Monday 12^th February

Yesterday afternoon & evening the women & children were sent down the mines.   I think some thousand altogether were put down, some as low as 1500 feet.   I can tell you it is an awfully trying time just now for women & children.  I am truly thankful that you & Arnold are not here.   The Browns, Kershaws, Humphreys etc have all been down the mines.   Mrs Eitzen & her mother went to the Rock Shaft but the old lady could not stand it so they came back & took shelter in one of the Jones' redoubts.   The Boers did not commence this morning so soon as was expected but they sent in a few shells both into the town and Kenilworth setting fire to 3 or 4 houses in Kenilworth.   Mrs Swan's house was completely destroyed, losing everything.   One shell went thro Barnes' house, not harming anyone, only damaging 2 or 3 rooms.   They stopped firing for a few hours starting again about 2 o'clock & kept it up at intervals until about 7 o'clock.

On Saturday the Officer Commanding has stopped the printing of the Advertiser, I believe on account of the leading article on that day, so we get no paper now.   I don't know what will be stopped next - hope it will be the Boer 100 pounder.