LIFE IN PRETORIA.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 2 October 1901, Page 4

LIFE IN PRETORIA.

Not Unmixed With Danger,

The Daring Boar

(truth’s correspondent.)

PRETORIA, August 7th, 1901.

For the last few weeks the inhabitants of Pretoria have been disturbed by uneasy forebrodinga of trouble. The watching of many houses occupied by Dutch people, and the careful surveillance of everyone, combined with the large number of armed sentinels posted in the streets, has suggested to everyone, that some important movement was in progress, and this theory was amply substantiated by later developments. Two nights ago the house occupied by a prominent Dutch family was surrounded by three fully armed detectives, at about eleven o’clock, two posting themselves at the front door and one going round to the back entrance.

The police at the front door, knocking heavily, demanded admittance. In. the twinkling of an eyo the back door was rapidly jerked open, and tour or five Boers leaped out. The solitary detective’s call, “Hmds up” was drowned in revolver shots, and ho sank wounded to the ground, the Boers leaping over his body as they rushed past. In the meantime the detectives at the front door rushed round, but were too late to stop the Boers, who made good their escape. Attention was given to the wounded man, who was found to bo iu a serious condi’.ion, one bullet having gone through his chest, another lodging in bis thigh, .At tho present moment ho is dangerously ill and his chance of recovery is very slight. It transpired that tho police had suspicions that a man of the name of Low was secreted in this particular house, as was found to be correct, it being this person who had shot tho detective. This man Low was one of the four surrendered Beers who wore on parole in Pretoria some four months or so back, who had all made an attempt to escape from tho town and join a commando. Low alone was successful, however, the others being captured shortly aftowards, and tried for attempted murder. Two were sentenced to be executed, tho other, Delport byname I being a mere youth of eighteen, receiving ten years. The death sentence was duly J confirmed, and carried out in tho prison j yard. |

Low defied all efforts to ascertain his whereabouts, though it was known he was hiding in Pretoria. A clue to the police was the fact that Low was the lover of Delport’s sister, and on this they worked with the above result.

Yesterday a man was arrested at the railway station trying to secrete himself in a truck, and was charged with being an accomplice of Low. He will be courtmartiallcd shortly, and it is expected will bo sentenced to death, either by shooting or hanging —the latter probably, as it will have a more salutary effect than the other method.

Last night the search for Low was prosecuted with much vigour, large bodies of armed men patrolling the streets, whilst a house-to-house inspection was made. Everyone was compelled to produce their residential passes, and each to give a satisfactory account of him or herself. The scrutiny of the boarding-houses and hotels was most exacting.

About 200 people were arrested that night, and next day a largo number of these were deported and some imprisoned as being suspicious characters, although these operations were conducted in comparative sccrccj'.

It is believed that a large number of Boers are in the town posing as cattle rangers. The cattle rangers have no distinctive uniform, some wearing khaki and others plain clothes, so that to pose as one is an easy matter, of which the Boers appear to avail themselves. Pretoria is supposed to be well guarded on all sides—no one being allowed to enter or go from the town without a permit. Yet it would appear that Boers can f-neak in and out of the town at their own sweet will. They, of course, carry their lives in their hands, and are thus dangerous for an unarmed man to meet. The military authorities appear to be determined to stamp out any seeds of rebellion, and it is to be hoped that the measures adopted will have a good effect. The Dutch women are fully as cunning as the men, and are carefully watched hkewise. It is impossible to imagine the venom with which some of these misguided vrows ha e the “verdomned rooinek.” It must bo seen to be believed. Only by their gradual absorption into the British popula ion will the Du'ch exchange their good-will, and years will pass before this is culmina'ed.