1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross
Thursday, 8 February
Very pleasant surprise this morning before breakfast by receiving a telegram from Raymer, Bulawayo, saying that all our messages had gone through, and the cheering remark, "There’s a good time coming.” Oh! let it be soon!
Only one shell from Big Ben has been fired today and that at Cannon Kopje. The enemy can be seen repairing the new big gun fort all day, it having apparently been damaged by the rain of yesterday afternoon and evening. And not only are they repairing the damage, but adding so considerably to it that it begins to assume almost the appearance and size of their main fort, where the big gun was last placed.
Currie crept down the river from his advanced sniping post this morning and reported that his boys had fired three or four volleys into a small party of the enemy, who were advancing a bit too close in the night, and that this morning, early, the enemy’s ambulance was seen to advance and take up i dead and two wounded. Good boys, Currie’s. Must have given Mr. Boer a bit of a surprise.
The night working party of boys (natives) must have done some very good work also, as they have now advanced another 40 yards nearer the enemy’s earthworks, always being cleverly assisted by the Nordenfeldt which pumps, pumps, pumps away into the enemy unceasingly. The enemy evidently have a great antipathy against our little ship’s gun (they say that is what the Nordenfeldt is) as during our little artillery duels they invariably concentrate their fire on her, and once or twice have specially brought up their high-velocity 12-pounder Krupp, and their 1-pound Maxim, for the purpose of knocking her out. Their Krupp is a magnificent gun and shoots as straight as a die, and has hit the little gun’s earthworks time after time, but when one sees the Nordy’s little barrel just about two inches above ground out of the trench, it is no wonder they cannot hit it.
The Boer laagers are somewhat active today, waggons can be seen both arriving and departing in good numbers, something evidently being in the wind.
Between 8 and 9 this evening a sharp rifle fusillade was kept up between Currie’s post and the enemy; suppose the latter are a bit sore about
our advance there, and will endeavour to push us back, but the boys are very plucky and they will have a hard nut to crack.
Two native runners in this morning are supposed to have brought in a lot of news. But nothing authentic as yet has been given out.
