MAFEKING, APRIL
On the first Sunday in April Lieutenant Hanbury Tracy, with two waggons,
was sent to bring in the dead, after the unsuccessful but gallant effort
made by Colonel Plumer to enter the town on the 31st of March. As has
been said, Commandant Snyman's report of the number of slain was greatly
exaggerated, and the wounded he would not give up. Captain Crewe, who
had died of his injuries, was buried in the melancholy little cemetery
at Mafeking, already a sad memorial of deeds of daring. Of Lieutenant
Milligan nothing definite was known, and it was believed that he was
among those who had been buried by the Boers. Captain Maclaren (13th
Hussars) was still in the hands of the enemy--a prisoner, and seriously,
if not mortally, wounded. The total casualties on Colonel Plumer's side
were said to be seventy-eight. Two officers and six men were killed,
three officers and thirty-six men were wounded, and one officer and
eleven men were taken prisoners.
On the 4th of April there was intense joy over the arrival of Lieutenant
Smitheman, who appeared at Mafeking carrying a despatch for Colonel
Baden-Powell from Colonel Plumer. His appearance was naturally a signal
for surprise and excitement, as every crumb of news from the outside
world was precious as pearls. Previous to this visit only one white
man--Reuter's cyclist--had succeeded in getting through the Boer lines.
Mr. Smitheman was well acquainted with the country, and had
distinguished himself as a scout in the Matabele campaign. His latest
exploit was full of moment, and there was no doubt that in thus
establishing a link with the garrison his visit would be fraught with
important results when the opportunity to attempt the relief of the
garrison should present itself. This smart officer had made his way into
the beleagured town piloted by a native diviner--a personage who claimed
by means of a rod to ascertain the whereabouts of Boers, as other
diviners have decided the presence of water. Whether Lieutenant
Smitheman owed his safe conduct to the acumen of the native or to the
dexterity of his own actions was much disputed, but the result was
eminently satisfactory.
Commandant Snyman having been absent for a day or two, the community
enjoyed temporary peace, but on the 6th the tyrant was back again, and
by way of good-morrow his gun "Creaky" blew up the office of Major Goold
Adams. On the 7th, Mr. Smitheman returned to Colonel Plumer, bearing
upon him much serviceable information. A party of native women
endeavoured to escape to Kanya, but were intercepted by the
enemy--stripped, sjamboked, and forced to return. There was also a smart
fight between the Boers and some Fingoes, who had gone on a
cattle-raiding expedition. These defended themselves valiantly for
twenty-five hours, but only one man was left to tell the tale. This man
succeeded in crawling to the shelter of some reeds, and thus escaped
unobserved.
[Illustration: THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF MAFEKING.]
The following correspondence now passed between Commandant Snyman and
Colonel Baden-Powell in reference to the former's alleged employment of
"barbarians" by the British in cattle-raiding expeditions:--
"MARICO LAAGER, MOLOPO, _April 7_.
"_To his Honour_ Colonel BADEN-POWELL, Mafeking.
"Enclosed I beg to send to you a copy of a pass signed 'A. T.
Mackenzie, Black Watch,' and dated April 4, which is a clear
proof that Kaffirs are sent out, with your Honour's knowledge,
naturally, as head officer, to plunder, rob, and murder. I am
very sorry to see that tyranny carries away the good nature of
so polite a nation as the English. They know that the
barbarians have nothing else in view. Twenty Kaffirs were sent
last week in a northerly direction by an English officer,
according to the statement of a wounded native who was taught a
lesson by one of my burghers. Thirty-two were sent on the 4th,
according to a pass found in the pockets of one of the killed.
They were all shot yesterday. I request you to be kind enough
to fetch the bodies. Please send an ambulance under a Red Cross
flag in the direction of Canton Kopje, and notify me
immediately the waggons have left. I will send some of my
burghers to point out the battle-field.--Your Honour's obedient
servant,
"J. P. SNYMAN."
"MAFEKING, _April 7_.
"_To his Honour_ General SNYMAN.
"Sir,--I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of to-day.
