Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-03
CHINESE MURDERERS
Those in Transvaal Cause of
Revolt.
BOER FARMER KILLED
GREAT COURAGE SHOWN BY A
YOUNG BOY.
Incident Shows Failure of the Coolie
System for Working the
Mines.
B0ER FARMER KILLED

Special Correspondence OF The Star. g.
PRETORIA, September 13. 1905
Popular feeling against the continuation
OF the system under which the Rand gold
mines are worked by Chinese coolies has
been greatly strengthened by a revolving
murder which occurred last week in the
Middleburg district. The victim was Piet
Joubert, a typical Boer farmer, who, after
fighting to the last for the independence of
the Transvaal, had accepted British domi-
nation and set himself sturdily to work to
repair the ravages of war, which had left
him practically penniless. With his family,
consisting of his wife, two daughters, aged
fifteen and thirteen, boy of ten and a baby
only eleven months old, he lived in small
brick house not far from the mines at
Moab's Velden.
Desertions among the Chinese employed
on these mines have been numerous. The
= deserters wander about the country living
by theft and plumber. One night a party of
these marauders visited Jouberts house and
two of them gained entrance to the single
living room by forcing open a window The
noise they made awakened Joubert. I'm
armed and attired in his night clothes he
rushed into the room. No sooner had he
crossed the threshold than the two China
men set upon him. One of them had q knife
and the other pick handle. Joubert backed
into a corner and defended himself vigor-
ously with his fists. Two more coolies stole
in through the window and joined in the
fight against him. Getting hold of chair
he contrived for a time to keep his assail-
ants at bay, being favored by the darkness
But he soon lost this advantage. One of the
Cinnamon CHANGED to have a box of
matches, and, dropping his weapon-a shovel
devoted himself to striking lights that his
three companions might how to make
their blows effective. After that the odds
proved too much for the stout old Boer.
While he was trying to bring chair down
on the head of one of the celestials another
jabbed knife between his ribs and he was
soon bleeding from half dozen wounds.
Son Showed Spirit
Before he went down. however his son
ran into the room. mere child though he
was lie had the spirit of his race. He had
armed himself with a stout stick and placed
himself by his fathers side. prepared to
battle with all his puny strength. Amazed
at the pluck shown by the little fellow, the
Cinnamon drew back.
You can only save US all from being muir
dered." said his father, by bringing help.
I'll try to clear the way for you and then
you must run for 1t.
I'm do it, dad" said the boy.
Summoning all his strength for a last des-
perate effort Joubert flung himself at the
Cinnamon. In the melee the boy slipped by
them and scrambled through the window
Before he succeeded in clearing 1t, however
one OF the Cinnamon made vicious thrust
at him with a knife and slashed him across
him.
Though wounded and bleeding profusely
the youngster kept his wits. Instead of TAX
ing at once to his legs, which would have
resulted In his being speedily overtaken, he
slipped behind some bushes and crept away
In the darkness on all fours. When he felt
assured that he had placed such distance
between himself and the murderous heather
who was seeking for him that his footsteps
could not be heard he dashed across the
Veidt to the house OF the nearest neighbors-
the Venters.
Meanwhile Joubert, his strength exhaust
ed had fallen to the floor. and as he went
down a Chinaman drove knife through his
skull. But the heroism of that little Boer
household had not been exhausted. Holding
her baby clasped to her breast in her left
hand and welding a hunting knife In her
right, Mrs. Joubert into the room. Not
knowing that her husband was already dead
she stood over his PROSTATE body. Because
they had in view worse fate for her than
death the Cinnamon attempted to disarm
her. After a brief struggle she still retained
possession of the knife and two of the China
men had been badly cut across the hands.
While they were concerning fresh measures
to deal with her the Chinaman who had
gone In pursuit of the boy returned with the
tidings that he had escaped, and as he was
sure to raise an alarm they had better all
seek safety in flight.
They Were Captured.
They were captured some twelve miles dis
those who helped track them was John VII
joen. brother of Gen. vijoen. He was the
first to discover them. and brought them to
a halt with few shots from a Mauser. 1t
speaks much for the restraint shown by the
Beers and their respect for law and order
that the yellow fends were not lynched on
the spot.
The incident is only one of many which
illustrate the failure of the coolie system of
working the mines, which 1t was proclaimed
would usher in an era of prosperity in South
Africa such as had never been witnessed be-
fore. 1t has had fully a years trial. What
ever 1t may have done to fatten the banking
balances of the mining magnates, it has
done nothing to improve the economic con-
ditions OF the Transvaal Over "A 900 coolies
have been imported Their dissa tisfaction.
with the system may be inferred from the
fact that despite the vigor displayed in
hunting them up and bringing them back to
the mines there are now about thousand
of them at large. Regarding themselves as
the victims of white tyranny and Injustice
marauding bands of them do not scruplo to
rob and murder white people when they
think they can do SO with impunity In the
compounds themselves riots are of frequent
occurrence. The coolies are far more trouble
some than ever were the Kaffirs whose labor
they have replaced.
According to the johannesburg Leader
there are at present l2,0o0 British workmen
out or employment within a twelve-mile
radlus or the Johannesburg market square
The only succor open to them is work on
the relief works at shilling (25 cents) Il
DAY. Such widespread misery and dest.tu-
ion was never known before the war 1t
mas aroused fierce feeling of hostility to
the British government, even among people
OF British birth. who feel that the govern
ment has betrayed the country into the
hands OF the capitalists. who are blind to
all interests but those of their own pockets
Should another war arise there are many
who assert that Beers and Britons would f,e
found fighting side by side for independence
TO ALIOT ROOMS