At Seven O'clock In The Evening
They Recognised That Their Position Was Hopeless, And Eloff With
117 Men Laid Down Their Arms.
Their losses had been ten killed and
nineteen wounded.
For some reason, either of lethargy, cowardice,
or treachery, Snyman had not brought up the supports which might
conceivably have altered the result. It was a gallant attack
gallantly met, and for once the greater wiliness in fight was shown
by the British. The end was characteristic. 'Good evening,
Commandant,' said Powell to Eloff; 'won't you come in and have some
dinner?' The prisoners - burghers, Hollanders, Germans, and
Frenchmen - were treated to as good a supper as the destitute
larders of the town could furnish.
So in a small blaze of glory ended the historic siege of Mafeking,
for Eloff's attack was the last, though by no means the worst of
the trials which the garrison had to face. Six killed and ten
wounded were the British losses in this admirably managed affair.
On May 17th, five days after the fight, the relieving force
arrived, the besiegers were scattered, and the long-imprisoned
garrison were free men once more. Many who had looked at their maps
and saw this post isolated in the very heart of Africa had
despaired of ever reaching their heroic fellow-countrymen, and now
one universal outbreak of joybells and bonfires from Toronto to
Melbourne proclaimed that there is no spot so inaccessible that the
long arm of the empire cannot reach it when her children are in
peril.
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