The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-13
AFRICAN DIAMOND FIELDS.
A Melancholy Report from One Of the
Richest Fields NJ Cape Colony.

s--es -,
letter was received to-day by Mr.. John Wiley.
from Kimberley in South Africa, which Is almost
In the centre OF the Diamond Fields. Mr. Wiley.
who ia native OF this city. has but recently re-
turned from tour OF Europe and Africa III the
course OF which he spent some months IN Cape
Colony, and among the diamond diggers at KIM
berey. This place he describes as huge circular
bowl, thirteen acres IN extent, within which
claims have been dug to the depth OF 200 feet. On
the outside OF this thirteen for miles. alter
digging to the depth OF three feet solid surface OF
rock is encountered, SO that the thirteen acres
form a circular bowl, completely surrounded By
wall OF rock, called by the diggers "rhe Reef" In
this bowl kimberley the most valuable diamonds
have been discovered and claims there sell ~
much higher rates than IN any other portions OF
the Diamond Fields. Mr.. Wiley has permitted mo
to make the following extract from the letter OF
his correspondent, which gives rather gloomy
picture OF AFFAIRS at the fields kimberley. The let
ter bears date March 20 and says
There has been for some time past and there
still IS great depression among all classes, inciud-
ing the traders. shopkeepers and the diggers on
the Diamond Fields. Among the merchants this
has been caused partly by overtradng and partly.
or perhaps principally, II IS consequent upon
gers find themselves. The dggers are suffering
severely from the very low price or value to which
diamonds are at present reduced The ter
riple state to which the Kop,te south African
Dutch for small hill) Is now brought hy con-
ever visited South Africa within the memory OF
the most ancient Kafnr, Is alarming ana very dts
heartening. The half OF the claims are entirely
under water, and the reef (waD has given way
on all sides, covering in two or three OF the most
extensive claims all round. The water on our
part, No. South road brought down the staging.
gearing railing and tramways in one indiscrimt-
nate wreck and If something IS not done soon by
the aid OF steam towards drainage and with the
assistance OF the government, l fear this, the
richest place in the Diamond Fields IL on the
broad way which leadeth unto ruin.
"The government, we Understand. intends to do
something to help the dggers; but II they do not
look sharp it Is the Impression that these valu-
as the dggers cannot afford to remain nm
der the heavy expense incident TO living In
this section only the other day Battenhausen's
and Maider's claims were covered up by the falling
of the reef but Nader had just previously sold his
claim for 81 200, ana both he and Battenhausen
leave the fields for good tomorrow. Among the
otner unfortunates is Kinton and also Peterson.
whose claims here are entirely covered up, and
poor Kinton Is not now worth anything lie II
working for days wages. John Smith has nos
in to spend an hour with me-"
The letter gives a good deal OF the individual
losses sustained by diggers. and the experience,
which In some instances is very sad, OF others,
and winds up with anything but a hopeful view or