The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-20
.BOER EXHIBIT IS
 GREAT ATTRACTION Scenes of the TransyaaI Are
 Faithfully Pictured SHAM BATTLE THRILLING
Mock Carnage and Roar of the Modern Machine Guns at St. Louis
 Give Striking Example
 of Horrors of War.
BY JAMES A. MAcKNIeHT.

St. Louis, July l9.-t cial.)-While the spectacular side of the exposition is re- marked, and the individual features are il surprise and wonder to even the most blase travellers and critics, it seems to be generally conceded that the Boer war cxhilit is the most startling and reals- tic of the side shows thus far seen here.
 This show has some characteristics in common with the wild west shows to which the American people have become habituated through the enterprise of Buff falo Bill and his imitators; but it is most ly a thing by itself apart, representing phases of life in South Africa resembling our own frontier life only to the extent that all frontier movements have fam fly likeness The scene presented is en- tlrely different, from an American scene. and all the details are of another char acter from anything we know in America
 Quaint Boer "Vehicles."
 In place of the prairie schooner, which has become historic in the settlement of this country, we have in the Boer exhibit the ng-coupled Dutch wagon which is intended to house large family on the march, and also to transport their house. hold effects. Instead of the buggy for light conveyance, we have two-wheeled cart on springs, high in the air for ford- ing streams, and risged for four hourses because of the deep sands and heavy grades of the region.
 And so on down the list. The harness of the mules is not at all like that used in this country nor the yokes of the cattle. The long whips are fastened to the ends of bamboos like fish poles. and the lead CTS of each team are led by a kaffir who walks ahead with a rope tied to their horns.
 VeIdt and kopjes.
 The illusion of the welt and kopjes of the TransYaal is maintained by a nicely constructed scene with the real colors and objects which confront the observer in that little known land. The hills jut out and blend with the valley in such a way as to enable troops to appear and disappear at will. An amphitheatre for the audience occupies one-half of the 15- acre semi-circle, and the rest of the space is teken up with the battle grounds and accompanying landscape, fortihcations, river ford, and the block houses of Colevso.
 Sham Battle Held.
 After all the troops have passed in re- view, and some interesting phases of the Boer life have been presented, the time comes for the first sham battle General Cronje, that noted U. $. Grant of the Boers rides by with two aides He is dressed in plain clothes, and lifts his hat modestly There is an expression of sad ness on his fine face. He lost his all be- cause he led a forlorn hope for his coun- try. Cronje was a well to do farmer. with decided military ability, and he made a record that will live long in the annals of war. His connection with the Boer ex- hibit is not in any sense a dime museum freak proposition. He was made penniless by the war like many of his people, and the compensation here is to support him in his declining years. Most of the party will settle in Mexico the coming winter but Cronje has married the widow of an old friend who has a little property in the Transvaal and they will return to- gether to pass their last days in their native land under the flag of the con queror.
 There is a tremendous human interest about every phase of this Boer exhibit. Tn day or two a gallant young Briton is to marry one of the Boer girls-a ibrittt. finely educated young woman, whose fa- ther. was killed in the war, and whose estate was ruined. It is the pathetic story ol t shattered remnant Of a brave and devoted people who made their lives the die in stand for liberty, and lost all.
 Fight is Realistic.
 The point would be missed if failed to tell you of the fight as presented here in the arena The British line up and deploy skirmishers for an attack on the Boer stronghold Before they are with in range of the Boer rifles the deadly artillery begins it's work and the British line begins to suffer. The rapid fire guns vomit bushels of shot into the Boer works, and the. .heavier field guns roar their message of death as the huge shells are started on their mission. The battle wavers; but Boer markmanshp has done It's deadly work-the officers of the Brit ish fall by scores-the gunners melt away mot horse is on his feet-the batteries are still, the ground is strewn with the dead and dying, the few who are able flee and the Boers sweep over the fallen. and capture the field!
 Is Striking Example.
 Witness this scene and you will vote for arbitration, and for the abolution of war. The awful snarling and barking of inc modern guns make the blood run cold even when you know that they are using only plank ammunition for this occasion
 As an outdoor spectacle the. Roer war exhibit exceS anythine of tho l,tnd L .-