The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1888-12-01
THE DIAMONDS HONE.
~ Facts Concerning the Great Mines
= of South Africa.


are Expopuoo Every Year.
The De Beers mine disaster in the South
African diamond fields, by which twenty
four whites and two hundred natives per
lshed, as reported from Cape Town, via
London, has awakened fresh interest
among those who deal in the most valuable
OF precious stones By far the greatest por.
uon Of the diamonds now obtained come
from the mines Of South Africa, which
were discovered near Hopetown in 1867 by
some Dutch children. The mines are stu
ated IN Griqualand West, now part OF
Cape Colony. in latitude % degrees 40 min
utes, longitude 25 degrees 10 minutes east,
about $40 miles northeast Of Cape Town, and
~ miles from the sea coast. Although
they are at an elevation of nearly 1000 feet
above the sea level, the heat is excessive
during the summer months, when the work
Is principally carried on.
According to the first report Of the terri
pie calamity it was that "the De Beers
Goal Nine at Kimberley" had caught fire.
inc manifest error in regard to the char
scterol the mine was not corrected in sub
sequent dispatches, but the cause Of the
!s.Ai nre was explained in this way: "While
tne snifts were being changed the hauling
wire broke and the skip rushed down the
shaft with frightful rapidty. The oil lamns
were broken, and the blazing fluid quickly
ienited the wooden casing Of the shaft,
Flames In great volumes shot up the shaft.
completely preventing: egress. The mine
was soon filled with smoke, and the lights
carried by the miners were rendered nae.
less The panic-stricken natives and whites
IN their Efforts To escape, became massed
together in the galleries and were sufFocated
70 death.n
The superintendent of the De Beers Mine
is gardener r. Williams, Of Oakland. Cal.
ne went to South Africa ON his second trim
In the latter part Of 1885. He IL 4 regular
correspondent Of George F. Kupz. TifYanv
e Cos gem expert and minersloRist 4
New York Tmss reporter talked with Mr..
Aunz. and obtained from him some inter.
esung facts about the De Beers Mines.
Tho mine covers 131< acres or 6lO claims
cacn VI feet square, with roadway OF Ii
ieet between each claim. The mines were
originally worked in individual claims. aha
IN number. each 81 feet square, with road
way X feet wide between each nair ~
ciaims. These small claims are now consoI-
'aa!ed INTO about ninety large companies
snd private hrms, having gross capital of
nearly toO,O00,O00. There are four large
mines, ~ within radius of Q mile and a
nali. me celebrated Kimberley covers
seven and half acres. Thirty-three mill
'on kafsts lover slx and half tons) Of dia-
nonos nave already been taken out, valued
IN me rough 1t ~, 00o000 and after cutting
- esHuoOOOO The absorption of the small.
~ the larger companies is constantly
so'nS q. end y Y proposed to consolidate
~ ne companies into one. Ten thousand
asaves. escn receiving 81 . week, are en-
ncyea y ne mines under tho supervision
Y ~ kurcpean overaeers. The enor-
..ous eum OF over Rl,Q00 900 Is annually ex.
p.nueo lor ispor. r.s
TINS mammoth investment Of European
cspstsi would have been more profitable to
~ shareholders were 1t mot for the thiev.
ishness Of the native diggers, who. ipsti.
gated BY the vicious whites that con orecate
on the neld, at one tune stole and disposed
=. .Ion one NTH to one-fourth Of the entire
yieao. More improved methods OF suryeil-
IRnEA fluys uk.