1899 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross
Wednesday, 21 February
Same welcome quietness still prevailing in the town although today the stadt has suffered from the effects of three or four Big Bens. One native woman being slightly wounded.
Towards evening the enemy favoured us with three or four 5-pounders scratching a few buildings and unfortunately killing a native boy. Another boy, one of the working party, was shot by the enemy’s volleys whilst working in one of the outpost trenches last night. The boy had got a bit careless, otherwise he would not have been hit.
The Boers could be seen yesterday hard at work round their big gun, building up earthworks, etc., which thank goodness looked very much like as if they had gone to that position to stay for a while. This is extremely hard on the women’s laager and stadt but just the opposite for the town, which they seem to have again tried to reach but cannot.
Poor Borthwick who had gone into the hospital from Tighe’s fort, suffering from dysentery, died yesterday afternoon (nobody at hospital seemed to know). He leaves a wife and a lot of children in Kimberley, but being fairly well off they are provided for.
Moore, Wirsing and Rising’s cases in the matter of being in possession of goods stolen from Commissariat yard re S. M. Looney were heard today and judgement reserved. I hear W. W.’s name also mentioned in the matter.
Baillie has again been on the burst but this time the staff have taken extreme measures and stopped any sale of drink to him.
The number of 94-pound shells fired by Big Ben was, up to last night, notified as being 1,066.
