sitting on the edge of the broad side-walk with their feet in the dust
waiting for the President to return from burying a Landdrost's wife. I
cannot remember that Mr. Kruger made any specific promises. 'All shall
come right,' he said frequently. 'Wait; don't hurry me. I must go
slow, or my Burghers will get out of hand.' We waited, and the men
inside of the prison walls one after another sickened and lost heart.

On May 12, Dr. Messum sent the following report in to the Landdrost:--

Dear Sir,--I have, on the 29th and 30th April, written to the
Inspector of Jails about the state of the jail. I do not know if I am
to report to you or to the Inspector of Jails; in any case, I have the
honour again to report that as yet no alteration has been made in the
sheds in which the political prisoners are kept. I must repeat again
that they are too small and unhealthy for the number of prisoners
placed in them. I find now, on account of their immediate vicinity to
the native section, that vermin is beginning to trouble the political
prisoners. There are amongst the political prisoners very old and
sickly men, whose lives, on account of the insufficient accommodation,
are placed in danger. There is not yet any proper hospital room for
the sick, who are thus obliged to remain amongst the others. I find
that the accommodation is very insanitary and unhealthy.

About the prisoner F. Gray I wish to make special mention, because he
is showing signs of developing melancholia (lunacy), caused by the
uncertainty of the future and what he has gone through during the last
few months.

I also fear that he later on will develop suicidal tendencies. I would
recommend that his sentence should be taken into immediate
consideration, and to discharge him at once from the jail.

I have the honour to be, etc.,
GORDON MESSUM, M.D.,
_District Surgeon_.

Unfortunately this report was not considered, and on the 16th day of
May poor Gray, distraught by his sufferings, cut his throat.

Mr. Fred Gray was a man of high business standing. He was married, and
the father of six children. His tragic death was a shock to every one.
Johannesburg turned out in a body ten thousand strong to carry his
remains to the burial-place. Inside the jail, his fellow prisoners had
formed in procession and with uncovered heads followed the body as far
as the prison gates, the limit of their freedom, not a man with dry
eyes.

_The first prisoner w