Die JJ Potgieter Manuskrip - Dog-on-blues studio

Eric Swardt: <strong>Die</strong> <strong>JJ</strong> <strong>Potgieter</strong> <strong>Manuskrip</strong> Bladsy 48 van 148
general voice of experts finally decided in the negative. It is now proved that
the so-called sarants of that rudo age were mistaken. Not only did
Ladysmith exist, not only was it besieged, but up to the day before yesterday
THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH WAS STILL GOING ON.
The site of the town at first appeared uninhabited. But when Poompschiffer
commenced excavating he came, to his amazement, upon signs of old
workings at a depth of only a few feet below the surface. For an instant, he
tells us, he thought some other antiquarian had been before him. Next
moment some creature blundered along the tunnel into his very arms. It was
secured and brought into the light. It was the last inhabitant of Ladysmith.
It was apparently one of the children born since the beginning of the siege,
and was about a hundred years old. From living in underground holes it was
bent double, and quite blind. It appeared unable to speak, only repeating
constantly, in a crooning voice, the syllables, "Weeskee, weeskee," which
Poompschiffer was unable to translate. The professor was anxious to secure
this unique specimen for the Kaiser William Museum of Antiquities, at
Berlin. But the moment it was removed from Ladysmith it began to pine
away. Having never known any state of life but bombardment, it was
terrified by the absence of artillery fire. Time after time it attempted to
escape to its native shells. Poompschiffer endeavoured to maintain life by
artificial bombardment, letting off crackers in the ear and pelting it with
large stones.
But all was in vain, the extraordinary creature was not deceived, and in a
few hours, with a last despairing wail of "Weeskee," it expired through sheer
terror at the safety of its surroundings.
Waarskynlik die beroemdste persoon wat in die Anglo-boereoorlog diens
gedoen het was nie ‘n generaal van die Britse mag nie, en ook nie ‘n
oorlogsheld van die Boere magte nie. Hy het gedurende die beleg van
Ladysmith as ‘n nie vegtende diens vir die keiserlike magte gedoen.
Baie Suid Afrikaners was vasgevang in die gebeure van die Angloboereoorlog.
Tussen hulle was die Uitlanders wat na Johannesburg gekom
het gedurende die goudstormloop van die 1860's en 1870's.
Baie van die Uitlanders het nie rondgestaan om onskuldige bystanders te
word nie. ‘n Klomp het by die Boere aangesluit as simpatieke ondersteuners.
Ander het by die Britse magte aangesluit in óf vegtende, óf nie vegtende