British transport Lake Erie with Boer prisoners of war destined for St. Helena Island according to the Dutch newspaperMiddelburgsche Courant dated Wednesday 18 April 1900

An item reported that Cronje with his spouse and three members of his staff escorted by a colonel visited the governor in the castle and from there went to Kent Cottage. Schiel and two other prisoners were landed on Sunday afternoon and transported to the citadel after trying to escape during the night. Schiel had paid money to a sailor to bring a letter from him to the Dutch frigate Hr. Ms. Koningin Emma der Nederlanden which was lying of St. Helena. By mistake was the letter delivered on board of the British HMS Niobe. The other prisoners were to be landed on Monday guarded by the Niobe. The foreigners taken prisoner at Boshof were embarked on board of the transport Lake Erie and last Saturday with more as 500 Boers departed for St. Helena. The newspaper De Zeeuw dated 21 April confirmed this item and spoke about a Dutch cruiser anchored in the harbour of Jamestown. Instead of two companions tried colonel Schiel to escape with three other men.

Note

1. The Second Boer War found place between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902 and ended in a defeat of the Boers and regaining British sovereignty of the Orange Free State and South African Republic (Transvaal). In 1920 became the Union of South Africa part of the Commonwealth.