A keen observer, Edward Bushnan Rose in his notebook records everything of interest, including an interview with General Smuts when the Boer forces were about to surrender. He included a number of photographs, which he must have obtained from the Barnett's shop in Johannesburg, which was by then run by David Barnett after the death of his brother Joseph.
Rose gives an account of the exodus from Johannesburg prior to the outbreak of war on the 11 October 1899; the alarm in the town; the journey in coal and cattle trucks; the effect in Johannesburg of the declaration of war and under martial law; looting; formation of the Uitlander corps; manufacture of ammunition; commandeering of horses and gold; government proclamations affecting rents and foodstuffs; how the news of Stormberg, Scholtzuch and Colenso was received; Christmas at Johannesburg; cautioning of rumour mongers, relief and other funds; the ambulance corps; hospitals; President Kruger and the British; conduct of Uitlanders; behaviour of the Boers during the war; Boer withdrawals, and casualties up to the relief of Kimberley and Ladysmith; the great explosion at the Begbie's Foundry, which had been used for armaments production by Boer forces, on the 24 April 1900 ; restarting the mines; Smuts ultimatum; termination of the war; condition of British prison camps; surrender of Johannesburg; Dr. Krause's proclamation; hoisting the Union Jack and the surrender of Pretoria.