GIGANTIC DIAMOND RUSH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3333, 9 August 1926, Page 8

GIGANTIC DIAMOND RUSH.

Scenes unparalleled In the history of the alluvial diamond lields of South Africa took place at Elandsputte last month when from ten to fifteen thousand diggers competed in a gigantic rush for claims which all believe to be the richest ever proclaimed in this or, any other country. . From a vautage-poiut in front, 1 saw the great line break. The mass of bobbing humanity reaching almost from horizon to horizon moved steadily forward over the boulder-strewn veld until it became enveloped in a great cloud of dust which moved onwards towards the goal, like the creeping barrage of the massed guns of an army. Above the whistling of the gale, the thunder of stamping feet filled the air. Alter a preliminary deep-voiced roar which came simultaneously from 20,000 throats, no vocal sound came from the running men. The distance to lie travelled was by reason of the ■ rocky going equal to four or five track miles. It was mostly uphill work, and the gale blew strongly across the course. As the mass passed me I was conscious for a moment of a great wave of white topped by a foam of bobbing heads. For an instant I found myseli in the centre of this surging mass, and then it had passed and I was choked and blinded by the dust it left in its wake. Such a sight as spectators saw fyere to-day must be rare if not unique in the world’s history. Two hours before the rush began, the rounding-up of this great concourse of people was started by fifty mounted police. The difficulty experienced by this inadequate force in clearing the 20 square miles iu the vicinity of the claims was very marked. It took every minute of the two hours available to clear the tin township of Elandsputte and the intervening area of sightseers who failed to realise that they must take up a position behind the line of flags. Arguments arose, hut the police had the final word. “There is only one way,” they repeated again and again—“back.” And so the multitude was set in motion, and as tiiis huge array traversed the two miles which separated the ridge above the township from the starting-line, they turned the veld black with their numbers. ' Through the centre of the black mass a line of motor-cars, bonnet to tailplate, stretched for over two miles. At intervals of a lew minutes a section of the crowd showed a burst of activity, cries of excitement filled the air. and figures darted about with a great flourishing oi sticks. This was due to the starting of a hare, a buck or a jackal. A dozen hares were caught and killed before the line was leached. Escape from the vast crowd was impossible. Every few minutes also, a partridge got up from the feet of some member of the advancing throng and took cover behind the line. Many times the police cordon swept Ibo rear section of the area before they succeeded in clearing the ground, and in the end an aged man with a granddaughter lamed by a fall failed to reach the lino in t-me and had to shelter from the ou-rushing mass behind the Commissioner’s car. Half an hour before the rush began, most of the runnhrs had reached the starting line. From two to three miles across the veld, stretching from north to south, the line extended in all parts from live to ton deep. In no part was there a gap or a thin portion to be seen. Beh.nd the runners were the relatives and spectators. Motor cars, in some places three deep, extended across most of the frontage. The runners themselves found an astonishing gathering. There were among them at least six South African champion or ex-champion runner, and one Olympic Games veteran. 1 heard it stated that one champion was to reccin' 050 if lie succeeded in pegging a desired claim. The champions were mostly running for syndicates, who were anxious to acquire what were regarded as the most promising sections. Despite their records on the tracks the champions to whom I spoke did not seem to be over-confident of success. More than one dark horse can come to the fore in a running multitude of ten thousand. Among the runners were the colors of many well known athletic clubs. The Wanderers were well represented. 1 also noticed the Rugby colors of the Pretoria police. The jersey bore the identity number “five” on the back. Also among the runners were large numbers of old and heavilybearded Boers. They carried their pegs jauntily and appeared in no way discouraged by the array of athletic youth which'surrounded them. Up and down the line sauntered 1 bevies of young Dutch girls in striking pinks and blues; some carried pegs, but 1 could hear of none who proposed to make the rush. Some may possibly dig, but they bad their own champions ui the field. At last tlie loading of the proclamation ended, and the commissioner folded up his paper. The multitude held its breath, hut remained steady as a rock. Up went the commissioner’s hand and the flag fell. A roar shook tbc air, and. dressed from end to end like a giant battalion of Guards, the line moved forward. There was no mighty rush, no sprinting for a post in the van, each of the runners knew lie had two miles to go, and each seemed to realise the value of setting a steady pace. As the men flashed past the Commissioner’s car no champions were in the lead; there appeared to he no individuals in the rush. They ran shoulder to shoulder, eyes strained upon the distant ridge and pegs tightly clasped in clenched hands. Five minutes later, when the dust, cloud lifted, men were seen lying exhausted on the veld, but with theii pegs firmly placed. Everywhere men wore busy hammering in the wire pegs. Sotr.e in the far distance wore going onwards to the extremity of the area where the best claims were supposed to be. but large numbers bad dropped out of (.he race and pegged where they fc i i. 'There was a great measuring of boundaries and a hundred disputes, Iml no serious outbreak. In the- front of Ihe rusli the mounted police had cantered, and their presence at the end ol the rush quelled the turbulent spirits of the disappointed peggers. There wore claims for all, and many who have pegged in unpopular spots to-day may in a few days’ time find a diamond which will make their betterwinded and longer-legged neighbors, regret their agility of to-day. I noticed that a new fashion has sprung up at the diggings here. Hie “Lenglen” bandeau lias been almost unanimously adopted as the runners’ headgear. I saw bandeaux of purple, bine, orange, pink and green surmounting faces of an almost uniform black- water is costly at Elandsputte. On the return journey from ElaudspnUc 1 saw many strange evidences of the great trek west. On one section of the veld road stood an abandoned Ford car. Later, 1 saw at least three derelict trek wagons, all of them standing on three wheels, their loads • scattered over the veld and their outspanned teams grazing in the vicinity. These also were deserted by their owners.