The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-09

ing. The Rand was in an uprcar.
Every mining company there prepared
for the occasion. 1t was swell known
thai the Witfortein lay along the rich
est part of the reef and that a claim
there would yield fortunes.
The Pretorian government knew TINS
too. but had no. counted Oh any such
demons tration as followed, or the
claims would have been disposed OF by
lottery, the plan afterWard adopted.
The proclamation in the Pretoria press
gave permission 10 any one to prospect
the farm, SO that all buyers mad an OPP
portunity for locating the best claims.
But first they must obtain license al
the little iron shanty three miles from
the farm. Consequently every Vehlcie
in Johannesburg had been hired or
bought to transport men 20 the spot.
The road from Johannesburg to
Klerksdorp, which lies near the Wit
fontein, looked like the route OF an
army transportation. rents. cooking
outfits, cases of whishey and roulette
ia blets were all jumblsd together on.
wagon. 1t was estimated tnat on the
day of the opening l2,U0O men occupied
the camp, in addition to many Beers
who came from all parts OF the Trans
wal to witness the scene.
John Hays Hammond was then con-
suting engineer for the Consolidated
Gold t'iclds company, and he assumed
direction over N&aliy 1,uU0 men, who
were expected to tear hole right
through the mass and smash every
thing. Tie whole camp was armed 10
the teeth Every man carried at least
one revolver and expected to use it,
lor it was fight for big stakes, and
each company promised protection to
it's men. There was practically no dan
era, pf however y
or Boar policemen, trembled with fear
at taat armed mob.
The plans of each company to effect
The coup was much the same. Barney
Barnato, j. B. johnson Bet, the JCels
and every one Interested in gold min
ing in Johannesburg, great or small,
took a vital interest in the struggle and
put forth every enols to gain the prize.
Every company hoped to push its man
up to the window first, purchase the Ii
cersa hand it to an armed rider and
hurry it off to the farm, where the en-
gineers and pegGers were waiting to
claims.
Six firms even went GO far as TO sink
strong wooden posts just by the Win
dow, and to these dashed men with
ropes. so that they could not be pulled
away. But these precautions awaited
nothing, for when the struggle began
sharp knives severed the thongs ana
both men and post landed on the out
skirts of the crowd.
Personally, Brown was not formid-
able. With five feet eight inches of
height and smooth boyish cCuntenance,
those who had seen him glance down
the barrel CT a 45-Colt without so much
as moving an eyelid knew him as abso-
lutely fearless. Brown was on speak
ing terms with the rough element. and
he utilized these to form a flying wedge,
which at that period had just then been
developed by the American football
teams.
To get all these men under one flag
he hired the seven MOI desperate char
acters on the Rand-Alec Love. Jim and
Jack Maloney. Nanny Garchel. Butch
Wilson, Jack Hilderbrandt and Danger.
They were men who would fight at the
drop of hat, and cut your throat and
take chances on escaping punishment.
Love, who is now serving a sentence
for highway robbery, was a good look-
ing man, we'll educated and quite gen.
tlemanly when sober. He had received
a college training in the states. He had
red hair and a red nnuTtache. was very
handsome and r1assively built. .;
Brown selected him for his captain
and gave him carte blanche financially.