1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross
Saturday, 10 March
The warning bell brought us out of our blankets and sent us down the dugout at 5.30 this morning but proved a false alarm, as Big Ben did not fire until breakfast-time, 8 o’clock. This was the "big un’s” first shot since Wednesday last.
About 6.45 this morning about 175 to 200 mounted men, with three guns and two mule waggons were seen to leave the Boer laager at McMullen’s and proceed northward directly over Signal Hill. They had with them three slaughter oxen, and unless the whole show was a very well got up mse, they have gone to reinforce the Boers opposing Plumer.
At 8.30 the big gun was again elevated and pointed on the town, but the lanyard was not pulled. Rest of the day being passed very quietly.
Poor Webb of the Cape Police, who used to be on duty at the Bank lookout telescope, was shot through the head by an expanding Mauser bullet last night. He was on sentry at the brickfields and must somehow or other have had his head above the earthworks. He lived for two or three hours afterwards but never gained consciousness. His funeral this evening was very impressive, the bugles blowing the last post over his grave, with most of the officers standing round. We have indeed lost a very useful and plucky fellow. “Kismet.”
The scarcity of news from either north and [sic] south is again becoming wearisome, absolutely nothing having come to hand since the good news re Cronje; we at least thought we should get the details of that affair, but up to now we simply know the bare fact, not even the place where it all happened.
One little matter, however, shows a more cheerful view of the things, viz., in tonight’s orders we notice that the authorities are allowing Weil’s store to be open tomorrow publicly for the sale of “certain” food-stuffs. We don’t quite know yet what the "certain” means, but whatever it is, this we know, that we shall have to pay through the nose for whatever we want. It does seem rather hard that we can go and buy food-stuffs whilst the natives are in such straights to keep body and soul together.
Another one was found dying this afternoon, this time a girl, and by a peculiar coincidence she was found close to the back of Weil’s store.
It was noticed by the Cannon Kopje look-out that right up to sundown, the enemy had not sent out their usual patrol to Jackal Tree and it is quietly mooted that B.P. will send a squad out there tonight and if possible occupy the place. Hope no traps are set by the cunning Boers.
I am very glad to see that (Corporal) Sergeant Currie of original brickfields fame is to have his past good services recognised, the Colonel granting him an honorary commission.
Hard luck, another injustice to Liverpool! The authorities have raised the price of meat 50%, viz, from 1/- to 1/6 per lb and what meat it is too sometimes, ugh! I’d give a fiver for a good porterhouse steak and chips with a bit of bread thrown in. The unbaked bread this morning could only be used for making a sort of boiled dumpling in a corrugated iron stew-soup we managed to raise. But still such is fame. Look at the history we are making. Eh what!
