1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross
Sunday, 18 February
Everybody got up this morning very anxious to know if the day was to be respected by the enemy, as it was thought that after Snyman’s letter he might possibly send us in some more shells, but as the morning wore on, and nothing happened, confidence was restored and the usual Sunday occupation was attended to.
At 5.30 I went on to the Colonel’s roof and took two photos, after which we got ready for Girdwood’s sale, which passed off very successfully. After lunch took the S.B. dugout and also had a snapshot at the white flags, distance about if miles. Do not think will get any result.
Two runners arrived this morning from the south. Although things are going on all right all round, there is no good news for us. Letters dated 24th January tell us Kimberley is still unrelieved. Sickness very rife and people eating horseflesh, with Methuen in touch by helio; this seems too bad. The staff news says that 200 loads of provisions were got through but that Buller had had five days’ severe fighting and had failed to reach Ladysmith, but was about to push on again.
Sgt.-Maj, Taylor, who crept out to the Boer lines at the brickfields last night, reports overhearing the Boers say that Snyman has instructions to immediately take Mafeking and at once proceed to reinforce the Free State who were badly in want of help. If the F.S. are going to depend upon this crowd for assistance, they won’t last very long in the field. And if they wait until Snyman takes this place, well, what grand Micawbers they will make.
This afternoon bicycle races were the order of the day, a man named Mitchell coming out and dusting down all the favourites.
In the evening we held an emergency meeting of the Masonic Lodge, and initiated A. Vickery.35 Probably this is unique in the era of Freemasonry, a lodge meeting being held under a condition of siege, surrounded by the enemy on every side, with heavy artillery pointed at us, and everybody a soldier under martial law, and actually during the time the lodge was working a volley of Mauser bullets fired into the town. It was proposed that the lodge have a commemoration jewel struck for those members who attended. An excellent idea.
Night passed off very quietly, although an attack was fully expected from the brickfields quarter.
