Mr. Hay to Mr.
Choate.
Department of State,
Washington, November 21,
1900.
No. 500.]
Sir: I inclose a copy of a letter from the Hon.
Thomas Hedge, a member of Congress from Iowa, with inclosure, from which
it appears that Edward C. Janse, a native of Iowa, who was engaged in
railroad building in South Africa, was captured by a British force at
Machadodorp while engaged in his work, and was taken to Pretoria, where
he is now held as a prisoner of war.
You will ask for an investigation of the matter and suggest that Mr.
Janse be released, if the facts warrant it at this time.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Hedge to
Mr. Hay.
House of Representatives,
Burlington, Iowa, November 16, 1900.
Dear Sir: Mr. Edward C. Janse, a native of
Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa, some three years ago went to South
Africa to engage in railroad building. His family has received word
that he was captured by the British at Machadodorp, where he was
engaged in railroad work, and was taken to Pretoria as a prisoner of
war, and is now held there as a prisoner. I inclose a letter from
Mr. George B. Stewart, the assistant United States attorney at Fort
Madison, which tells all that the family knows of the situation. I
desire very much to relieve their anxiety concerning this young man
and know of no more direct or certain course to take than by
applying to the State Department to obtain particular information of
the case and do what it properly may toward obtaining young Mr.
Janse’s release. May I ask your kind offices in this matter?
Respectfully, yours,
[Subinclosure.]
Mr. Stewart to
Mr. Hedge.
Office of United States Attorney,
Southern District
of Iowa,
Fort Madison,
Iowa, November 14,
1900.
Dear Sir: Mr. Edward Janse, son of Mr.
Hector Janse, one of the old Republicans of this county and town,
has been in South Africa for three years past, engaged with his
brother in contracts for building railroads. Word has just come that
Mr. Janse
[Page 469]
was captured by
the British at Machadodorp, where he was engaged on railroad work,
and taken to Pretoria as a prisoner of war, where he now is. The
family do not know the particulars or any more about it than I have
given you. They are very much alarmed, and would greatly appreciate
it if you would take the matter up with the State Department and
have it ascertain the facts and do what it can for Mr. Janse. Mr.
Edward Janse was born here; his family is a prominent and well-to-do
one, and he is an upright, sober young man, with a large circle of
friends, who would greatly appreciate anything you could do for
him.
Yours, very truly,
