The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-17
KIMBERLEY, OR NEW RUSH.
THE DISCOVERER TELLS OF THE
FIRST DAYS OF DIAMOND
DIGGING.

san II IdtiGistD Lee. l.--ikESlQil6 upon
his ranch in Southern California is a gen
tleman-the Hon John Study late o.
Kimberley, South Africa, and an ex-colo-
NAL minister of inance-who from per-
sonal knowledge of the subject, describes
how the first diamond was discovered,
which led to the building up Of the be
leaguered city of Kimberley, and how
Cecil Rhodes laid the foundation of his
colossal wealth and power.
1T was in 1862" says Mr.. Study. that
I first met Herbert Rhodes, the pioneer
of the Rhodes family fortune, at Du Toit-
span, where we joined in the rush to Old
De Beers, and in which latter place we
worked together upon very friendly terms.
On a short time Herbert Rhodes was
followed by Frank, now Col. Rhodes when
the TWO brothers entered into a partner
ship working a good paying claim upon
Road No. s.
Both brothers were very popular at
the dlggings. Herbert was a strong, good
all-round man, and if he possessed fault.
it was his big hearted generosity which,
at times, carried him to lengths of expen-
diture perhaps not warranted by the
extent of his find; and surely deserved
better fate than that horrible one of be-
ing burnt to death, which subsequently,
overlook him when gold prospecting on
the coast of Zanzibar.
81 had worked for over year at Old
De Beers with fairly satisfactory results,
when I went out. in company with
friend, upon that memorable hunting trip,
which led to the discovery of New Rush.
or Kimberley, and, incidentally to the
making of the fortune and fame of the
Right Hon. Cecil Rhodes.
The New Diamond Field.
ut was on Sunday afternoon, 1 re-
member that we had pushed our way
across a plain of high Tamboke grass,
when in searching for some partridges 1
had brought down near clump of minora
bushes, l found a prospect to which at
once called the attention of my compan
ion.
ION making a careful survey of the
ground, seeing that it was of similar for
nation to that of old De Beers, L sat down
and sorted out some dirt, when in less
than five minutes l picked out as many
small diamonds.
with this evidence of an important dis
covery. we decided to give up the Shoot
ana returning 10 camp dA Olh lCC A'SCA2
l immediately urged upon my partner the
advisa bility Of starting for the new
ground. My partner, however, happened
to be man of a very conservative dispo-
sition and was skeptcal of the value of
my discovery, asking if there We're not
enough diamonds right where we stood to
satisfy our needs, instead of madly rush
ing all over the country, and in the hunt
of a shadow perhaps lose the substance.
"Still, impressed with the belief that l
had made a big find, 1 went over to the
tent of an old Natal friend, Popham, by
name, with whom at the time was Herbert
Rhodes. told them OF my discovery, and
we three at once determined to organize
a stampede for the new field.
"Popham and Rhodes got away in less
| than two hours, and l fully intended to
| accompany them, but deferred to take
| wishes of my partner to remain with him
| at Old De Beers; sending on four Kaffir
Zulus. however, to help stake out our
| claims
1T was but a few hours after through
| the fundamentally of the friend who 1
| had taken with me on the hunting trip,
| that the news was spread abroad through
| the camp; and before a. m. in the next
| morning Old De Beers was deserted and
in twenty-four hours later there were
| from 5000 to 1900 men on the ground on
which now stands the city of Kimberley.
I'm few days the country all around
| that clump of minora where had shot the
| cartridges was staked out, and it was al
| most on that spot, right in the center of
| the crater of the extinct mud volcano now
| forming the celebrated De Beers mine,
| that Popham, Herbert Rhodes and myself
| secured three of the best paying claims.
| CeciI's Disgust.
| ''It was about five or six months after
| this. when we had all moved to New
Rush. that Cecil Rhodes the youngest
brother, Unexpectedly turned up at the
diggings.
and character, quite different to his BROTH
| ers. being at that time tall and thin, dark
| err in complexion than Frank Rhodes, but
not so dark as Herbert
"His constitution appeared to be very
delicate. and it was generally understood
| that he had come out more with the idea
of building up his health than making a
fortune.
HE took up his abode in tent close
| to my own, and for some months on ac-
count of the intimate relations existing
between his brothers and myself, L saw
a good deal of him; in fact, dining with
the three almost every night.
"While as l said before, Herbert and
Frank Rhodes were open-hearted gener-
GUS fellows, Cecil, on the other hand, was
of an altogether different character, be-
ing very reserved and hard to draw out.
|
over with delight at all he witnessed and
heard in his new surroundings, taking
rather unkindly to the situation which
did not tend to make him popular in the
camp. and even his brothers seemed a
little shy of his presence.
ION the morning of his arrival in camp,
Herbert Rhodes asked me to take his
brother Cecil, down and show him over
| the claims where they were working from
eighteen to twenty Zulus. To this request
readily agreed and while in the pit
picked out a small diamond from the side
wall and handed it to him-his first stone
in South Africa. He was, however, very
reticent of all he saw, only remarking
that ne had no idea it was like this or
that and apparently by no means enthusi-
astic over the prospect of becoming a dia-
mond digger.
Having made up his mind to stay, he
settled down 10 work with a determina-
ton and unhinchng purpose that seemed
out of keeping with his delicate health
and build From the first, he eschewed