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In consequence of the semi-official letter of Overstein, however, the city formally surrendered at discretion on the 12th July. The great bell was tolled, and orders were issued that all arms in the possession of the garrison or the inhabitants should be brought to the town-house. The men were then ordered to assemble in the cloister of Zyl, the women in the cathedral.
Besides these, there were also five hundred men from Bethlehem, under Commandant Michal Prinsloo; the burghers from Boshof, under Veldtcornet Badenhorst; a small number of Colonials from Griqualand, under Vice-Commandant Van Zyl; and some Potchefstroom burghers, who happened to be with us.
How interesting. "It was like being in an old English book, Sir. Like Bracebridge Hall. But an American wrote that! I kept peeking around for the Boar's Head and the Rosemary and Magna Charta and the Cricket on the Hearth, and the rest of the outfit. Then Van Zyl whirled in. He was no ways jagged, but thawed thawed, Sir, and among friends.
'Times I'd feel I was talking with real live citizens, and times I'd feel I'd struck the Beef Eaters in the Tower. "How? Well, this way. I was telling my Captain Mankeltow what Van Zyl had said about the British being all Chamberlains when the old man saw him back from hospital four days ahead of time. "'Oh, damn it all! he says, as serious as the Supreme Court. 'It's too bad, he says.
Everybody of the name of Van Zyl in the district of Graaf Reinet was deported! not a single person was left on their farms except those who had driven them out of them. And after these had done their work the victims were told, "Now you can return home." Some had to walk back many miles to their farms, to find only ruin left.
I despise exaggeration 'tain't American or scientific but as true as I'm sitting here like a blue-ended baboon in a kloof, Teddy Roosevelt's Western tour was a maiden's sigh compared to my advertising work. "'Long in the spring I was rescued by a commandant called Van Zyl a big, fleshy man with a lame leg. Take away his hair and his gun and he'd make a first-class Schenectady bar-keep.
They've the same notions of humour, to my thinking. "'When he gets well, says Van Zyl, 'you look out, Mr. Americaan. He comes back to his guns next Tuesday. Then they shoot better. "I wasn't so well acquainted with the Royal British Artillery as old man Van Zyl.
"After three months' trek, old man Van Zyl had his commando in good shape and refitted off the British, and he reckoned he'd wait on a British General of his acquaintance that did business on a circuit between Stompiesneuk, Jackhalputs, Vrelegen, and Odendaalstroom, year in and year out. He was a fixture in that section. "'He's a dam' good man, says Van Zyl. 'He's a friend of mine.
Thus "De Villiers" became "De Williers," and "Van Zyl" "Van Zul." I remember that my own name appeared on one of the petitions with some slight alteration. Some of the names were evidently meant to be facetious. Thus there was a "Jan Verneuker," which means "John the Cheat."
In consequence of the semi-official letter of Overstein, however, the city formally surrendered at discretion on the 12th July. The great bell was tolled, and orders were issued that all arms in the possession of the garrison or the inhabitants should be brought to the town-house. The men were then ordered to assemble in the cloister of Zyl, the women in the cathedral.
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