1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross
Saturday, 10 February
Another very lamentable occurrence happened today. Mr. J. Dali, a highly respected citizen and member of the Town Council, was struck by a big 94-pound shell and literally blown to pieces. He had just gone out of the trenches to get some breakfast, and was sitting at the table in his kitchen, when Big Ben, first coming through a 14-inch wall, hit him apparently right in the middle of the body, cutting him in half, then passed out through the opposite wall, and was picked up some 7 or 800 yards away unexploded. Poor Dali will be much regretted, and the town sincerely condoles with his sorrowing wife and children.
A dance which was arranged for this evening has now been postponed on account of the above.
During this afternoon a rain and hailstorm of unprecedented severeness passed over the town. It lasted about two hours and during that time the rain simply came down in one sheet of water, flooding all the bomb-proofs and trenches and making everything generally miserable. It did us a little good by washing down the emplacements of the enemy’s big gun, and so putting it out of action for the day. And although the enemy tried to humbug us a bit by pretending to load her and then point and elevate her, and our bells rang as a precautionary measure, we knew very well she would not fire and so set to work to get things dry again, not caring very much for the 5-pounder and the sniping the enemy kept up.
This morning a native was wounded by a Mauser bullet whilst out in an advanced trench. Surgeon-Major Dowling went out to render medical aid, and whilst carrying the boy back to the hospital the Boers opened fire on him, sending three or four volleys all round him and actually again wounding the native boy by putting a shot through his arm. The enemy could plainly see that a wounded man was being carried, and yet this is the sort of thing they do. Dowling has now refused to go out under a Red Cross flag, saying it is more dangerous and offers a mark for the enemy’s sharp-shooters. He is very plucky and goes out now when necessary without any protection. In this he has the sanction of the Colonel commanding, who says we are not now fighting a civilized nation and must do the best we can.
A couple of 5-pounder shells and some Mausers’ volleys after dark finished the week, and now hurrah for tomorrow, Sunday! Oh the blessed sabbath!
