Source: Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross
7. a.m. Martial law was again read out, this time by the Mayor, and in front of the Court House; the following is the wording:
"In consequence of the Armed Forces of the South African Republic having committed an overt act of war in invading British Territory, I give notice that a state of war exists and that the Civil law is for the time suspended, and that I proclaim Martial Law from this date in the Mafeking District and Bechuanaland Protectorate, by virtue of a power granted to me by His Excellency the High Commissioner."
Immediately after the above had been read out we heard the alarm sounding, and found out that our scouts had reported to headquarters that the Boers had crossed the border line and were advancing upon Mafeking.
A party of 300 of the enemy were first seen from Cannon Kopje, and when close enough our seven-pounders opened fire on them, upon which
they retired. It was afterwards found out that the crowd we had fired upon were refugee natives trekking out of the Transvaal for safety.
At about II a.m. the armoured train went south, and at about six miles out found a strong party of Boers concealed under cover of bushes some distance off. We opened fire with our Hotchkiss and in return received some straggling Mauser bullets. This exchange of military compliments really opened the ball as far as the western Transvaal border was concerned.
Owing to some misunderstanding, or as some people consider, purposely, the station master had omitted to forward on to its proper destination, Bulawayo, a truck load of dynamite, and which was now found by the military authorities in the station yard, who had previously given instructions for its immediate removal. The station master was supposed to be a Fenian, and we expect to hear more of him later on.
An engine was hitched on behind the trucks and the driver given instructions to run it out north as far as safety permitted, give it a good shunt, and then to return. About half an hour afterwards we heard a most terrific explosion, and on looking up the line in the direction of the sound, we saw an immense volume of smoke rising up out of the veldt between five and six miles away, and immediately knew that something had gone wrong, and were on pins and needles regarding the safety of driver and the engine. Our anxiety was soon allayed by hearing the engine come puffing back down the line, and almost immediately afterwards driver Ferry reported that after getting up the line about five or six miles away, he saw a party of Boers about i ooo yards distant from him in the hollow on the other side of the first rise in the ground. He slowed up, unfastened the couplings, steamed on again, and gave the truck a good shunting push and left it to its fate, returning to Mafeking as fast as his old rattle trap wheels could bring him. When about 800 yards on the return journey he heard the Boers open rifle fire on the truck and a few moments later the explosion occurred, which nearly shook his engine off the rails.
It is very evident that the Boers thought they were engaging one of our armoured trucks, and must have been considerably surprised and shaken up at the eventualities.
I was this morning taken from the Court House squad and instructed to take charge of the ammunition stored at the police charge office.
The Town Guard, who had stood to arms all the morning, were dismissed at x 2.15, but told to be ready any moment.
About five o’clock our armoured train returned from a trip along the rails to the north, and reported considerable numbers of Boers and that they could not get near the scene of the explosion. Some natives were just coming in to report that the Boers intend to attack the town tonight. "Let them all come.” Scouts coming in report the enemy have laagered-up 4 miles out southward.
It is rumoured that the Transvaal secret code has been found among the station master’s papers, and it is expected that he will be court-martialled tomorrow.
Some natives who have come into town report that the Boers are raiding their cattle in every direction. Other natives say that the dynamite explosion killed two Boers and disabled two or three others. Sundry letters have been sent out by special runner this afternoon, via Kuruman, but it is long odds against them getting through. The Mail was published in the usual way today, and dated the 14th, tomorrow. How about our country subscribers?
At 9 p.m. all the Town Guard had to turn out for duty; this does not affect me as I am comfortably sitting in the charge office.
Quinlan the station master and Wheland, his pal, were arrested today for High Treason.
