The very first day I arrived in Mafeking "Creechy" discharged a shell that killed a trooper of the Protectorate Regiment, who happened to be standing up in the stables singing a song, whilst four or five others were seated on the ground.

The latter were uninjured, but the dead man was absolutely blown to bits, and one of his legs was found in the roof.

A few days after two more shells landed in the market-square, one going through the right window of the chemist's shop, the other demolishing the left-hand one.

Some of the staff were actually in the shop when the second shell came through the window, and were covered with dust, broken bits of glass, and shattered wood, but all providentially escaped unhurt.

Others were not so fortunate, for a nigger in the market-square was literally cut in half, and a white man 100 yards away had his leg torn off.