VII. charged with 35 lb. gun-cotton, at 60 yards' distance CHAP. from the fort, was in readiness to be exploded. of ration. sent to On the 20th it was deemed prudent to effect a Reduction reduction in the scale of rations in the event of the siege being much further prolonged; and, on the 24th, an effort was made to acquaint the general Messengers officer at Newcastle of the condition of the garrison, Newcastle. two of the natives having offered to carry a despatch by way of Swaziland. Both were, however, as was learnt afterwards,-stopped by Boers on the border, and prevented going further. hut. At the beginning of March the outer walls of the Fall of a end huts, facing the nearer enemy's gun, became so riddled from round - shot as to threaten complete collapse to the buildings, notwithstanding the efforts made to strengthen them by the erection of inner walls and props to the roofs. One of these huts, which at the commencement of the siege had served as a hospital, and since as officers' quarters, was in process of being evacuated and baggage removed, when the walls gave way and fell in, smashing the crockery and other articles there had not been time to get out, Mrs Long herself barely escaping through the open door. again On the 3d March, the enemy removed their gun Boer gun from the old Dutch laager to a fresh position, con- moved. structed on the crest of the hill near the river, about 400 yards from the fort. ment of On the following day a fresh element of danger to Fresh elethe garrison cropped up, through the enemy setting danger: fire to the thatched roofs of the huts by means of huts fired. VII. CHAP. Greek fire, enclosed in pointed metallic tubes perforated with holes, sent, apparently, attached to the points of arrows. The tarpaulins, which had originally been spread over the roofs, had been damaged and cut away by the enemy's shot. The commissariat hut was the first to suffer, and it took two hours of strenuous exertion-a good supply of water being fortunately forthcoming at this period-to get the fire under, and at the same time save the commissariat supplies. Civilian Conductor Charles Jurgessen and Volunteer Stewart were conspicuous in exposing themselves, mounted on a platform throwing buckets of water on the burning roof. Another hut, similarly fired, was saved by the coolness of Private W. Lee, who crawled along outside the roof, and plucked out the burning rocket from the thatch. As the thatched roofs could no longer be efficiently protected, it was determined to remove them. The rafters were accordingly cut through, and the roofs allowed to fall into the interior of the huts. Sergeant Day and Sapper O'Leary were mentioned as having distinguished themselves in this exposed dangerous duty under fire. The enemy evidently expected great results from setting the huts on fire. As soon as smoke was seen issuing from the commissariat hut, they showed themselves in strength-estimated at 700 men-and mounted parties were observed posted on the hills around, as if intended to cut off any attempt to escape. A rapid artillery and rifle fire was kept up, the latter lasting four and the former seven hours. Through it all the garrison coolly and steadily worked on, being able to spare, during the first three hours of its continuance, only eighteen men to act as sentries and respond to the attack. Volunteer Stewart was killed, and another man severely wounded. The former was the fifth and last death which occurred during the siege, though several men were badly wounded from time to time. CHAP. service by some The wire attached to the mine by the old officers' Excellent mess-building having become covered with débris and performed overgrown with grass, Conductor Parsons and Volun- men. teer Holmes remained outside the fort, on the night of the 4th, for upwards of an hour, clearing it, while the enemy's rifle-fire continued. They, it was afterwards found, had managed to take up this fougasse without damage to themselves. Sergeant Day and Sapper Church, R.E., and Corporal Crothers and Private Joy, 94th Regiment, also performed good service about this time, in proceeding to blow up a sanitary trench, used by the garrison, 50 yards outside, but which had become a source of danger, some of the enemy in the last attack having occupied it. From the 5th to the 9th was a quiet time, during which the thatch was removed from inside the huts, and burnt in the outside ditch. Heavy rains fell and caused much discomfort, but some amount of shelter was obtained with old tarpaulins and tents. outside. On the morning of the 10th, two men, bearing a News from flag of truce, appeared before the fort with a letter for the commandant from Mr Alfred Aylward, lately VII. Enemy offers terms lation. CHAP. editor of the 'Natal Witness,' but who had recently joined the Boer side. This gave a tolerably fair résumé, as was afterwards ascertained, of the successes achieved by the Boers; pointed out that no relief could be forthcoming; and, on the part of Commandant-General Joubert, offered favourable terms for capitu- for capitulation. An answer was requested within three hours, though it was left open to Lieutenant Long to arrange for an interview or short armistice with the Boer commandant. Accompanied by Dr Falvey and the Rev. Father Walsh, Mr Long then went to meet Assistant Commandant-General Steyn and Mr Aylward in the town. The latter took the lead in conversation, enlarged upon the effect of the reverses experienced by Sir George Colley, and pressed upon Mr Long the necessity of surrender, no hope of relief remaining, and further resistance being futile. A truce of twenty-four hours was agreed upon. The following morning the two men reappeared with the white flag, and accompanied by Mr Aylward, to whom Mr Long then handed his written reply, to the effect that his orders from the Colonel commanding the be held to Transvaal were to hold the fort; and, until he received contrary instructions, he must continue to do so. The white flags were soon after taken down, and firing on both sides resumed. The fort ordered to the last. Illness, and the effects of a slight splinter-wound, compelled Lieutenant Long to give over the command of the fort to Surgeon Falvey from the 12th to the 15th. During this period an inner fortified position was constructed for the garrison to retire upon, in the event of their being driven back from the outer line, the stones from the walls of the two end huts being utilised for this purpose. CHAP. VII. the armis hostilities tinued. The firing now became slack by day, but brisker News of by night. On the 23d the Boer commandant sent in, tice, but under a flag of truce, a 'Natal Mercury' of the 8th, still concontaining an account of Sir George Colley's final defeat and death, and the terms of the armistice subsequently entered into, the latter being, apparently, the first intimation the garrison had of the matter. Two days later, the Boer commandant notified that the said armistice had been extended for three days. As, until the arrival of the provision- waggons, the agreement had no effect at the outlying stations, hostilities continued as previously. On the evening of the 29th, and lasting until midnight, the enemy poured in a heavy artillery and rifle fire; and during these last days several fougasses were laid and exploded by the garrison from the end of their zigzag trench. Charged with 30 lb. of guncotton, and fired by means of a slow match, these mines sent the ton or so of stones laid over them flying into the air and into the Boer position behind the laager, and—as transpired afterwards-by nearly smothering two Boer miners engaged in tunnelling towards the fort, had the effect of arresting their work for a time. fied. About mid-day on the 30th hostilities ceased, the Peace noti Boer commandant having reported to Mr Long that articles of peace had been signed; and shortly afterwards Lieutenant Baker, of the 3d Battalion 60th |