Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-30
KnaBERLEY'S FATE.
What 1t is Like and It's Prospects of
WithstaniinG u Siege.

The last news received in the city from
Kimberley was contained in a cablegram
dispatched on Saturday, October IA, which
informed the London Office of the De Beers
Company that the town had been cut off
from the north. and that communication
with the south was threatened with the
consequent stoppage of supplies. Since that
message came to hand the wire and the
railway have been wrecked by the Beers at
Modder river twenty-five miles south of
Kimberley, and the town of diamonds has
fallen into a state of siege. Inquiry in we'll
Informed quarters. however, diSClO-eS that
it was foreseen that the Beers would do
their utmost to isolate Kimberley, and the
belief is that their determination has been
strengthened by the knowledge that Mr..
Cecil Rhodes iS there. 1t appears that with
him are Mr.. and Mrs. Mcguire. who also
went up at the last moment from Cape
Town. The intention has been formed to
work the mines without interruption, the
natives remaining in their compounds Tn
til Saturday. October Il. the practice had
been successfully carried out of renting
to safe custody at Cape Town the diamonds
found daily. Sc that there is no aCcumulE-
ton of precious stones to tempt the loot
ing propensities of the enemy.
The demand for diamonds never ceases.
notwithstanding the rise of price, the
stones are quick to command purchasers
all over the world. and the De Beers mines
at Kimberley constitute the chief source of
supply. with an output of f400O,O00 in value
per annum. Not mprobably, an effort will
be made in spite of the Beers, to maintain
the regularity of Consignments, and should
the siege last for some time we may expect
to see abliShed q new form of blockade
running in order to bring the diamonds
within reach of buyers. Should they fail,
then diamonds may bring still higher fig
ure5 than they do at present.
As to the safety of kimberley-though
q oil in nrl n fpE
which is an admittedly perilous position, Is
greater-there will be much apprehension
entertained for a week or ten days; and,
probably. fears both for the person of Mr..
Rhodes and the property of the mining
companies will not be wholly removed until
relief column has arrived and driven
back the invaders. The expectation is that
some weeks must elapse before the troops
and batteries from England can be on the
spot. In the meantime, the information as
to the actual defenses of Kimberley has
not been brought down to date, owing to
the military censorship. A fortnight ago
Kimberley had ., 40 men fully armed in
Guiding volunteers and regulars, and these
forces had nine Maxim guns and twelve
field guns. Tho regulars were the North
Lancashire Regiment but a detachment
has since been forwarded to Nafeking. The
volunteers are mostly in the employ of the
De Beers. and are fine fellows Tho Town
Guard. which has been modified. IS also
we'll armed, and forms Servic"dble body.
Before Geographic communication ceased
1t was known in the city that tho military
authorities had thrown up earthworks. pro-
tCcted the SInatOrium. where Mr.. Rhodes
IS staying. with SandhIgs. and crowned the
heaps Of rubbish from the mines with guns
Thee hears are sixty feet high, and. as
they rise from the veIit. which is totally
fiat for miles around. they command wide
ranges. In addition, the risk of night sur
prise is miuimized by the use Of the most.
powerful electric seaTchlights in existence.
tro
sUaisd that thry will not attack ar in
trenched position.
Will Kimberley be able to Withstand a
prolonged siege? The hope is expressed
that having anticipated what was coming
the town has been we'll stored with pro-
visions. There has been no rush OF refu-
gees from the place. and the present mop
ulatiOn j. estimated not to exceed 10000
people. In normal times it has been fed
by railway and largely drew its supplies
from the Orange Free State. II has no re-
sources of its own. nor is ii surrounded by
farms which might yiuld proVendcr to sue
ccssful sortia parties. Tho beieaguers are
at a Sir7ilar disadvantage. and should they
be wanting in Commissariat they must de-
pend upon biltOng. or sun-dried flesh. with
meal. tho usual fare Of the Boer when in
the saddle. for the game has long since dis
appeared from the district. and the rindeE-
pest carried of all the cattle.
Kimberley is the Contcr of the diamond
fields situated in territory known as Cili-
qualand West, which became British terri
tory by CegSion from the Griuua people in
1871, and remained a separate colony until
October, 1880, when 1t was annexed to Cape
Colony. The first diamond was found by
accident. in 1861. and passed through many
hands before its value was suspected The
existence OF Kimberley dates from 1870,
when diamonds We're first discovered on
the farms of Du Tots Pan and Bulfontein
and the rush which followed speedily Gre
ated an extensive mining camp, which In
= 11F4l1
township. irTegUlarly built. and having
none Of the straight streets crossing at
7 ght angles and a equal distances, so gen
orally found in South Africa. 1t is inter-
estinS to recall that the Orange Free State,
upon whose borders the diamondiferous
area lies, and within whose boundaries the
Jagersfontein nine exists, disputed the
proclamation of 1871 declaring Griqualand
West Ia he British territory, but its claims
We're settled in 1876 by the payment of
$4,000. Sir Donald Currie having acted a 5
arbitrator.
Railway connection with Cape Town was
completed In 1881. Kimberley Is 6iT mles
from Care Town and 1856 from Port Eliza
beth. De Ar Junction, which unite3 the
western and midland systems. is 14T miles
south Of Kimberley. The line Is now car
ried nOrthward beyond Kimberley to Rula-
WayO, in Rhodcsia, but at the present mo-
mrut the railway has been cut in two
places. with the result that Kimberley has
no CommUnica ton with the outer world.
tttltFit-S'4st Is IN Il similar plight. SnleWd
gueSscs are made in the city that the trans
ports about to take troops to the Cape will
not all proceed TO Durham, but land num-
Der Of them al Cape Town and Port Eliza
beth. TO form q column for service upon the
western frontiers of the belligercnt rcpub-
lies. 1t is here that the danger lies, ii Is
said, until the endorsements are in the
field. The confident expectation IS enter
tanned that Kimberley will he able to hold
out, whatever Mafeking, 22:, miles further
northward. may do. Should both fall into
the hands Of the enemy considerable COM
mandOs OF Beers would he released to push
their way northward to Rhodesia. and. I'M
less checked by timely pursuit they might
lay waste Bula and Salisbury. 1t IL
posSible-as some people think in the city
their plan of campaign may include the
letting loose Of the Mltdhele upon the re-
naming whites, but should they arrive at
the point Of carrying out this policy we
should be justified in allowing the Basutos
who are now held In hand by US, to ravago
the Orange Free State.
HOER AND HIS RIFLE.