Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-29

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ment at the surface OF IA
acres, and "A depth OF some 400 feet.
There are, In addition to several small
er ones. four other enormous excava-
lions. all witnessing to the t~irelcss en-
ergy OF men In a hurry to be rich.
The diamonds are found in a grey
rock called blue ground" which fills
q pipe or natural shaft Of unknown
depth. widening towards the surface
into funnel shape. Below the few
feet OF red sand On the surface ome
the yellow ground."-lime-for Nfty
or sixty feet.
Underneath that is tho blue
ground" which, although the yellow
ground" iG not without diamonds, Is
the true diamond-bearing rock. Scien.
lists believe that these pipes" are
the craters Of extinct volcanoes, and
hat at some time when tho surround
ing country vas under water, this dIa-
mondiferous rock was forced 40 In the
form OF volcanic mud. How and when
n where the diamonds were formed
remains a mystery. but they are un-
doubleday OF earlier date than tho
rock which encloses them.
Early Diamond Digging.
The first mining operations were re-
gtricted to digging and scooping out
the earth. But. by degrees, as tho
holo got wider and deeper, troubles
came In the shape OF accumulation of
water and falls OF reef" IN gold.
mining the reef is the gold bearing
rocks, but the reef" Of the diamond
mines IL the surface shale and basalt
surrounding the pipes"
This was the cause Of great tribu-
lation to the early miners, as It caved
In again and again, and overwhelmed
those working below. After various ex.
pedients had been tried withiut per.
n success, It became impossible
TO work he mine n longer In the
old way. and many thought the in
dustry was absolutely ruined.
Here was tho opening for the a I.
%italist. who soon superseded the dig.
ger"
The larger claim-holders bauded to-
sether. and sank shafts outside the
area already operated upon, with gal.
leries running towards tho center. up.
I'll the blue" was tapped. in 1888
Messrs. Rhodes, Barnato, and Belt.
having bought out the smaller hold.
ers. formed the Dc Beers Consolidated
Mines. Limited. that great corporation
which has ever since controlled the
diamond mining industry.
The main shaft at tho "Ccutral'
connects with the pipe o. blue
ground by means of several CALLER.
les, the distance from shaft to "piDs'
being 1.l34 feet. At the time OF the
writer's descent the lowest gallery
was 1900 feet from the surface.
Armed with the necessary permit,
we stripped and re.clothed ourselves
In a sort Of dressing. room.
The outfit includes flannel shirt. and
coat and trousers Of duck" or some
such material. the articles being decId.
eddy the worse for wear. Instead OF
braces or belt, a looped leather thong
does duty. An ancient Southwestern
with ear-faps. and tied under the
chin. u pair OF socks that have seen
service. and rubber Wellington boots
complete the costume.
Accompanied by the manager, we
get Into the cage at the top Of the
shaft. and after a few seconds OF swift
motion, step out at the 1000 foot lev.
el. Each supplied with a composite
candlc-but no candlestick!--we r
coed To explore the workings on that
level. We pass stalwart natives at
work. with here and there = white