In regard to the pass signed 'Mackenzie,' this man had no
authority to issue a pass of any kind, much less for the
purpose stated. I am obliged to you for bringing the case to my
notice. As regards your Honour's statement that your burghers
killed thirty-two natives, I beg to inform you that I know
nothing whatever about these men. They were certainly not
acting under orders received from myself, nor, so far as I am
aware, from any of my officers. I would point out that there
are a number of natives about the country in a destitute
condition owing to their homes having been burnt and their
cattle stolen by your burghers, and it is only too probable
that they have taken the law into their own hands to endeavour
to obtain food. Of this I have warned your honour before. For
their acts I must decline to be held in any way responsible.--I
have the honour to be your obedient servant,
R. S. S. BADEN-POWELL,
Colonel commanding H.M. troops in Mafeking."
On the 10th of April, in the dead of night, the enemy's field-guns were
moved to positions completely surrounding the town, and shells were
poured in with unparalleled persistency. Thirty dropped into the women's
laager--four into the hospital. Under cover of the bombardment the
Boers, who had been reinforced by a German corps, made an attack on Fort
Abrams, which they imagined had been disabled by their shell-fire. They
were somewhat amazed to find that the garrison of the fort was not only
alive, but kicking. The corporal in charge, who had calmly waited till
his assailants had got within range, suddenly poured a fierce volley on
the approaching numbers. Result: five of the enemy were left on the
field, to be recovered later under a Red Cross flag. The effects of
bombardment were many and various. At one time the Dutch Church was
struck, at another some shells bounded on the roadway, flew through the
air straight across the town, landing with awful detonations a mile on
the other side. Some failed to burst, and then the duty of extracting
the charge was a ticklish one. One man in so doing was blown to ribbons,
pieces of him being cast to the winds and picked up quite a hundred
yards from the scene of the disaster. Another man was so forcibly struck
that a portion of leg and boot were forced through the iron-roofed
verandah some seventy yards off! Every house was pocked with its
melancholy tale. There were holes you could jump through in the ceiling
of some of the rooms, while others were shattered past recognition.
Dixon's Hotel had its end smashed, and the market-place bore signs of
merciless battering.
[Illustration: SERGEANT--18th HUSSARS
Photo by Gregory & Co., London]
On the 12th a welcome guest came in the form of a pigeon, bearing a
message from Colonel Plumer. No small creature of the winged tribe had
ever before conveyed so much satisfaction, save perhaps the first
prominent performer in the days of the ark. News also arrived by runner,
of Mr. Smitheman's safe arrival, and a message from her Majesty was
delivered to Colonel Baden-Powell. This kindly expression of the
Sovereign's sympathy was highly appreciated, and served to inspirit the
whole community.
Later, a splendid effort was made by Colonel Plumer's force to run a
herd of cattle into the town. A party of Baralongs, under a native
captain, got to within seven miles of the town when they were attacked
on both flanks by the enemy. They nevertheless pursued their way,
screening themselves as far as possible behind the bodies of the cattle,
which were driven in front of them. But the Boer fire was unerring, and
soon only fifteen of the poor beasts remained. These, at last, had to be
abandoned, for owing to the lack of ammunition the cattle-runners were
forced to make themselves scarce. Such as were wounded were left behind,
and were murdered by the Boers. Several native women who, from fear of
starvation, attempted to pierce the Boer lines, were also put to death.
This behaviour much incensed the British, for the Baralongs had from the
first earned the esteem of the community by their unswerving loyalty.
Major Baillie, writing home, eulogised their conduct, and expressed a
hope that their devotion would be recognised at the end of the war. He
said:--
"After the first day's shelling the mouthpiece of the Baralong tribe,
Silas Molemo, came up to Mr. Bell, the resident magistrate, and said to
him, 'Never mind this; we will stick to you and see it through,' which
they certainly have done. They are not a tribe who would make a dashing
attack, or, to use the expression, 'be bossed up' to do things which
they don't particularly want to; but, given a defensive position, they
will hang on to it for all they are worth, as they have proved many
times during the war in the defence of their stadt. They have had their
cattle raided, their outlying homesteads destroyed, their crops for this
year are nil, and all through a time when the outlook to a native mind
must have seemed most black they have unswervingly and uncomplainingly
stuck to us, and never hesitated to do anything they were called on to
do." (It is pleasant to note that after the relief the Baralongs
received formal recognition of their splendid loyalty.)
"The better the day, the better the deed," was evidently the motto of
the Boers, for on Good Friday they applied their energies to the
construction of new trenches and fortifications about fifteen hundred
yards beyond their former position. In order not to be behind the times,
the bread ration of the day was marked with a cross, to do duty as a
"hot cross bun." On the following day misfortune hung over the place,
for two troopers, Molloy and Hassell, belonging to the Fort Ayr
garrison, were caught by a shell and mortally wounded. On Easter Day
there were sports to revive the spirits of the garrison.
