TOPIC:

...."With the return of spring and the mild weather that prevails in Bermuda during the spring months there is a recurrence of the attempts by the prisoners of war on the islands in the Great Sound to escape from their confinement. The latest attempt to excape resulted fatally to the prisoner concerned a man named Frederick Hendrik Bosch, who was shot by a sentry. On two occasions previously Bosch had escaped through the wire fence aroundthe laager and had succeeded in leaving the island on which he was confined. On one of the two occasions referred to he swam more than a thousand yards, and had nearly passed the guardship Hotspur when he was recaptured by a boat's crew. On Tuesday De Courville, the French officer who originated the plot to seize the transport Armenian on her way from South Africa to Bermuda in June last, and his German colleague were again taken to the St. George's Military Prison. Two weeks go all boys under 16 years of age were removed from the camps on the different islands, where they had been living since their arrival in the colony, and placed in a special camp that has been made for them on Hinson's Island. There, it is understood, they will be required to go through a prescribed course of study and technical instruction; but the great point gained is their removal from the influence of the adult prisoners of war with whom they had hitherto been associated. Such of the boys as have fathers or other kinsmen among the prisoners of war are accompanied by them.
The Westmorland Gazette, Saturday 17th May 1902

Frederick Hendrik Bosch

Hi,

I was able to find a few articles on-line about Bermuda and the Boer Prisoner of War population and some cases of escape attempts -



    A telegram from Bermuda on July 20 says: -                                                                                                                                               
The steamer Ranee arrived here yesterday morning with 518 Boer prisoners of war. Since their arrival these men have been removed to the camp at Darrell's and Burtt's Islands, the number of prisoners now confined there being about 1442, exclusive of those in the military prison at St. George's. The next contingent is expected to arrive here on August 2, and the men will probably be distributed between the camps on the islands named above and the new camps to be formed on Tucker's and Morgan's Islands.

    The association that was started a fortnight ago, to provide recreation for the prisoners, has already done excellent work. The response to the request of the secretary and treasurer for assistance has been very hearty, since a good sum in cash has already been contributed; also books, games, various comforts, and means for providing useful occupation for the men, most of whom are anxious to work in order to make a little money. Within the Boer camp an industrial association has been formed, and during the present week a number of souvenirs made by the prisoners have been placed on sale in one of the shops in the city of Hamilton. The articles are being readily sold to the inhabitants, and it is anticipated that during the coming American tourist season the trade in Boer relics will be considerable.

    The Americans have given substantial proof of their deep interest in the Boer prisoners by sending here by the last incoming steamer from New York a very large quantity of literature - books, papers, magazines, etc. - enough to fill an entire cabin, and money. The literature has been put in the steamer's sufferance warehouse where it remains, probably because there is no body here to represent the donors.    During the past fortnight several of the prisoners have attempted to escape from the camp. In one case, the first, the attempt was successful, no doubt because the runaway received assistance from persons ashore, who conveyed him to Hamilton and landed him on the wharf at which the New York mail steamer was then lying. This happened at midnight, Friday; the steamer sailed at 3 p,m. Saturday, and the man was not reported absent until late on Saturday afternoon. The second attempt at escape occurred on the evening of July 8. After dark four prisoners succeeded in swimming to the Warwick shore, and afterwards made their way to the house of a negro who lives on the north side of Paget parish, near the Sandbanks. Finding they were escaped prisoners of war, the negro concealed the men, and promised that he would help them to effect their escape from the island. He fed them, and having disarmed their suspicions, started for Darrell's Island to report the matter to the camp commandant. On his way thither he accidentally met a guard of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Having reported the circumstances to the corporal of the guard, the negro led the soldiers to the place where he had concealed the Boer. When the men saw themselves surrounded by the guard they quietly surrendered. Having been marched to Hamilton, they were confined in the gaol there until the next day, when they were removed to the military prison at St. George's.

    On the evening of July 9 three other prisoners were seen swimming away. The guard gave the alarm, and there was a general pursuit at once.  Finding that they could not escape, the prisoners swam back to the island. They, too, were sent to. St. George's. The men are now realising that life on the islands is preferable to the close confinement of the military prison, and are also beginning to learn that Bermuda is, after all, but a small place, and offers very few chances of escape. The military authorities are now much more vigilant than they were at first, the consequence being that few, if any, attempts to escape have been made during the past week.

    The equipment of the prison camp is gradually being perfected. The last incoming steamer brought a large contingent of Wells Lights for use on the islands where the prisoners are confined.


The Boer prisoner Duploy, who escaped from the island of Bermuda, and was taken to New York on an American ship, has been dealt with by the authorities.                                                                                                                                                                                         
On his arrival in New York he was detained and handed over to the Commissioner of Immigration, on the ground that he was a pauper. At the Police Court yesterday he was charged with being a stowaway and a pauper. On the first charge he was fined, the amount being paid by a number of Boer sympathisers.                                                                                                                                                             
These men also guaranteed that Duploy would not become a pauper, and he was therefore released from custody.




The following petition, from the Boer prisoners at Bermuda to the Military Governor of those islands has been issued in the form of a parliamentary paper: -

"Tucker's Island, September 24, 1901.                                                                                                                                                              
"Your Excellency, - We have the honor to bring under your Excellency's notice the following facts: - 

"That we have during the last month, with the consent of the military authorities, gathered to this camp those prisoners of war who were anxious to co-operate in bringing to your Excellency's knowledge our views and desires as set forth in the hereinafter following paragraph: -

"That we are fully aware of the impossibilities of the Boers retaining the independence of the late Republics. That we are averse to those men still in the field continuing hostilities. We do not sympathise with them, for we consider they are the cause of all the misery and suffering to which our families are subjected, and also the cause of our further detention as prisoners of war. They are mostly rebels, our men who have either broken parole or the oath of neutrality, or otherwise incriminated themselves to such an extent that they remain in the field simply with a view of evading punishment or deportation in case they should fall into the hands of the British. That we are all practically ruined by the war, and are anxious to adopt measures that will enable us to make provision for the future. That we feel justified, and consider it our duty to participate in any movement that might tend to bring an early termination of the war. That we are anxious to be reconciled with the British Government, of whose well-formed constitution, liberality, justice, and leniency towards their subjects we have now sufficient knowledge to take the oath of allegiance without fear of compromising our prospects in the future, and without fear of later repentance. That a great number of the men in the camp have voluntarily surrendered, and we are able to guarantee at least three hundred men who are willing to take the oath of allegiance, the rest being willing to take the oath of neutrality.

"Should your Excellency, therefore, condescend to give these facts your kind consideration, and should the British Government see their way clear to allow us, on our taking the oath of allegiance, to return to South Africa, it would be our object and ambition, every one to the best of his ability, to do that which would promote the interest of the British Government in South Africa, and in particular that which would assist them in bringing the war to a close. 

"We have the honor to be your Excellency's obedient servants, F. W. Chonken, Burgher Commandant; Jos. J. Henning, W. A. Barclay, A. Venter, Y. G. Da Plessis, D. C. Uys, D. Bourke, P. A. Bothma, Line Captains."


News comes from the island of Bermuda that 54 Boer officers attended an 'at home' held by the Governor, in celebration of  the conclusion of Peace. The Boer officers were delighted at the friendly attitude of the officers of the British garrison.
Trev