Boers off for Home.

Manawatu Herald, 15 October 1904, Page 3

Boers off for Home.

Eight Boers who were held prisoners by the British Government in Bermuda up to August 10th, sailed on August 26th for their old homes in Houth Africa. They arrived in New York on the "steamer Trinidad. They sailed ns steerage passengers aboard the While Star liner Oceanic for Liverpool, and from there would go to South Africa by the Union Castle lino. The British had 6000 Boer prisoners in Bermuda, of whom all but 20 took the oath of allegiance, and were returned to South Africa by the British Government a year or more ago. The twenty refused to take the oath, not because they expect to fight England again, but because, they say, their comrades took the oath with certain mental reservations, and they would be false to their conscience if they were to do so. Rather than do that, they remained in captivity up to August 10th, when they were liberated. Since then they have supported themselves by making souvenirs out of cedar wood, bone, and shells, which they sold to tourists. With some assistance they were enabled to raise sufficient funds to pay their passage to South Africa. The others hope to follow shortly. They have been asked to join the Boers at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, but they want to rejoin their families, and consider that “ it would he beneath their dignity to do monkey tricks on horseback.” They were also asked to join the proposed .Mexican colony, but refused, fearing that it will not prove succetsful.