them. but he was too young
and he was told to stay home and
look after the mother and children
. and help in the management OF the
great farm. or "morgensfeif," OF
nearly 5000 acres.
But when the British troops in,
vested Bordsori and a detachment
went through the district burning
houses and Selling horses and cattle,
Pet, the 22,year-old brother, came
home one night to Join his neighbols
in their own commando, and "Mat"
went away with him the next morn
ing to enlist under Commandant
Jacobs. He was the happiest boy in
the Orange Free State. He was 90
ing to fight those he and his family
believed to-be invaders and spoilers
OF the country. He was with his
brother and between them they had
five ponies, but best of all he had all
the cartridges his belt could carry
and he was to be the sole Judge as to
how to use them.
Pet, who was taken prisoner with
"Mat, and who is with him at No
20 East Ninth street, told his story
in the Union Square Hotel while the
veteran of fourteen listened and as
sented in his grave way.
DULL TINE FOR BOYS IN AFRICA.
in our country" said Pet d.
Wet, "the boys do not play thu
gamesand havcthe amusements thai
you have here. There is work on tn,
farm, in the garden, tending thu
sheep and around the barns even fol
the youngest. There is the horse fol
amusement and hunting. The great
est recreation that boy can have il
to shoot the wild buck.
1--WE all handled gun from tn
time we were strong enough to lii
one.
"Mat was with me for severa
months. There were from $50 to 20'
men in our commando, and we stay
ed in the Bosdorf district, never trav
cling more than $50 miles.
"There were no towards in GU
commando. Mat, here, was never il
the front rank when we were runninI
away. He used sometimes to laug
at some of the older men and tie
them not to be in such hurry toge
away. Everybody liked the boy b.
cause he stood his work like all tn
rest OF us and he could shoot a
straight and handle a horse as we
as any one in the command
Young Pet, who spoke thus moo
estly Of his juvenile brother, is onl
% himself. he and the boy wei
ourroundod hv an EnOlish reuimer