On the 19th of April the Creusot gun was withdrawn, and the inhabitants
took heart. To vary their menu they now engaged in a locust haul, the
result of which was to supply a third variant to the bill of fare. Lady
Sarah Wilson, telegraphing to her friends, described her diet of horse
sausages, minced mule, and curried locusts! The latter insects were
reported to be tender as chicken and as tasty as prawn "almondised." The
natives had a good meal, and visibly grew fat. On the following day a
telegram was received from Lord Roberts requesting the garrison to hold
out till the 18th of May. It was disappointing, none could deny, but
they consoled themselves that a message showing they were marked down in
the programme of "coming events" was better than nothing at all.
Fortunately the food still held out. Water--pure water--was rare as
Edelweiss, and liquor of other kind was unobtainable. Only money was
what our friends on the Stock Exchange call "tight." The bank was closed
to the general public, and her Majesty's presentment upon a coin was a
prize to be cherished and clung to till--well, till the crack of doom
should make the ever-promised and never-realised relief unnecessary.
But the great food problem well-nigh exhausted all the energies of those
concerned with it. Captain Ryan, D.A.A.G., sat daily in the interior of
his bomb-proof office receiving a procession of persons who filed in to
make their impossible demands, and deliberating on the curious fact that
the stomach rules the world. The honour of the British Empire at that
moment hung by a mere thread--it was a question of how slender a thread
of nourishment could keep body and soul tacked together to represent the
figure of an Englishman! Nevertheless Mafeking, like Kimberley, was
bound to have its marriage bells. A Dutch bride, ignorant of English,
was led to the altar by a private of the Bechuanaland Rifles, ignorant
of Dutch. Philosophers predicted considerable felicity, as between them
the couple had sufficient language for love-making and scarce sufficient
for controversy.
At this time Captain Ryan made a statement regarding the supplies of the
town, which serves to show the pitch to which caution was carried:--
"The total number of white men is approximately 1150, of white
women 400, and of white children 300. The coloured population
consists of some 2000 men, 2000 women, and 3000 children.
"Both the white and coloured men originally received eight
ounces of bread. The allowance has now been reduced to six, but
a quart of soup is given to make up the deficiency. Half a
gallon of sowan porridge a day will sustain life. The
recipients are of three classes; those who receive it in lieu
of two ounces of bread; those who wish to purchase food over
and above the quantity to which they are entitled; those who
are absolutely destitute, both black and white, and who receive
the porridge free. It has been suggested that the natives
should not be charged for sowan porridge, but it is thought
unwise to pauperise either blacks or whites. If any profit has
been made from the sale by the end of the siege it will be
employed in buying grain for the many native women and children
in Mafeking who have been involved in a quarrel which is not
theirs.
"The horse soup is made from the carcasses of animals which had
ceased to be serviceable and those killed by the enemy's fire,
as well as horses and donkeys purchased from individuals who
can no longer afford to keep them. This soup is unpopular among
the natives, but this is due rather to prejudice than to its
quality.
"The distribution of supplies is entirely under Imperial
control. The Army Service Corps possesses a slaughter-house, a
bakery, and a grocery, at which the authorities receive and
distribute all vegetables, and it receives and distributes milk
to the hospital, to women and children, and to men who have
been medically certified to need it.
"At present the hospital is supplied with white bread, and it
is hoped that the supply will be continued. Hospital comforts
are issued to such as are in need of them, both in and out
patients, on receipt of an order from a medical officer. For
the nurses and doctors, who work day and night, the authorities
endeavoured to provide slightly better rations than those
available for the general community. Our sources of supply have
been chiefly through Mr. Weil, who had a large stock on hand
for the provisioning of the garrison, until the contract
terminated at the beginning of February. Since then supplies
have been collected from various merchants, storekeepers, and
private persons and stored in the Army Service Corps depôt, and
from the original Army Service Corps stocks, of which forage
and oats formed a great proportion. Fresh beef is obtained by
purchase from a private individual named White, and in a lesser
degree from the natives.
"Breadstuffs are obtained, like groceries, by commandeering the
stocks of various merchants and private persons."
Lord Roberts now commuted the sentence of the court-martial which tried
Lieutenant Murchison for the murder of Mr. Parslow to one of penal
servitude for life. Many of those who had been associated with this
officer did not consider him responsible for his actions, and were
relieved at the lightening of the punishment of a comrade-in-arms.
