The New Student's Reference Work/Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein (blo͝om′fŏn-tĭn′), capital of the late Orange Free State (now the Orange River Colony), in South Africa. Here, before the outbreak of the Boer War of 1899-1901, was held the conference between President Kruger of the late Transvaal Republic, and the British High Commissioner of South Africa, Sir Alfred (now Lord) Milner. The conference met May 30, but separated June 5, 1899, without having come to any agreement. The State joined the burgher republic of the Transvaal in the war with Britain, and the capital (Bloemfontein) was entered and occupied by the British under Lord Roberts, March 13, 1900. The population is 33,900, of which more than 15,000 are whites and the rest natives.