FEELING IN THE ORANGE FREE STATE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10483, 23 October 1899, Page 6

FEELING IN THE ORANGE FREE STATE.

A TRAVELLER'S IMPRESSION.

Mr J. B. Nicholson, a member of the Uitlander Council, who arrived in Maritxkirg on September 14th, from the Rand with a number of valuable horses, which he Drought through the Free State, said the firs* Free State town he called at was Heilbron, where he found a majority of the people entirely disinclined to identify themselves with the quarrel between the Imperial Government and the Transvaal. The Boers of tne district, however, seemed eager for the fray; each had a new rifle and sixty rounds of ammunition, which he does not forget to display. Boers in the neighbourhood of Reitz treated Mr Nicholson's party very coldly, objecting to tneir outspanning on their farms, and refusing to sell fodder. Here it was discovered that many farmers (both English and Dutch) were leaving for the Cape. At Elands River Mr Nicholson questioned Boers and English regarding the Basutos, and was satisfied that the Basuto menace is no idle talk. He was also informed that as soon as war broke out British subjects will be warned to leave the State: .Coming down the Van Rensburg Pass, Mr Nicholson saw several waggons and buggies, mostly belonging to English people, who were leaving the Free Statejfor Natal. One thing which struck Mr Nicholson in the course of bis journey was the comparatively small number of Boers he came across. Where they had gone to, said Mr Nicholson, goodness only knows. It was reported that they nad gone to the border. At 'Harrieniith, Mr Nicholson found people very much disinclined to fight. Several told him that rather than do so they would go to Natal. From conversations he had with the burghers, Mr Nicholson estimated that from ten to twelve thousand Boers would take up arms in the event of war. The Boers were eager to fight, but the old men realised how it will end, and roundly abused Mr wteyn for his closer union scheme.