The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-05-23
DIAMOND DIGGING.
Disastrous Failure of the South Africa
Diamond Fields.

Disastrous Failure of the south Africa
Diamond Fields.
Like so many enterprises by which
men have hoped to realize
large fortunes without much labor, the
diamond fields of South Africa have
proved q disastrous failure. The ex-
citement attending the discovery of dia-
monds near the Cape of Good Hope
few years ago will not readily be for
gotten. Desperate men from all parts
of the world focked there in great num-
bers. Unsuccessful miners from Cali
fornia and Australia, forgetful OF their
former experiences, travelled thousands
of miles to land which had nothing TO
offer them should the diamond fields
fail to meet their expectations. Com
Portable homes and honorable positions
in society were heedlessly sacrificed on
the mere chance of acquiring a sudden
fortune. That a certain ephemeraI sue
cess attended the immediate discovery
of diamonds at the "Cape" there can
be no dQpbt. Allowing for the exag-
gerationsN pf interested persons, the ear
lest workings of the fields undOubted-
Iy realized handsome fortunes for few
persons. But these fortunes were near
iy all acquired within the first year af-
ter the diamond discoveries and by the
time the great mass of immigrants
reached South Africa, the fields had
either been worked out, or the few val
liable " claims were found to be in
the hands of two or three spectators
and capitalists.
The accounts which, during the past
year, have been sent from the Cape of
the condition of the diamond trade are
of the most conflicting nature. But in
formation, dated from the scene of Ia
Dor last February, shows that the de-
probation which has been going on for
the last two years IN the diamond mar
ket is now effeetually arrested, and that
! d4ameBd d1RgIDg an me Sape COLONY
! has settled down into a trade which,
| while perhaps giving large pr fits to the
capitalists. will only afford the digger a
! scaDty subsistence. The immigrants
who reached the diamond fields within
/ the past year found that not only was
the supply of diamonds very small, but
/ that the heavy rains, and the want oil
mechanical, appliances, prevented them
/ taking advantage of even what little
chances of profit they might otherwise
/ have had. The diamond bed--the \ "
Rush-which for the last two years has
| been the principal scene of activity, Il
now being rapidly abandoned. During
the fall of 1878. this bed gave employ
ment to 1873, 426 native laboTers and 10,
600 miners, and in February last We
find that the residents of the camp h0C
| dwindled down to about 10 600 persons
in all. Tbs yield of diamonds here il
fifty per Cd 1t. below the average of thu
last two years, and thirty per cent be
low that of 1878. The value claim
has been daily decreasing, and 50 urgen
is the need of money that the digger
borrow at ten per cent. per month t.
pay the Caffres, whom they employ a
laborers. The security which these IN
fortunate immigrants give is tbs ir CLAIM
licenses, and if at the end of the mont
they fail to paw back the loans, thei
claims are forfeited, no matter wha
may be their value. The only person
no now seem to reap any profit fror
the diggings are a crowd of damon
brokers from London and Amsterdam
. who also act as usurers u on the modes
terms Just stated. Parcels of diamond
are bought by these harpies, and sol
again and again at various minute pro
fits, from twenty five cents 10 four cent
pr carat. The other beds in this neigf
ADorhOod are in no better condition, an
Stell the same story of disappoln.e
hopes and broken fortunes.
The river digRings, extending for AZ
miles along the Vaal, where, during th
early days of the diamond fever, /
many respects the most profitable fel
for the miner. They are situated aboJ
City miles above the river level, and col
sist of sandy gravel, interspersed thicl
: | ~ 18th huge boulders, which are shl'
cred by the application of heat, and /
, the dashing On them Of streams of col
! water. 1t was here that the very fine
: stones were found, among which wei
: diamonds of 2S8 ce~ats. IO2 carats,
= carats white, and hundreds = 30 to
men were actually employed in this r
!. giOn, while in January last the numb
! did not exceed 200. The encampme
r. of Phiel, the most successful IN the iii
? gings, and which alone gave work
g 600 persons, is now occupied by
!, dozen wearied men, who struggle
n from the necessity Of being unable
o do anything better. One of these Oh
. assiduously for six weeks without fin
/ ing a stone, while another, rather mo
7 fortunate, discovered two, the value
o which to him was sixty shillings. II
f traders from the cape and the coast fo
merly found champagne and Havana {
Agars the most popular articles IN d
i pmand at the diggings; now they car
r nothing but the barest necessities
i. life. As may be expected from til
state of affairs, Clpetown and 9th
/ ports are Overrun with needy idlers wi
g are without sufficient means to leave Il
= country, and others are rapidly retur
+ ing home poorer, and, we hope, wis
= men. This painful story is a sad COZ
= mentary on the restless spirit of Il
t age. But it is no new one. Its relatio
e however, may be the means Of inculc
+ ting a little prudence IN the minds
2 those unstable and too enterprisiI
Y creatures of which our own country
4 so full.