1899 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross
Thursday, 28 December
Commenced raining hard last night and continued throughout today, at times very heavily; all the trenches were washed out and in some parts of the sniping trenches the men were standing up to their waists in water. It was impossible, of course, for them to move, and not by any chance able to get out, they being too close to the enemy.
Two native runners came in this morning from the south, and they report a column of our men had a big fight with our enemy at Taungs (about 140 miles away) on the 18th, and that the line is clear of Boers between Vryburg and here; if so, it is possible for relief to be here about January 7th-
Old Creetje gave us two big shells in the Market Square just after lunch. No casualties, only two or three buildings perforated.
There goes the bell, boys! Down the hole quickly! (after waiting fifteen minutes); she has not gone off so must be set for tonight, look out for bumps.
Raining again all through the evening, our sympathy is with the poor chaps in the outside trenches, and on cossack outposts. It must be terrible for them, pitch-black night and one is unable to see two yards in front. Suppose the enemy made a charge now they might get in. Some one says, "But they would not get out again.
