DIAMOND RUSH.

Franklin Times, Volume 14, Issue 193, 19 October 1925, Page 7

DIAMOND RUSH.

trie QUEST FOR A FORTUNE.

RACE TO PEG OUT CLAIMS

JOHANNESBURG, Aug-. 14. The romance of diamond seeking still exists in South Africa. There occurred this week a spectacular “rush” on what is known as Tomlinson’s Farm, a lonely part of the veldt near Bloomhof, in the Transvaal. Diamonds had been found on this farm for a few weeks past. A poor digger working for someone else at 2s 6d per day received a welcome surprise when his son handed him a diamond found in his own claim, weighing about 150 carats. This was sold in Bloemhof for about £3OOO. The digger has now bought a farm and a motor-car.

The week previous a 50 carat stone was found, which realised about £ISOO.

While the vast majority of the searchers for precious stones secure only a bare living—and many do not find even that—there is always the possibility that the next shovelful of gravel contains a fortune.

The Government thereupon declared the farm a proclaimed area, and on the day of the “rush” this week over 1000 runners, the majority in running shorts and spiked shoes, were drawn up in a straggling line facing the corrugated iron village which has sprung up on the other side of the famous Bamboo Spruit. Behind them fully 5000 spectators and hundreds of motor-cars parked upon the veldt, making a striking background. All around were Cape carts and ox-waggons, with here and there a motor car, dilapidated, but still serviceable, hiding itself away. It is a mystery how some of these cars, reinforced as they were with generous supplies of string and wire, held together on the trek across that switchback of 25 miles of open veldt which lies between the progressive town of Bloemhof and its new diamond field, of which such high hopes, are held. Rich Harvest Expected.

Diggers came from all over the Union to peg out claims. Everybody was confident of a rich harvest of precious stones.

There was some especially robust optimist upon the field that day. He is Mr J. H. Tomlinson, the veteran farmer, whose farm has so suddenly become (he scene of feverish activities.

“There are diamonds here all right,” he said, with enthusiasm. straight ahead there is the famous Bamboo Srpuit from which many fine stones have been got. I feel sure that there will be rich finds after the rush.”

From early in the morning there was a never-ending procession of motors, Cape carts and ox-waggons, on that long dusty road across the veldt. Whole families came to put their luok to the test here.

There were grandfathers among the crowd which faced the flag at the starting point. There were veteran diggers. Some have never made more than a few hundred pounds at the game in all their long experience, but hope burns as fiercely in their breasts as when they took part in their first rush. They have a philosophy of their own, these veterans. “We just keep on hoping that one day our luck will be in, meantime we live on hope and mealie pap.”

But the veterans did not run when at 11 o’clock that morning the huge Union Jack was lowered and the thousand runners got off their mark. The old fellows stood behind and sent the young blood ahead with words of encouragement and handfuls of claim pegs.

Excited Runners Get Away.

There was no false start. The excited runners got smartly away. They spread out across the veldt. Hundreds made for the boundary line of the farm. Here there is ground upon which the hopes of diggers have centred for years. The majority, however, made straight for the Bamboo Spruit. One or two men simply ran a few yards from the flag and flopping down, rammed their pegs into the hard ground.

One saw women with infants squat down in the biting wind upon the first claim while their men ran further ahead to other favoured spots. There was no trace of excitement in the eyes of these women. They made pathetic little pictures as they sat there amid whirling clouds of dust, soothing tiny babies whose piercing wails rose above the tumult ou the field.

In less than ten minutes the diggers were hard at work. Loud whistling brought up their gangs of natives with their apparatus and their corrugated iron huts, all ready for transport on wheels. Immediately the diggers had pegged their claims their women walked into the little village to do some shopping. Theer were stores of all kinds, a butcher’s, a bioscope, and a dancehall, and further away there was a show-ground, with swings and all the fun of the fair. There was a big dance in the hall that night.

During the rush two mounted policemen were seen galloping across the veldt in the direction of a middle-aged man who was driving in his pegs. The policeman swooped down upon the digger and in a second had him handcuffed. They bustled through the crowds and brought him to one of the buildings adjoining the offices, of the diamond buyers.

The digger, a Dutchman, protested loudly. It is understood he was arrested in consequence of an alleged irregularity in the pegging of the claim. There was naturally much excitement all the morning and rumours of early finds were numerous.

There were many school champions among the runners. They turned out in their old school colours and all were well pleased with their times for the morning’s 900 yards sprint. It is estimated that over 3000 claims were pegged out. This is considered to be the most promising centre on the Western Transvaal and diggers have come from all parts of the Union, attracted by the good fortune which has attended prospecting in this district.

Champion Athlete Participates. One of the most interesting incidents of the day was when Len Richardson, South Africa's champion runner. donned his running kit and, lining up with the rest of the fortunehunters, got away rapidly and pegged out a very much favoured claim on behalf of an ex-soldier, whose artificial limb prevented him from achieving his object personally. Richardson. who was unknown to the other runners, gave them the surprise of their lives and reached the claim 150 yards ahead of his nearest rival. The ex-soldier was over-enjoyed at the good luck, and as the claim is near to the famous Bamboo Spruit, from which hundreds of very fine diamonds have been recovered, his operations will he watched with keen interest.

Mr Salinger, a diamond buyer who is there, says that he had purchased for £7OO a diamond weighing 23 carats which a digger had found at Kareeboom, near Tomlinson’s Gate. One prospector, who had been at work for six weeks, had recovered stones valued at £350. His expenses for that period amounted io £72.