Boers

A term (meaning farmers) applied to the native Dutch of the Transvaal and Orange Free State of South Africa. These descendants of Holland ers settled about Cape Colony in the latter part of the eighteenth century, from which they were driven by the English in 1836. They are a clannish and brave people, who fought back the Zulu, Kaffir and Buseto tribes, po e ing much of their country by force, and organized the republics known as the Transvaal and Orange Free State. They were at war with the English again in 1880 and 1881, and beat their enemy in a battle on Majuba Hill, February of the latter year. Independence was granted the Boers by England, but discovery of gold and diamonds in 1887 caused a great rush of foreigners into the Transvaal that was followed by contention over the refusal of the Boers to grant naturalization to Uitlanders, except under what the English regarded as unjust conditions. Disputes thus aroused brought about the James on raid, 1894, and grew more rancorous until 1899 (October 11), when President Kruger declared war against the English. The American Consul (Macrum) at Pretor i a hastily resigned his post and affairs throughout South Africa immediately took on a serious aspect. The war was stoutly prosecuted by the Boers invading Natal and gaining many victories, at Dundee, Lady smith, Colenso, Modder River, Bloemfontein, Spion Kop, etc. Americans took great interest in the war, public sympathy being pretty equally divided and funds were collected for the help of both sides. Many Americans enlisted to fight in the Boer ranks, while the wealthy contributed largely in money to aid the English, besides purchasing and outfitting a hospital ship, the ‘‘ Maine.”