THE TRANSVAAL WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 November 1901, Page 4

THE TRANSVAAL WAR

How Colonel Yandeleur was killed.

Tne “Notorious Hinton” again

The following details of the wrecking of a British train near Pretoria came from Mr Bennct Burleigh :—lt appears that the train was coming south from Pietersburg to Pretoria, and that while it was passing through a cutting at the thirtyfirst kilometre, two miles north of Waterval, where formerly the British prisoners wore confined, a party of marauding Boors exploded two dynamite mines, derailing the trucks and smashing the armoured truck containing part of the escort. Besides the officers, there were in the coaches several passengers, including two ladies returning to Pietersburg, Mrs De Wilde, and one child sixteen months, and Mrs Schultze and her baby in arms, and their nurse, Cora Page. Those awake state that as the train was toiling through the cutting a negro was seen to raise his hand, and instantly a Boer discharged two mines, derailing the train, smashing the armored truck, and injuring some soldiers. Ihe same instant a fierce musketry fire was pouted into every part of the train from the top of the cutting, which was above the height ct the open trucks. Colonel Yandeleur’s Heroism.

An attempt was made to reply by such soldiers as were able to grip their rifles. Colonel Yandeleur started up and shouted: “Ladies and men, lie down 1” Mrs De Wilde shut her eyes and placed her babies under the seats and lay down on the floor. The children and their mothers were screaming. The fusillade appeared to last a long time, certainly several minutes. An officer was running along the train, and calling on the men to lie down and fire. The Boers jumped upon the coaches and trucks, and a man, who said he was Hinton, and had waited three weeks to trap the train, went shouting up and down the line boasting. It appears that Yandeleur, after warning the women, proceeded along the corridor towards the coach’s platform. He was wearing uniform, belts, revolver. He probably declined to surrender, whereupon the Boer who had burst into the carriage instantly firing a bullet, penetrating the heart, the colonel falling dead in the carriage corridor between his own and the end compartment, where the ladies wore.

Firing upon Women and Children,

A farther Boer, whom the women can identify, threatened to kill all. Mrs Da Wilde screamed “ Don’t shoot : there are women and children here,’’ but tho enemy did not cease firing, their bullets passing in all directions through the coaches. Another Boer put up his Mauser and deliberately fired and wounded Nurse Page, Mrs Da Wilde and Mrs Schultzo saw what happened, but were unable to prevent the act. Then the Boers proceeded to rifle ihe train and passengers, taking from officers, men, and women their money, jewellery, and clothes —even the boots from their feet. Major Beatson was stripped of everything, money, watches, and photos ; but he managed to get a watch back which he said was an old friend. The Boers took all the passengers’ luggage, including the contents of the women’s boxes. They were assisted by a number of natives to put the luggage into sacks, which were strapped upon their horses. The ladies begged to have the children’s clothes, but were carried off. Two natives were also shot, ono man mortally in two places. When the work of robbing the passengers and blood spilling was complete, the wounded and dead were removed by our officers and men, and the Boers set fire to the wreckage. A Boer Prayer Meeting. At that stage a Boer shouted out: “let us kneel and pray, and thank God,’’ and then was beheld tho spectacle of the majority of the Boers kneeling and praying. From that indication (says Mr Burleigh) I think that probably part ot a commando was with Hinton’s wreckers, but these prayers _ doppers, so far as I have seen, neither in their manner nor their morals show that the refining influence of true religion hes over touched their hearts or their spirits.