Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-09-05

A the world-the old Central"
Mine-with space measure
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-
tions. all witnessing to the tireless en-
ergy of men in hurry to be rich,
The diamonds are found In grey
rock called blue ground" which fills
a pipe" or natural shaft of unknown
depth, widening towards the surface
into funnel shape. Below the few
feet of red sand on the surface comes
the yellow ground, d,"-lime-for fifty
or sixty feet.
Underneath that is the blue
ground" which, although the yellow
ground" iS not without diamonds, Is
the true diamond-bearing rock. Scien-
fists believe that these pipes" are
the craters OF extinct volcanoes, and
that at some time when the surround
ing country was under water, this dia-
mondiferous rock was forced up In the
form of volcanic mud. How and when
and where the diamonds were formed
remains mystery, but they are un-
doubtedly Of earlier date than the
rock which encloses them.
Early Diamond Digging.
The first mining operations were re
stricted to digging and scooping out
the earth. But, by degrees, as the
u,t
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 Is the surface shale and basalt
surrounding the pipes"
This was the cause of great tribu-
lation to the early miners, as 1t caved
in again and again, and overwhelmed
those working below. After various ex-
pedients had been tried withiut per-
manent success, 1t became impossible
to work the mine any longer In the
old way, and many thought the in
dustry was absolutely ruined
Here was the opening for the cap
italist, who soon superseded the dig
ger"
The larger claim-holders bauded to-
gether. and sank shafts outside the
area already operated upon, with gal
leres running tow. DIS the center, un-
I'll the blue" was tapped. In 1883
Messrs. Rhodes, Barnato, and Belt,
having bought out the smaller hold
ers, formed the De Beers Consolidated
Mines, Limited, that great corporation
which has ever since controlled the
diamond mining industry.
The main shaft at the "Centra"
connects with the pipe" OF blue
ground by means of several CALLER
les, the distance from shaft to pipe"
being 1,134 feet. At the time of the
writer's descent the lowest gallery
was 200 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.
edly the worse for wear. Instead OF
braces or belt, looped leather thong
does duty. An ancient sou'-wester
with ear-faps, and tied under the
chin, 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 few seconds of swift
notion step out at the 1000 foot lev.
ell. Each supplied with composite
candle-but no candlestick!-we pro,
ceed to explore the workings on that
level. We pass stalwart natives at
work, with here and there white
overseer Some drill holes In the
rock ready for blasting; others gath
or up the fragments into small steel
trucks, which are pushed along on
rails to the shoot" which conveys the
blue" down to the 1900 foot level
These boys" handle many lump
with a fortune hidden in 1t. Some
times their quick eyes detect the
stone" and not being without the de-
sire for pelf. they covet, like Achan,
and, like Achan. take-if they can do
30 unnoticed. They will mako an in.
cision In their flesh as secure hiding
place for their "find." and even swal-