On the 27th Colonel Baden-Powell sent the following message to Lord
Roberts:--
"After two hundred days' siege I desire to bring to your lordship's
notice the exceptionally good spirit of loyalty that pervades all
classes of this garrison. The patience of everybody in Mafeking in
making the best of things under the long strain of anxiety, hardship,
and privation is beyond all praise, and is a revelation to me. The men,
half of whom are unaccustomed to the use of arms, have adapted
themselves to their duties with the greatest zeal, readiness, and pluck,
and the devotion of the women is remarkable. With such a spirit our
organisation runs like clockwork, and I have every hope it will pull us
successfully through."
[Illustration: POSTAGE STAMPS ISSUED AT MAFEKING DURING THE SIEGE.]
At this time, the Boers being more peaceful, the citizens prepared to
celebrate the two hundredth day of the siege by horse dinners. Various
other mysterious meats, whose origin none dared investigate, appeared on
the bill of fare. One lady developed a genius for treating the meat
rations, and went so far as to give a dinner-party. Her process was
elaborate. The meat ration was cut up and the objectionable pieces
removed. It was then soaked in salt and water for three hours, and made
into soup thickened with starch. The next course was the beef out of the
soup, served with potato tops, which were found most delectable. Then
came a sowans pudding. Sowans proved a failure when served as porridge
or curry, but when the preparation was mixed with starch, bicarbonate of
soda, and baking powder, people were swift to partake.
In addition to the usual delicacies, minced mule and the aforesaid sowan
porridge, invented by an ingenious Scottish crofter of the name of Sims,
there was now manufactured a curious brawn of horsehide, which was
generally sneered at but devoured with alacrity. Curio hunters longed to
preserve a slab of it for presentation to the British Museum, but the
feat of self-abnegation was too hard to be endured. Besides, as some
philosopher said while putting it into a place of safety, it would be
the highest horse that was ever exhibited by the time it got there, and
the building wouldn't hold it. The community was almost entirely a
teetotal one. "Wee drappies" grew so wee as to be almost invisible, and
when a case of whisky was raffled for it fetched £107, 10s.!
On the 29th a military tournament was held, whereat a great display of
cheerfulness was affected, to cover the fact that fever, malarial and
typhoid, was gaining ground in the hospitals.
AFFAIRS IN RHODESIA
The Rhodesian troops were now at Moshwana, British Bechuanaland, in camp
some thirty miles from Mafeking. The small force with a single
serviceable gun could really accomplish little, and it was marvellous,
considering its extreme weakness, how it managed to maintain the
aggressive at all.
Early in April Colonel Plumer started a pigeon post, and the first
pigeon despatched arrived at Mafeking within four hours. The second was
not so fortunate, but later on the successful bird was sent off again,
on an educational trip, with younger birds in its wake.
On the 22nd Trooper Brindal of the Rhodesian Regiment died of the wounds
sustained in the action on the 31st of March. Archdeacon Upcher and
Father Hartman returned from the sad mission of discovering and burying
the remains of Lieutenant Milligan, who fell at Ramathlabama. The enemy
now were being reinforced from time to time by parties from east and
south, and as far as could be ascertained by Colonel Plumer, who sent
out native runners to apprise him of the doings of the southern relief
column, the Boers around Mafeking numbered about 3000.
On the 24th General Carrington's force, consisting of 1100 men, with
mounts and transports, arrived at Beira, and proceeded from thence to
Marandellas, twenty-five miles from Salisbury, the capital of Rhodesia.
The route, the first 200 miles of which is through Portuguese territory,
is covered by railway. The distance from Beira to Salisbury is some 375
miles. The Beira railway was carried in 1898 as far as New Umtali, where
it was connected with the system of the Mashonaland Railway Company. At
Salisbury the railway ceases, and between this point and Bulawayo, the
terminus of the Cape Railway, a space of 280 miles needed to be covered
by an extension. From Bulawayo all promised to be plain sailing, as,
owing to the untiring energies of Colonel Plumer and his small
force--whose valuable services have never been sufficiently
esteemed--the road and rail to Mafeking had been protected and
preserved.
On the 28th, Lieutenant Moorson left Mafeking and reached Colonel
Plumer's camp at noon of the 29th, conveying to him the latest
intelligence, and helping him to formulate plans for the big project of
relief which will be described anon.