South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 3 (of 8): From the Battle of Colenso, 15th Dec. 1899, to Lord Roberts's Advance into the Free State, 12th Feb. 1900Creswicke, Louis
History
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 3 (of 8): From the Battle of Colenso, 15th Dec. 1899, to Lord Roberts's Advance into the Free State, 12th Feb. 1900
Creswicke, Louis
South African War, 1899-1902; Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
"After having been several times reported the _Induna_ rounded
the point at half-past two. Amid breathless expectation she
steamed slowly across the harbour. Standing beside the captain
on the bridge a smallish, clean-shaven man was descried, and
the crowd at once recognised him as the hero whom they had
assembled to honour. A thousand good British cheers broke the
silence, a thousand lusty throats shouted a heartfelt welcome.
But this was not all. The sturdy Natalians did not stop at
shouting. The moment the _Induna_ was moored Mr. Churchill,
smiling, was seized bodily by twenty pairs of brawny arms, was
patted and thumped on the back by hundreds of applauding hands,
and finally, after being nearly strangled by over-zealous
admirers who were waving hats and handkerchiefs and crying
'Bravo!' and 'Well done!' he was carried shoulder-high across
the decks of the _Inchanga_ and deposited in a ricksha, whence
a speech was demanded. In a few modest sentences Mr. Churchill
good-humouredly narrated some of the more prominent episodes of
his exploit, and a start was made for his hotel, the
ricksha-boy being assisted more or less by some fifty amateur
ricksha-men and escorted by a majority of the crowd. After
picking up the editor of the _Natal Mercury_ on the way, and
installing him in state by the side of Mr. Churchill, the hotel
was at last reached, and the demand for another speech having
been acceded to, Mr. Churchill was permitted at four o'clock to
retire from the public gaze. The same night he left Durban for
the front."
The following is a copy of the letter written by Mr. Winston Churchill
to Mr. de Souza prior to escaping from prison:--
"STATE SCHOOLS PRISON, PRETORIA.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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