DIAMOND RUSH.

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1928, Page 8

DIAMOND RUSH.

BACE FOR FORTUNE. A cable the otner aay stated that a diamond rush which has just taken place in the hast Tramsvaal will probably prove to have been the last of these remarkable spectacles which South Africa is destined to witness. Only those who have seen a race for the diamond fields in South Africa have any idea of the excitement wjhich prevails. For miles the runners pant onwards, across barren, treeless country, spurred on by the fact that there may be a fortune for them in the small ares they are allowed to peg out. Afr. C. J. Fleming, who is at present in Auckland, witnessed the biggest diamond rush South Africa has known for many years. That was at Lichtenburg, between Johannesburgh and Kimberley.

Diamonds had been discovered on a farm where people had been living for thirty years without knowing that daily they walked over gems a ransom for all the kings of the world Precious stones were lying in backyards, but they were thought to be a valueless form of stone. As soon as diamonds are discovered the area is proclaimed public property and all who read may run in the race for fortune. The owner is given 250 chains, each ciaim measuring 15 yards square, and he can select any claim he likes on the property. The person who discovers the diamonds is given 50 claims, and he or she, and the owner of the property, can begin work immediately. Licenses are issued at Is each, and any person can enter for the race. This is the-unly manner in which the general public is allowed to peg out its Rainis on the diamond fields. , “It is a primitive method,” said Mr. Fleming, “but it has proved to be the best. There is too much corruption otherwise. ’ ’ TOWNSHIP BUILT IN NIGHT. Usually the field lines up two or three miles away from the scene of the diamond find. Before the rush the competitors can inspect the country. The object is to peg out claims as near as possible to those of the owner of the land. For several days beforehand the

scene is one of extraordinary activity near the starting-line. A township springs up in a night. Vendors of every kind open their temporary shops. From far and near people arrive in thousands. Trains, motor-cars, Capo carts, horses, donkeys, bicycles l —every method of transport is employed, and many of tho fortune-hunters tramp hundreds of miles on foot. There were 211.000 people gathered at Lichtenburg, at- the rush which Mr. Fleming witnessed. The scene was amazing, he said. People of every nationality and vehicles ol every description flocked across the treeless country, turning it into a hive of activity. Water was retailed at one penny a gallon. Mounted police watch the crowds andarrange for the start of the big race. Should a false start be made the penalty is a week’s delay; therefore, the competitors are careful. A week’s delay moans more expense’, more food, and living is not cheap. On the day of the race the runners line up, Wearing as few clothes as possible and earying four pegs with which to peg out their claims. Professional runners are in great demand and they earn from £2O to £3O and sometimes as much as £5O for the race. Previously they have been taken over the ground by the men by whom they have beert engaged, and have received instructions where “they? are to peg the claims. BITTEJrt COMPETITION. * A very strong force of police is necessary as fights' and disputes, often very bitter ones, are frequent, particularly after the claims have been pegged out.

The starting is done by flags which the police lower at a given signal. {Suddenly the long line of thousands of runners -breaks with a bound and sool l a sound like thunder is heard over the veldt. The professional runners soon forge ahead and the galloping army begins to take the shape of a long, long line, making for the lonely farmhouse or its surrounding country where fortunes lies under the aridlooking soil. As soon as the runners reach the fa»tm claims are hastily pegged out. But the trouble only begins after that The claim must be watched with care. Other runners pant up in search of any stray corner of country which may have been missed|. Fights are frequent and pegs are moved when nobody is looking. Order is not restored for some days, and then the claims are arranged properly. In the first mad rush small sections are sometimes overlooked, and late-comers have been known to strike particularly rich diamond-producing corners which they arc allowed to hold. There were only 6000 acres in the farm which Mr. Fleming saw rushed by the diamond-hunters., and in a very short time it was all taken up. Many were disappointed, but numbers of people, he said, make a point of going from diamond rush to diamond rush until fortune comes to them. Mr. Fleming says that diamonds are usually fount! near the surface, and the method of finding them is simply

to dig over the soil, sift it, and wash it for diamond pebbles. During the last few years he says that small rushes are qtaijte frequenjt, ibuf no matter how small they are always exciting.